The paradox facing academics in search of a job is that we must demonstrate how we already do the work without having held the position.

Plenty of PhDs do consulting, research, management, or communications. The fact that our work takes place in colleges or universities matters precious little.

Academics’ dependence on grants for our livelihood - often more so than on salary - was a major motivation for me to leave.

That’s why this week’s decision by the NIH to suspend grant reviews is alarming.

www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...

"Poor compensation and few choices of where to live - more so than just limited college and university openings - drives academics to translate their research profile into skill sets for the business world."

Here's my interview in Chronicle of Higher Education.

www.chronicle.com/article/wher...

I’ll admit it: part of me misses the days when I would start a conversation by talking about our research *interests.*

I want to give thanks to the PhD advisors who not only helped me translate my dissertation into something valuable for the business world.

They also opened up about their financial hardships. A career in academia involves serious life compromises. The straight talk motivated me to leave.

Here’s a reminder that many jobs allow you to do sociology, literature, philosophy, anthropology, history, rhetoric, or psychology.

Academia is just one of them.

Here’s a great job for fellow anthropologists looking to escape academia.

ibotta.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Ibotta/job/D...

As if life weren’t already tough for academics, we now watch Trump pick a head of the Department of Education whose chief task will be its dismantlement.

It’s that time of the year when tenure track postings are done.

How about you give that non-academic résumé a shot. Worst case, you waste some barely compensated time. More likely, you plant the seed of a career that blossoms into a future that doesn’t make you worry about this crap again.