Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide

Leaving Academia is a must-read guide for grad students and academics seeking fulfilling careers outside higher education. It offers valuable advice to those interested in nonacademic work, visiting and adjunct instructors, scholars caught in "tenure-trap" jobs, and committed academics who want to support their students and contingent colleagues.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press

An essential guide for graduate students and academics seeking fulfilling careers outside of higher education, it is disheartening to note that approximately ninety-three percent of graduate students in the humanities and social sciences will not secure a tenure-track job. Despite this daunting statistic, many individuals still hold the misguided belief that a tenured professorship is the sole successful outcome for a PhD. In the face of an ongoing academic job market crisis, Leaving Academia emerges as a valuable resource for grad students and academics across all scholarly fields. Written in a concise and pragmatic manner, the book offers invaluable advice to visiting and adjunct instructors who are ready to explore new opportunities, scholars who find themselves trapped in "tenure-trap" jobs, grad students interested in pursuing nonacademic careers, and committed academics who wish to support their students and contingent colleagues more effectively.

After earning a PhD in classics from the University of Virginia and teaching at Tulane, Christopher Caterine made the decision to leave academia and pursue a career in corporate consulting. During his career transition, he conducted over 150 informational interviews and subsequently interviewed twelve other professionals who had transitioned from higher education to diverse fields. Drawing upon his extensive experience, Caterine assists readers in charting their own path toward a fulfilling new career. He addresses a multitude of critical issues, including overcoming psychological challenges, translating academic experience for nonacademics, and navigating the complexities of securing a first job in a new field.

Leaving Academia provides clear and actionable steps to navigate each stage of your career change, even when the journey becomes challenging. It is both realistic and filled with hope, offering a roadmap for individuals who are ready to embrace new opportunities and pursue their passions outside of the traditional academic realm.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691200194