"I loved working in academia. Now, I'm so disappointed."

Dear Reader,

“I loved working in academia…. Now, I’m so disappointed.”

That’s the verdict of one of my clients who joined the PhD Career Clarity Program earlier this year. Here are others:

“Everything in academia is about money. Nothing else matters.”

“… the burnout, isolation and dissatisfaction are real.”

“I yearn for a truly collaborative work environment.”

And this, from another long-time professor:

“I have what is supposed to be the elusive dream job… There is so much I love about my job. In conversations with colleagues (who are also leaving), we’ve talked about how we’re so sad to leave, but what we want to stay for no longer exists.”

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it, when academia — often lauded for freedom of inquiry, dedication to critical thinking, and commitment to equity — doesn’t live up to our expectations?

Now, I know some of you might be thinking “welcome to the real world, Jen! Everything’s terrible.” And, yeah, I feel you.

(Global pandemic, genocide in Gaza, climate catastrophe, etc.)

But I don’t think it’s fair to simply dismiss disappointment in academia as the folly of youth, or whatever.

Especially when I know so many PhDs who experience truly great working conditions, do meaningful and fulfilling work, and enjoy their colleagues (and salaries)!

Professors, postdocs, and other academic laborers deserve better working conditions, including to be treated with respect by their colleagues and superiors, provided with the necessary tools and resources to do their jobs well, and paid appropriately.

All workers deserve these things, of course. And more besides.

I’m glad these long-time academics joined my program, and I feel privileged to support them as they figure out their next steps and get great job offers.

What’s Happening

Regular 90-minute weekly co-working continues on Wednesdays this month. Sign up here (it’s free): Co-Working Sessions.
Program members have access to all previously recorded workshops. A new live one is happening 26 April at 12pm EDT. Details TBA.
I host 60-minute co-working sessions most mornings on Flow Club. Use my signup link to get a free two-week trial: Join Flow Club.

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Did you see the eclipse on Monday?

It was cloudy here in Toronto and we were just outside the zone of totality (what a term), but it was still very neat! I saw the early stages (before the clouds took over) and experienced the weird brief fake twilight at 3:20pm. Downtown Toronto looked very eerie from my midtown 7th-story balcony!