Various twitter pundits are self-importantly stating that the Great Resignation will never hit academia, because nobody would give up an academic job. 17K members of the Professor Is Out Facebook private group would say otherwise, friends.
Other twitter pundits are self-importantly stating that those who DO quit academia are naive and foolish, because don’t they know that all the same problems exist “everywhere,” and NOTHING will be as good as an academic job. Again, thousands of members of the Professor Is Out private FB group talking about their delight in their non-academic jobs (some over many years) would say otherwise.
It’s just more academic exceptionalism and gaslighting.
Ponder this twitter convo, and tell me if you think The Great Resignation has not hit academia.
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I am a Professor Emeritus. 30 years at a Class 1 university. I taught law to Engineers and economists.
As a lawyer I always knew there were outside options.. Almost ANYTHING would pay better.
But I was married to a research physician, and raising a family. I loved my work. My research was published and used all over the world. I go the first NSF grant my department ever had. I was a Professor by 40. So I was a “success” I saw academics come and go for many reasons. Academia is not fore everyone . Universities are not family friendly. They are hostile to parents of any gender I can’t tell you as a male faculty member how many people assumed my wife would the one responsible for the children. At the university Senate I compared the University unfavorably to a bordello, since there are things a bordello won’t do for money. I was in a department with such vicious politics it was abolished and the faculty moved. I chaired committees dealing with petty unfair treatment. Salary differentials were irrational
Our older daughter got a top flight stem PhD and went with the Federal Government instead of academia. . But for all that I loved the job, the research and students.
I’m retiring after 21 years–5 years as an adjunct, 16 as an instructor (I spent 30 years working in other businesses before going to academia). I have a boss who seems to favor men (our last three Ph.D. hires have been men); we have one female Ph.D. on our department faculty. Three of the instructors and most of our adjuncts are female. I’m tired of teaching gened writing classes (sometimes 3 a semester, online) and not having the opportunity to teach other classes. I’m looking forward to staying home with my animals, especially with COVID rampaging, still, and the university’s insistent on on-campus classes. I’m 70 years old; I’d rather teach online. Better yet, I’d rather be retired!
I’m trying to move on from academia but am having little success. I have non-profit experience before starting my PhD, but apparently it’s not of much help. I’m actually currently in a postdoc position at my alma mater because I couldn’t even get an interview in over 40 applications outside of the academy. I’m actively applying outside academia now, after no luck on the academic market again, and so far the same disheartening results. I’ve had my resume and cover letter workshopped and reviewed by several people in the industries I am targeting, so I don’t think I’m misfiring on that front.
Please do visit the Prof Is Out private page for moral support and advice, and if you’d like personal coaching from our team, please email at postaccareers@gmail.com.