FAQ
Q: Should I leave academia?
A: I don’t know. It’s obviously a cliche to say, “Only you can answer that question,” but dude, really, only you can answer that question. What I can do is provide you with information to inform your decision. Read on (and listen on. And watch on, too).
Q: What’s the best way to use this website?
A: The best way to use this site is to subscribe to it by clicking on the “subscribe” button in the top right hand corner. That way, you get each and every post delivered to your inbox or your RSS feed reader. The second way to use the site is to use the category sections at the top. When you’re navigating the site and are looking for specific content, those categories serve as a kind of table of contents for the site. On the other hand, you can also use the list of tags, or post topics, that’s found in the left-hand column. Those are like categories in the index of a book. If you have something specific in mind, use the search function in the left hand column. And if you’re just here to explore, comb through the archive (also found on the far left side). And while you’re reading, why not be listening, too? Click on the podcast category (at the top) or tag (on the left) to access interviews with former academics.
Q: If you’re going to leave academia, when should you do it?
A: Funny you should ask–there’s a post about that here.
Q: Can you find me a post-academic job?
A: No. But if you live in Toronto, you can ask me if I know anyone who works in a certain sector, organization or field that you could do an information interview with. If you’re nice, sociable and not creepy, I might be able to connect you to people who might be able to help you.
Q: Then what can you do for me?
A: Well, I’m no longer accepting new clients, so other than creating a site that shows that you’re not the only one who’s ever had to meet the challenge of this kind of career change, probably not a heck of a lot.
Q: Will you be my Facebook friend?
A: Unless we are friends in person, or were friends in person in the past, then no, I will not be your Facebook friend. We can be Twitter buddies, though.
Q: Isn’t it true that most of your advice comes down to knowing your skills, focusing on your values, doing information interviews, networking and being open to possibilities?
A: Yes.
Q: Isn’t it irresponsible to be so positive? You are aware that we’re in the midst of a recession, right?
A: My working assumption is that if you’re smart enough to get yourself into a Ph.D. program, you’re smart enough to get yourself out of one. My positive philosophy about career change is partly a result of my glass-is-half-full attitude/personality, but it’s also borne out in the “anecdata” I’ve collected through my interviews. MAs and PhDs find work in non-academic sectors ALL THE TIME. So why can’t you be one of them–even in a recession? Yes, I do believe that life is too short to stay in a job or career path that makes you miserable; if you think it’s irresponsible to look for satisfaction (let alone happiness) during a recession, then we should just stay in our separate corners of the blogosphere.
Q: I’m not really sure what I want to do with my life if it’s not teaching.
A: If you’re at the stage where what you really need is someone to help you re-imagine your life in a new career, I would highly recommend you talk to Jamie Ridler. Her forté is precisely helping people put their restless feelings into do-able goals and put their dreams into action. No, she didn’t pay me to say that. She is a dear friend of mine, but I am also speaking from my experience of working with her.
Q: Who are you referring to when you talk about “grad students”? In the U.S., a grad student is someone doing a M.A., M.F.A., M.B.A., and the like.
A: I’m Canadian. This is a Canadian site. It’s got Canadian spelling and Canadian lingo (no Canadian bacon, though). That includes using the phrase “grad student” to refer to people doing Master’s degrees and Ph.D.s. When I say “contract faculty,” that’s Canada-speak for “adjunct faculty.” When I say “university,” that’s typically what would be considered a research university in the U.S.
Q: I left a comment on your blog and it didn’t appear right away. Then I emailed you to inform you, and you didn’t reply right away. What gives?
A: I moderate all comments by first-time commenters. Though I do check and reply within 24 hours to emails sent Monday to Friday during normal business hours, I suspend email use on the weekends. Therefore, if you leave a comment on the blog on a Saturday morning, I won’t get notification to moderate it until Monday morning.
Q: What is your comments policy?
A: Writing a comment at Leaving Academia is kinda like being a visitor in my home, so there are minimum standards of decorum I expect commenters to adhere to. If you can’t enlighten us with your genius or amuse us with your comic wit, at least be respectful. Any comments that I deem to be offensive (i.e. sexist, racist, homophobic, able-ist) will be deleted.
Got a question you want answered? Drop me a line at sabine [at] leavingacademia [dot] com.
