Overview: Leaving Academia
Careers in higher education are interesting but like any other job, they can have a turnover rate. People are known to leave academia, whether it’s to retire or seek other horizons. Academia is just like any other career in that it’s easy to make it your identity. Doing academic research and teaching or writing major articles for publication becomes a huge source of personal pride, and giving that up does require a period of adjustment for the faculty member, whether or not they’re an adjunct faculty or not. The same holds true for long term students who are forced to leave the campus behind for the job market.
Reasons People Leave Academia
People leave careers in higher education for many reasons. Some may find greater pay in the private sector while others desire more free time through an improved work life balance. Leaving academia is a serious decision because once you’re out, it’s very challenging to get back in. Below are a few of the most common reasons:
- Location
- Scholarship Issues
- Work Life Balance
1. Location
Location is key for those who choose to pursue a career on a college campus. Most will choose the most prestigious universities for the simple fact that it looks good on a CV. In a sense, some sort of personal sacrifice is made, and you may end up choosing an Ivy League institution even though it’s located in an area that’s unsuitable for you. You may even dislike the area for being too remote.
A strong preference for remaining close to your hometown could impact location decisions. So can having to decide between working for a teaching college or a research university. If any of these concerns become an issue, then a career in higher education may not be an appropriate choice.
2. Scholarship Issues
Institutions of higher learning often have certain limitations of time on project deadlines. Even adjunct faculty can have this issue at times.
Those facing scholarship issues in their chosen fields often face multiple faculty meetings, paper revisions, and grant deadlines that can impact the joy of research. This problem is more common in higher learning where grant money is used as a primary source for financing research. If something isn’t completed by the indicated deadline, then funding is lost for the project. If you prefer something that pays better and with greater flexibility, then it might be best to find something after academia.
3. Work Life Balance
In academia, it is not uncommon to spend long hours doing research, writing and editing, and attending faculty meetings. There may be times when you’ll find yourself bringing your work home. You can avert this by either switching to an adjunct faculty position or by leaving the higher education for something more flexible and less intense.
Seeking Help
Higher education is just like any other job in that there are problems which occur in the workplace. Although the field may be personally rewarding, it’s not for everyone. Switching to another career may be the better choice, and there are ways to seek advice.
To learn more about how Dr. Loren M. Hill can help you with this transition, schedule your call today!