4 ms·

Because they've invested 5-10 years of their lives in a doctorate, publications, and connections that are specifically aimed at an academic position and very li

by gipp 8y ago

Because they've invested 5-10 years of their lives in a doctorate, publications, and connections that are specifically aimed at an academic position and very little good for anything else. Adjuctships are a holding pattern that allows you to still be "part" of the academy and thus leaves the tenure track dream alive, however tenuously. Leaving is admitting that your whole career, and probably sense of personal identity, has to be discarded and rebuilt from scratch in your mid 30s.

deleted 8y ago
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chrisseaton 8y ago
I'm sure there are relevant industry jobs for people no matter what their PhD is in.
- gipp 8y ago
  I admire your optimism. https://gizmodo.com/there-are-5-000-janitors-in-the-u-s-with-phds-5671062 https://gizmodo.com/there-are-5-000-janitors-in-the-u-s-with...
- geezerjay 8y ago
  That's the sort of cargo cult mentality that has been fueling abusive work relations in higher education.
bkohlmann 8y ago
I think you’ve hit a key psychological insight. And they have a choice to also push through an existential Sunk Cost fallacy. I spent the first 11 years of my professional career in the Navy flying airplanes. It was a niche skill set. When I left, I had the airlines available, by I would’ve been bored to tears in the job. So at 35 I started over in a new career. It’s been challenging - but there is a future. I’m 6-8 years (at least) “behind” my colleagues. The choices we make have consequences. And if you have your health, you can always choose to change your course.
- bluedino 8y ago
  You could spent nine more in the navy, retired with a pension, and got a cushy DoD/government job (assuming you wanted to live near a base or government contractor)
  - bkohlmann 8y ago
    True. Even better is flying for the airlines and taking a reserve flying gig to get the reserve retirement. Wasn’t for me.
- souprock 8y ago
  Flying that won't bore you to tears: 1. service to antarctic bases 2. water bombing forest fires 3. test pilot for a Navy contractor 4. dirt airstrips in Alaska, with animals on the runway and weather 5. dirt airstrips in Lesoto, short and high altitude 6. Zero Gravity Corporation (commercial "vomit comet")

by gipp 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

chrisseaton 8y ago

I'm sure there are relevant industry jobs for people no matter what their PhD is in.

gipp 8y ago
I admire your optimism. https://gizmodo.com/there-are-5-000-janitors-in-the-u-s-with-phds-5671062 https://gizmodo.com/there-are-5-000-janitors-in-the-u-s-with...
geezerjay 8y ago
That's the sort of cargo cult mentality that has been fueling abusive work relations in higher education.

bkohlmann 8y ago

I think you’ve hit a key psychological insight. And they have a choice to also push through an existential Sunk Cost fallacy. I spent the first 11 years of my professional career in the Navy flying airplanes. It was a niche skill set. When I left, I had the airlines available, by I would’ve been bored to tears in the job. So at 35 I started over in a new career. It’s been challenging - but there is a future. I’m 6-8 years (at least) “behind” my colleagues. The choices we make have consequences. And if you have your health, you can always choose to change your course.

bluedino 8y ago
You could spent nine more in the navy, retired with a pension, and got a cushy DoD/government job (assuming you wanted to live near a base or government contractor)
- bkohlmann 8y ago
  True. Even better is flying for the airlines and taking a reserve flying gig to get the reserve retirement. Wasn’t for me.
souprock 8y ago
Flying that won't bore you to tears: 1. service to antarctic bases 2. water bombing forest fires 3. test pilot for a Navy contractor 4. dirt airstrips in Alaska, with animals on the runway and weather 5. dirt airstrips in Lesoto, short and high altitude 6. Zero Gravity Corporation (commercial "vomit comet")