Navigating a career in academia and beyond
If you are unsure of what to do next, you are not alone
PhD graduates who decide to pursue an academic career normally face years of fixed-term contracts before they find more permanent roles. This reality manifests as barriers to career progression, especially for women and ethnic minorities. Coupled with the scarcity of permanent academic jobs, these are some reasons why many PhDs leave academia for more commercial roles, and why I did too. But the fundamentally different working cultures and behaviours of the commercial world can be daunting.
On paper, my CV reveals success in business following a promising research career. But it hides the physical and mental health challenges I faced along the way: stress, imposter syndrome and financial insecurity. Social media bombards us with how amazing everyone’s lives are, which makes it difficult to open up when we face difficulties. To fight this toxic positivity, I share my career mistakes with PhD students at careers events, online, and in my book, A Jobseeker’s Diary. Although it is embarrassing revealing my flaws, I do so to break down stigmas associated with career unhappiness. Below are the lessons I have learnt the hard way, on how to progress your career in academia and beyond.