career exploration Archives - Beyond The Tenure Track

Pushing Through the Fear

FatimahPhD2018-10-02T02:29:26+00:00June 14th, 2016|

Part 3 of a 3-part series, Pushing Through the Fear Get information and take advantage of resources in support of your goal. Information and experimentation can take the fear out of the unknown. Regardless of what specific career path you’ve chosen, the more prepared and knowledgeable you are about your prospective career choice, the easier the transition and job acquisition will be. Take time to nurture your goal. There are no shortcuts in getting what you want, but at least you are working toward a goal and vision that you can own rather than one that was handed to you as default because supposedly “people with a degree in __________ do this ___________ (fill in the career)” or “people your age do that__________” (fill in the career)—or any other standard line you’ll hear. To be prepared for your goal, do your research into [...]

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Are you ready to be part of the 75%?

FatimahPhD2018-10-02T02:29:26+00:00April 19th, 2016|

A recent study revealed that about 75% of PhDs will work in environments where other competencies are more important than research (Stoddard & Campa 2014). Now, more than ever it’s important to build the competencies and skills you are gaining on a daily basis in your graduate programs and to identify where you need to grow your skills to be competitive in the postacademic workplace. You may be asking, When should I start building skills for postacademic careers? I get this question a lot from graduate students who wonder when is the right time to begin devoting energy to building skills and exploring careers that will serve them beyond the academy. I totally understand the concern: you have a lot of work to do just to successfully get through your program, so you don’t want to get distracted too early. When it [...]

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Will my degree get me the job I want?

FatimahPhD2018-10-02T02:29:26+00:00April 12th, 2016|

Somewhere along the way graduate students may begin to assess their desire to complete their degree. The length of the program, the feeling of delayed rewards, doubts about the possibility of landing a tenure track position, and questions about the applicability of your degree outside the ivory tower are just a few of the reasons that prompt this assessment. During my campus workshops, I often get the question: Should I finish the dissertation? My goal is that all grad students and PhDs understand that they have both career options and the tools that they need in order to access the options as needed or desired. So before making what is a huge decision with long lasting ramifications for both your personal and professional lives, consider applying the following questions to your individual circumstance: Where am I in my program? Perhaps you are [...]

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Career Options webinar

FatimahPhD2018-10-02T02:29:26+00:00December 10th, 2015|

I had a blast last week providing a career webinar for my alma mater, the University of Virginia. The UVA Alumni Association invited me to present on "Career Options for Academics and Other Intellectuals" in a 60-minute webinar. I'm excited to share that webinar with you here. Thank you for making 2015 a fantastic year! The team here at Beyond the Tenure Track will be taking a short break until after the holidays. We'll be back with great content in 2016, so recharge, reflect on your milestone achievements this year, and get ready to work towards your goals with us in the new year. Have a safe and happy holiday. Fatimah Session title: Career Options for Academics and Other Intellectuals [webinar link, https://youtu.be/K6KbOxcy38Y ] Session description: Graduate students, postdocs, and PhDs are primarily trained to enter careers in academic teaching and research. But where [...]

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