Illustration by Maame Ekua Acquah.
Happy Friday from Southern California.
“You are stripping PhDs of their agency.”
That statement is a brand new accusation I received this week that I found intriguing. I’m going to address it in today’s newsletter.
I’ve been writing about post-PhD career prep for almost 6 years now.
While my writing is often well-received, I’ve also been on the receiving end of comments like the ones above.
After more than half a decade, I’ve grown somewhat used to them.
Not everyone will agree with me. And that’s okay.
“You are stripping PhDs of their agency.”
If you’ve read my writing for longer than 5 minutes, then you know that this statement is the EXACT OPPOSITE of everything I write and stand for.
But I understand what the person might have been getting at.
If you have been in the academic system for 20+ years, you have likely heard narratives like:
“Just work hard. All your hard work will pay off in the end.”
“Statistically, PhDs are the highest earners in the workforce.”
“Straight A student! And you got a PhD? You will never have to worry about a job.”
Teachers probably really liked you in school and intentionally or unintentionally showed you extra favor.
You have carried the label of “smart person” with you your whole life, and it has opened doors for you.
And then, you finish school.
And while for some, those narratives might be very true, for others, it’s not.
That brutal reality is soul-crushing. I know because I lived it.
Since 2021, I have received 1000+ private DMs and emails from PhD students and early-career PhDs.
A good half of those messages are individuals lamenting their disillusionment after a PhD.
Side story: I once went on a 3-hour rabbit hole on PhD Reddit. Wow. Let’s just say the gift of anonymity opens up a lot of raw feelings that sometimes sent a skittering of goosebumps all over my skin. I haven’t been back since. Once was enough.
I wrote this article in Science a little over a year ago about reclaiming my agency after being laid off and spending several months on the job market.
In that article, I warn, AND I encourage. This is how I write: I warn and encourage.
So yes:
– I will confirm that overemphasizing your published papers when you’re applying for a role that cares nothing about your papers is a waste of time.
But then I will tell you that if you tweak how you are communicating your experiences, you will improve your chances of getting ahead.
– I will tell you to forget everything you think you know about the world being merit-based.
But then I will tell you that if you can make a potential employer visualize you being in a role by discussing how your past work makes you the best candidate for the role in an interview, you will increase the chance of landing that job.
– I will warn you that no institution or company is coming to save you.
And then, remind you that your PhD is your superpower and you can wield those skills whichever way you wish.
I always warn about the half-truths we’ve been served most of our lives.
For some, hearing those realities exposed feels uncomfortable. I am guessing this is where the commenter’s accusation came from. But I never stop at the discomfort. That’s not the whole goal.
I also encourage with tools, resources, and examples that help you wield your power.
Why?
Because showing BOTH sides of the coin is how people will gain a balanced view of what their degrees truly mean in today’s world.
Thoughts? Email me back and let me know.
Until next time.
Gertrude Nonterah, Ph.D.