From Maren on
Job Searching in Uncertainty

1. For those of you on the academic job market, it is too early to know for sure what the long-term impact on Higher Ed will be. What is certain is that next year’s academic job market will be more competitive. You need to prepare for the very real possibility that you may not land a tenure track job. Remaining in contingent and low-paid academic positions can be costly, both in terms of your mental health, but also in terms of your finances.

When I graduated, I was ill-prepared for the job crisis, and I had never contemplated what I would do if I did not land a tenure track job. This made not getting a tenure track job that much more devastating, and I internalized this as a personal failing. Of course, it wasn’t my failure.

2. Be smart, be practical, and do what is in your best interest, personally and financially. Leaving is not a failure; it is survival.

Our research shows that there are so many ways for smart, innovative, people to leverage their skills and education to make a meaningful impact in society. At Beyond Prof, we have interviewed hundreds of PhDs over the last many years, and they are living meaningful lives, making livable wages, working alongside smart and creative people, having career advancement, and are intellectually engaged and fulfilled.

3. Much of our hesitation as academics comes from our lack of familiarity with the range of careers available to people with our skills in the creative economy. I would recommend that, over the next few months, every graduate student and PhD should become active on LinkedIn. (See our free webinar on using LinkedIn here). Reach out to alumni from your institution who are working in non-faculty careers and ask to speak with them about their careers. Find organizations of interest in the cities where you live, follow the organization on social media, and begin to reach out to employees to learn about the work they do and the skills that are of value in their organization. Our research shows that informational interviews are critical to helping PhDs explore career options and find job opportunities. (See our free webinar on informational interviews here).

Next week, we’ll be sending out a worksheet to help you with this process. 

4. For those of you are already seeking non-faculty careers, now is the time to maintain momentum in your job search. Continue with informational interviews and be active on social media, especially on LinkedIn. Some companies are still hiring, and many will resume hiring when this crisis ends. Networking will be critical in finding and landing these positions. Be active. Build your network. Follow organizations on social media, and read industry blogs to learn about trends. People who are working in the careers you are interested in will be most knowledgable about hiring (when and if). By building your network and being active on LinkedIn, you’ll gain valuable information that can help you position yourself.

5. For all PhDs who are exploring non-faculty careers, focus less on your subject matter expertise, and think more about your skills. Communication (written and verbal), research, data analysis, strategic thinking, and project management, are just a few of the skills that most PhDs have that are valued by employers across all industries and sectors. But it’s the skills, and not so much your specific disciplinary knowledge, that employers will value.