I decided to leave academia as a young academic. Several older academics quietly told me that they envied me, and if that they were younger, they would leave also. It was sad. I have no regrets about my decision, by the way.
The thing is that in academia the schedule is very chaotic and the work constantly interferes with your personal time, like weekends and vacation time. So people get fed-up after some time. And its more inflexible than other jobs because you can't just quit in the middle of the semester. So you feel stuck. You're basically working non-stop for minimum pay (think adjuncting 5-10 years until you actually get tenure) for a long time until you get to a somewhat comfortable financial space.
Yep. 30 years in academia unless I was willing to stay until 2.00 am to do the research, it would not be done. It is a toxic environment, and believe me when I say I am neither a snow-flake nor a push-over, and still the levels of stress sometimes were through the roof. Can't wait to get out in the very near future. I will miss the teaching, and I will continue doing research, but I will be very glad to drop the rest of the garbage.
I finished my PhD and I have suffered so much abuse (even from previous MSc and PhD programs… in both Colombia and the USA… so isn’t a cultural thing related with a country but with the institution of university... and its not me because it had happened systematically to many phd and postdocs around me ) my list of papers is not espectacular (4-5) , I’m 45 years old and im still without a professor position… I might need a postdoctoral position… change my country (I’m on Colombia… I’m willing but I have to navigate it with my wife)… I love writing, doing experiments, analyzing data, teaching but its now almost impossible to get a position…. Any advice would help.
TL;DW As soon as you finish your PhD and you find a job in industry (which will pay you 2-3x a postdoc salary in the 99% of the cases). You're welcome.
It depends. I am very extroverted and I feel like I would do a lot better if I would be an office chair hugger who hated daylight and would sit and write papers all day.
So…someone basically wins the lottery by obtaining a full time position, and they want to quit? Are you kidding me? Some of these jobs have over 800 people apply for one position. I would move to the Mississippi or Alaska if there was a job opening.
I finished my phd and I knew that was time to quit academia!!!
Which PhD you have?
@@AdvaiticOneness1 In Biology, focused on forest functioning.
@@johannamartinez5463of course
When promotion mean no raise but a title
I decided to leave academia as a young academic. Several older academics quietly told me that they envied me, and if that they were younger, they would leave also. It was sad. I have no regrets about my decision, by the way.
The thing is that in academia the schedule is very chaotic and the work constantly interferes with your personal time, like weekends and vacation time. So people get fed-up after some time. And its more inflexible than other jobs because you can't just quit in the middle of the semester. So you feel stuck. You're basically working non-stop for minimum pay (think adjuncting 5-10 years until you actually get tenure) for a long time until you get to a somewhat comfortable financial space.
Yep. 30 years in academia unless I was willing to stay until 2.00 am to do the research, it would not be done. It is a toxic environment, and believe me when I say I am neither a snow-flake nor a push-over, and still the levels of stress sometimes were through the roof. Can't wait to get out in the very near future. I will miss the teaching, and I will continue doing research, but I will be very glad to drop the rest of the garbage.
I started to work in a school and all the stories I heard makes me want to quit now. I decided to be here for at least a year before quitting.
I finished my PhD and I have suffered so much abuse (even from previous MSc and PhD programs… in both Colombia and the USA… so isn’t a cultural thing related with a country but with the institution of university... and its not me because it had happened systematically to many phd and postdocs around me ) my list of papers is not espectacular (4-5) , I’m 45 years old and im still without a professor position… I might need a postdoctoral position… change my country (I’m on Colombia… I’m willing but I have to navigate it with my wife)… I love writing, doing experiments, analyzing data, teaching but its now almost impossible to get a position…. Any advice would help.
Thank you for posting this video.
The academic life would hurt less if somebody would tell me at the start that grants and papers is all that really matters. Quantity over quality.
This is so good. Thank you
The best video, very thoughtful
TL;DW
As soon as you finish your PhD and you find a job in industry (which will pay you 2-3x a postdoc salary in the 99% of the cases).
You're welcome.
Definitely taking this advice
When you actually need money.
I need money 💰
it's always time.
Academia is not for introverts like me, so i stopped it just after MS
Somehow, I feel the opposite. It feels like academia is one of the best places for introverts.
It depends. I am very extroverted and I feel like I would do a lot better if I would be an office chair hugger who hated daylight and would sit and write papers all day.
So…someone basically wins the lottery by obtaining a full time position, and they want to quit? Are you kidding me? Some of these jobs have over 800 people apply for one position. I would move to the Mississippi or Alaska if there was a job opening.
Grass is not greener on the other side.
Some cancers are also pretty rare, but not many people like having them.