Making the transition from a career in academia to one in another sector is not as elusive or challenging as one may think. Ecology professionals who have spent time in academia have an amazing amount of transferable skills to myriad sectors, including private and public industry, non-profits, government agencies and labs, and entrepreneurial ventures, and decision-makers and hiring-managers know this. The key is being able to articulate your true value in a way that decision-makers can understand (using their language). We will examine how to craft a successful strategy to research, prepare and ultimately transition to a career outside academia, and we will explore how to determine the right careers for your needs, desires and ambitions. And finally, we will keep in mind that even though we may leave academia now, we still can stay connected and collaborative with colleagues in higher education, as we may want to come back in the future. We will discuss tactics to ensuring the door is always open for your return.