Articles
This one’s for the over-doers.
I once exclaimed to my husband, "I think I'm a lazy person." To which he gave me the most "get out of here with that nonsense" look. At the time, I felt being "lazy" was the reason I was "failing" in my career, and why my attempts at finding a non-academic role were...
Meaningful work doesn’t pay the bills. Why you SHOULD get paid more as a PhD.
I've recently laid off the "money and PhDs" issue because that always brings out the "you-know-who" folks. I would like to re-state it though. You can do all the "meaningful work" you want. But at the end of the day, gas pumps, landlords, and the electric company are...
Unpopular opinion: Don’t follow your passion
Should you follow your “passion” when it comes to your career? Now comes my unpopular opinion. As romantic as following your passion sounds, it is tricky. Hear me out. I honestly never knew I was passionate about writing. Until I was well into my thirties, I had no...
Networking is a long game
Networking is a long game. During my post-doc, I attended a career event and that is where I learned about scientists who were making a living writing. The panel consisted of 4 people - one who had leveraged his PhD and launched a successful novelist career, two...
Why I left academia
"Why did you leave academia?" My answer. I don't hate academia. I LOVE IT. I think it's because college campuses make me feel like I'm in my 20s again - a time of my life I enjoyed thoroughly. Anyway, why did I leave? I did not leave completely. I was still teaching...
Why nobody can help you choose your “dream” career (PLUS what to do instead)
“I have a PhD in XYZ. I know I don’t want to be in academia. Could you recommend a career path for me?” Here’s why I can’t. I am definitely one of those crazy people who believes you should do work you love, and which aligns with your goals and values. "A tad...
You did not go to school JUST to get a job.
More than 10 years ago, I had a professor who told me, "Your education is supposed to make you think and be a problem-solver, not just fill a job title." That was a game-changer for me. As I've gotten older, the idea has been cemented for me: when it comes to careers,...
20 non-academic career paths PhDs should consider!
You want to do something outside of academia or which does not require teaching or academic research but you're not sure where to get started? Here are 20+ career paths PhDs can consider that do not involve teaching or academic research (for both STEM and non-STEM...
What I learned from applying to two high-paying jobs in 2022
I recently applied to two high-paying roles: one in academia and one outside of academia. I landed both of them in the SAME week. Eventually, I chose to stay on the non-academic path. Here's what I learned through the process. The power of building independent career...