In regards to OPs original question, I'm actually working on solving your very problem right now. About 1.5 years ago I created the PyImageSearch Gurus course (https://www.pyimagesearch.com/pyimagesearch-gurus/) with the aim of bridging academia with actual real-world computer vision problems. The course has helped readers in their academic careers, such as securing grants (http://www.pyimagesearch.com/2016/03/14/pyimagesearch-gurus-...) as well as students become practitioners and land jobs in the CV startup space (http://www.pyimagesearch.com/2017/06/12/pyimagesearch-gurus-...)
Within the next month I'll be launching PyImageJobs which will connect PyImageSearch readers (especially the Gurus course graduates) with companies/startups that are looking to hire.
Finally, I'm also working on my upcoming "Deep Learning for Computer Vision with Python" book (https://www.pyimagesearch.com/deep-learning-computer-vision-...) which is now 100% outlined and I'm on to the writing phase.
Definitely take a look and if you have any questions, please let me know or use the contact form on my website if you want to talk in private.