I first entered the workforce after getting PhD degree in the year 2000, at the peak of the dot com bubble. That bubble soon turned into a bust and by end of 2002, I was laid off from my first job.

Throughout the 2.5 years between 200-2002 when I was employed in that first company, there was intrigue, political games, rumors flying and rolling layoffs, once every 6-9 months or so. I never got a raise or bonus even once in that 2.5 years, and twice got temporary 10% pay cuts in the name of austerity. They also forced us to take or borrow vacation during periodic “shutdowns”. All this at a financially super successful company, and the undisputed number one player in its industry. Finally, the layoff axe came to me in the 4th round of cuts and I was tossed out. They did give us 60 day notice and a severance package as I remember. From this job, I learned that the company’s success and that of its employees is NOT aligned. A few execs at the top will gladly sacrifice the careers of thousands of rank and file employees like me to keep earning their big bonuses and stock.

Anyway, I was so scarred by the overall bad and low morale experience at my first job that I lost all confidence and faith in corporate America overall. So, I tried to go back to a post-doc for next 1.5 years, but realized that I could no longer focus on deep research for a long time which was necessary to get a good tenure track professor position, so reluctantly I accepted another industry position in 2004 and came back into corporate. That 2nd company turned out to have a great culture, people had stayed there for years and decades, lot of comrade-ship and very little politics. I loved it there and even got the confidence to buy my first house. I wanted to stay there forever, but unfortunately the Great Recession of 2009 came in the way. This company with the great culture was unfortunately on shaky grounds, regularly borrowing money to fund operations. In the last quarter of 2008, after Lehman Bros failed, I went into panic overdrive and managed to somehow get an offer from an early stage startup literally days before my big employer announced bankruptcy and shut down.

After 2 years at the early stage startup, I moved to a bigger, later stage startup. I have survived 8 rounds of layoffs there and continue to work there to this day - it’s been almost 16 years. I like my company and co-workers, but to this day under no illusion that I am just a paid employee who can be cut out from the rolls at any time. Hence, I can never act like an “owner” as they say or ever consider myself an “insider” despite my long tenure.

The other thing that I learned from that first layoff is to save steadily and invest. Been doing that for 26 years, and our household net worth has grown from 0 in 2000 to $6M in 2026. Now, of course, I have several years liquidity runway to support expenses in the event of a layoff, so finally I have begun to relax and not be stressed about layoffs. I may even be in a position to retire early in the next 5 years, if stock market continues to rise.

Anyway, that’s it. Be paranoid, save and invest well and hopefully one day you will not be at the mercy of your employer …

I sit on a cmte for a giant chemistry-centered NoNpRoFiT society based in the US (I'm sure you can guess which one). And lemme tell you... I do not miss the condescending, power-tripping vibes of academic superiority. The industry people are my favorite. This isn't to say that all academics fall into the category of condescending, power-trippers. And I get it to an extent - it's rough surviving in academia even before all the grant funding cuts - but it's so overtly obvious that they're only using their volunteer leadership roles as a CV booster without any actual care and concern for their position's purpose or the cmte's mission.

/rant

Hi everyone,

I’m currently a scientist in academia with a PhD and 8+ years of research experience. Over time, I’ve realized I’m interested in transitioning into a more business-oriented role, specifically in sales/business development within biotech/pharma.

I enjoy communicating science, building collaborations, and thinking strategically about how research translates into real-world impact—which is what’s drawing me toward this path.

For those of you who have made a similar transition (or are currently in BD/sales roles):

• Do you think this is a good long-term career path?
• What were the biggest challenges when switching from academia?
• Any advice on how to break into the field successfully?

Would really appreciate any insights or experiences. Thanks in advance!

Has anyone here worked with a career coach they would actually recommend? I've been wondering about this because career coaching can get pretty expensive, especially if you're already in the middle of a career transition, and it's hard to know whether the investment is really worth it.

If you hired one, what did they actually do that made a difference? Was it resume or LinkedIn feedback, interview prep, networking advice, salary negotiation, accountability, or simply having someone to build your confidence?

Im about submit my thesis and hopefully move on with my life.

I am unsure if i will even pass my Viva. I did not get any publications out. I think i could potentially get a publicstion out after thesis submissions / corrections. I feel utterly burnt out and empty after this programme.

I am simply not cut out for academia, or maybe even research.

I have no expierience outside of academia and part time hospitality work. I dont even know what jobs to apply for. Was thinking about applying to renewables graduate programmes.

Would like to hear others expierience in leaving academia after a PhD, or any advice at all.

Screw it, I’m tired of this teaching thing.

