How to know if it’s time to quit academia

[@johannamartinez5463]

I finished my phd and I knew that was time to quit academia!!!

[@AdvaiticOneness1]

Which PhD you have?

[@johannamartinez5463]

@@AdvaiticOneness1 In Biology, focused on forest functioning.

[@SaraMKay]

@@johannamartinez5463of course

[@ciobalina7445]

The thing is that in academia the schedule is very chaotic and the work constantly interferes with your personal time, like weekends and vacation time. So people get fed-up after some time. And its more inflexible than other jobs because you can't just quit in the middle of the semester. So you feel stuck. You're basically working non-stop for minimum pay (think adjuncting 5-10 years until you actually get tenure) for a long time until you get to a somewhat comfortable financial space.

[@catherinedalzell3183]

I decided to leave academia as a young academic. Several older academics quietly told me that they envied me, and if that they were younger, they would leave also. It was sad. I have no regrets about my decision, by the way.

[@Hirogen24]

Yep. 30 years in academia unless I was willing to stay until 2.00 am to do the research, it would not be done. It is a toxic environment, and believe me when I say I am neither a snow-flake nor a push-over, and still the levels of stress sometimes were through the roof. Can't wait to get out in the very near future. I will miss the teaching, and I will continue doing research, but I will be very glad to drop the rest of the garbage.

[@os2171]

I finished my PhD and I have suffered so much abuse (even from previous MSc and PhD programs… in both Colombia and the USA… so isn’t a cultural thing related with a country but with the institution of university... and its not me because it had happened systematically to many phd and postdocs around me ) my list of papers is not espectacular (4-5) , I’m 45 years old and im still without a professor position… I might need a postdoctoral position… change my country (I’m on Colombia… I’m willing but I have to navigate it with my wife)… I love writing, doing experiments, analyzing data, teaching but its now almost impossible to get a position…. Any advice would help.

[@mprone]

TL;DW As soon as you finish your PhD and you find a job in industry (which will pay you 2-3x a postdoc salary in the 99% of the cases). You're welcome.

[@AdvaiticOneness1]

Academia is not for introverts like me, so i stopped it just after MS

[@annas4191]

it's always time.

[@dribrahimel-nahhal2477]

Thank you for posting this video.

[@davidmendoza1300]

So…someone basically wins the lottery by obtaining a full time position, and they want to quit? Are you kidding me? Some of these jobs have over 800 people apply for one position. I would move to the Mississippi or Alaska if there was a job opening.

[@Vickiehou]

I started to work in a school and all the stories I heard makes me want to quit now. I decided to be here for at least a year before quitting.

[@MrKB1007]

This is so good. Thank you

[@pandurangsontakke9731]

The best video, very thoughtful

[@andrewnguyen3312]

When you actually need money.