what to do with my degree Archives - Beyond The Tenure Track

If not academia, then what?

fatimahphd2018-10-02T02:29:29+00:00January 31st, 2014|Tags: alternative careers for academics, alternative careers for PhDs, applied jobs for PhDs, career development for PhDs, career transition, careers for PhDs, careers outside academia, careers outside the academy, humanities PhDs, informational interview, non-ac, nonacademic careers, professional development, quitting academia, what to do with my degree|

*Disclaimer: I'm writing this post on the go so I will return later to fill out the piece in a subsequent post. I've gotten lots of questions about career exploration (aka, how do I know what I'd do outside the academy). Chances are if you've been in academia for years you are not very familiar with sectors outside of education. Heck, most PhDs don't really consider education beyond higher ed and the professoriate. So when you get curious about what else you'd do besides becoming a tenure track professor, the options ahead can look unclear at best. If you've asked "if not academia, then what?", you are really asking a question about how to determine which career or job is right for you. There may be no one "right" career or job for you. However, when exploring your options you want to [...]

FAQ: How do I get a job doing what I love?

fatimahphd2018-10-02T02:29:29+00:00January 6th, 2014|Tags: alt-ac, alt-ac careers, alternative careers for academics, applied jobs for PhDs, Career changer, career transition, careers outside of academe, careers outside the academy, graduate school, humanities PhDs, nontraditional careers for academics, quitting academia, what to do with my degree|

I've been compiling a list of FAQs that I receive from graduate students and PhDs so that I can share insights with you. I'll occasionally post these FAQs and my responses in an effort to show that you're not the only one asking real, practical questions about nonacademic careers and to help you think through your career journey. This FAQ is from a client consultation I did via email with a prospective graduate student in filmmaking, who has a background in Anthropology and Digital Media. CLIENT FAQ: "I'm mostly looking for mentorship and guidance with some issues I'm struggling with in terms of my future professional pursuits. I know that I am not satisfied with the reality of pursuing filmmaking in isolation of my passion for community outreach and organizing, academia, writing and minority advocacy. However, I am stuck in discovering a way to integrate [...]

To Finish or Not to Finish, that is the Question

fatimahphd2018-10-02T02:29:29+00:00August 5th, 2013|Tags: alt-ac careers, nonacademic careers, should I finish my PhD, what to do with my degree|

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?It's an understatement to say that this is a huge question with ramifications on your personal and professional lives. While no one can answer this question for you, there are a few questions you may ask yourself to guide your decision making process:Where am I in my program? Perhaps you are at a stage in your program when leaving represents minimal risk in terms of money or time spent. I [...]

If not academia, then what?

FAQ: How do I get a job doing what I love?

To Finish or Not to Finish, that is the Question

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