Author: Jennifer Polk
-
Empathizing with adjuncts
During my final years as a PhD student, when most people in my cohort were applying for academic jobs, I wasn’t on the market. It was hard enough to focus on my dissertation, and I really wanted it done. I wasn’t in love with academia anymore, was doing occasional freelance work, and had savings in…
-
Transition Q & A: Sarah Kendzior
Sarah Kendzior earned her PhD in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is now a columnist for Al Jazeera English, a public speaker, a researcher and a consultant. Find her online at SarahKendzior.com and follow her on Twitter @sarahkendzior. What did you hope for in terms of employment as you completed your PhD? I started…
-
Marketing the PhD
We know the prevailing attitude within academia tends toward the “tenure-track or bust” end of the acceptable jobs spectrum, but the problem exists on the outside, too. Most of the time, people I’m talking to assume something very similar: that I will become a professor. A while back I was talking with an acquaintance about…
-
PhDs and entrepreneurialism
During my doctorate I worked occasionally as a freelance researcher and administrative assistant for a few small consultancies. After I defended, my plan was to continue doing this but on a more consistent basis, in the hopes of growing my client base or workload, and thus make more money. Well, that didn’t work out and…
-
Transition Q & A: Chris Humphrey
Chris Humphrey earned his PhD in medieval studies from the University of York. He’s currently a project manager at Triodos Bank. Find him online at Jobs on Toast, his website of “positive & practical support for PhD careers outside academia,” and follow him on Twitter @ChrisHumphrey. What did you hope for in terms of employment as…
-
Tackling “scholar’s hunch”
For a long time I’ve felt generally physically uncomfortable. I have to make a point of standing or sitting up straight. When I’m trying to sleep, I can’t figure out where to put my arms. All chairs seem designed to ruin my day. As a student, I spent hours at a time hunched over a…
-
Transition Q & As from around the web
Here are a couple interesting Q & As from Life After the PhD and Inside Higher Ed. Here’s an excerpt from an interview with Jessa Chupik, who transitioned from history PhD student to executive recruiter: Many students might be loath to leave the academy because they enjoy certain aspects of the job. How have you…
-
Should I give a workshop?
I’m part of a coaching group for women entrepreneurs, and last month I was challenged to come up with a workshop I could potentially offer. At first, this seemed an appropriate, exciting task. But over the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling now’s not yet time to be planning something this big. One way of…
-
Transition Q & A: Kimberley Yates
Kimberley Yates received her PhD in English from the University of Toronto in 1997 and completed a Masters of Information Studies in 2009. She is currently associate director of the Jackman Humanities Institute at the University of Toronto. What did you hope for in terms of employment as you completed your PhD? I was a…
-
My own worst enemy
I went on a date Monday night. It was with a man I didn’t know; we had dinner at a nice place. He’s a cook and restauranteur, which makes him, job-wise, quite unlike the people I’ve dated in the past. I was excited but also a bit nervous. We talked easily but I noticed myself—sometimes…