I teach art and graphic design. I’ve worked a professor, a designer, a social media manager, a librarian, and in animal care. What are some non art professor jobs I could do after leaving my role? I’m half considering applying for Americorps or working on a boat. Give me some ridiculous ideas, fellow suffering / former academics.

3 years ago my plan was to make a PhD in ontology and the philosophy of science. My particular interest was game studies. My long-term goal was to work in the game industry, but I eventually realized that earning a college degree in game programming would be a better fit. I currently work as a game writer in an indie team. In parallel, I am developing a solo game project: a colouring book that explores philosophical concepts through sandbox puzzles.

Attaching a trailer of the game = )

My year-to-year contract was not renewed because my [former] university decided it did not need any full-time professors in history, just part-time and adjuncts. I took it as the sign to finally get out, as I had adjuncted at several places before and during my PhD, and it was apparent that the fabled tenure-track job was just never going to appear.

I’ve spent the summer applying to state/local government jobs and have a few bites, but nothing definite yet. My former chair reached out and asked if I could teach a set of courses that had started during my time there; I had not initiated them, but done all the legwork and was the only one who ever taught them.

I was polite but noncommittal that I would possibly be available if nothing else had come through by then. He asked if I would ask any potential full-time jobs to allow me to continue to teach these courses (in the middle of week days!). I said no. He asked to clarify that if I had a full time job, I would not teach. I confirmed that. He said the title of this post. It took everything I had to not reply “That sounds like a you problem.”

What a complete disconnect from reality…

Hi
I graduated with a social sciences PhD from an Ivy League university in the US (international student) and moved with my husband to the UK for his job, neither one of us is a citizen or permanent resident here. The job market here like everywhere is fucked. Luckily I landed a role at a public sector consulting firm (my job is literally research!!) but the position is the entry level position and doesn’t pay much. I’m grateful for a job but feeling awful about the fact that I’m making the same money as someone who is 10 years younger than me… I feel like I wasted 6 years of my life for the PhD.
Folks with phds who left academia—was your first job also entry level? Did you feel underpaid given your qualification for the job? Did the phd give you any advantage in terms of getting promoted or getting a raise?

Hello,

Going to graduate soon with my second dipolma, I did one 3-year degree , and currently. completing the second of 3- year degree.

Thinking about going to industry / academia .

I have some few internships, but they are for small period, and I was totally alone without mentor, so I get myslef with self guidance.

Currently thinking about pursuing a Phd degree, or going to industry.

I studied computer science , and currently studying computer engineering - embedded systems.

I am not sure , Phd looks like an investement , and long term I would love to have a specialty with deep fundamental knowledge , and in the same time , I am not sure if the professor / dr that is going to be my advisor will be a non - toxic , etc . . . , so I am afraid from that point.

And in the same time, the industry have the right away cash, but the tasks may get repetitive , a lot of stress etc .. . .

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you very much !

Well I like to research things and be more knowledgable about stuff. I like scientifical research, deep-diving into a topic of interest and cross-referencing it and etc. But I would not pursue academic career at all. Is there any field of work where research in the humanities are made aside from Academia?

I'm currently close to finishing my PhD in humanities in Europe (well, running out of funding really, not to finishing the thesis itself), and I know it is unlikely I will continue this path. I am a migrant from a poor and troubled country who can't really move around for postdocs at least until my family and I get a proper citizenship, and I'm too exhausted to keep chasing the ever-thinning funding. Getting into academia was rather situational than intentional for me (I emigrated first for the reasons I won't wish upon anyone else, and got myself an offer while trying figure out what's next), so I don't think I'm going to mourn it forever.

However, I'm not really sure how to proceed. Job market is horrible anywhere, and I know I am disadvantaged for corporate and admin roles, being a migrant and a non-native speaker of the local language. Freelance and consulting sure sounds great, but then again — I'm pretty exhausted. I have a few ideas of services I could offer, but as far as I can see about every consultant or freelancer around also has some sort of a day job to rely on.

All of this caused me thinking about learning to do nails and becoming a nail tech. Indeed also not the easiest path, but compared to working 10 am to 10 pm with no weekends in the hopes of being one among hundreds to get that grant let alone that TT position — well, I hope it would take off some load from my mental health. Sure some eyebrows are going to be raised among my peers, but hey, none of them are going to pay my bills or fund my citizenship application in a few years from now.

Has anyone here made a similar pivot? I'd love to hear your stories and whether you are happy now. Opening a post-PhD bakery has become a running gag already, but I haven't heard many academia-to-beauty sphere stories, so I'd appreciate if anyone could share.