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The struggle (mander.xyz)
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[-] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 40 points 1 month ago

I played the game for a long time. Then I went to industry and never looked back.

I totally, totally get people who stay in academia. I've had and in a way still have the dream. But: the struggle is just as bad if not worse than industry, while the money in industry is much, much better.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago

Any recommendations for how to break through into industry?

[-] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 15 points 1 month ago

It will be largely dependent on your industry. But I do have a couple general comments:

  1. If you're coming from academia, you almost certainly value your degree more than an employer will, at least at first. Certainly, some industry positions will require a Masters and some may even be PhD preferred. But this is going to be an extreme minority of positions, such that there are far more people with MAs and PhDs than positions (same problem as professorships in academia). You will almost certainly need to cast a wider net than you might feel is appropriate.

  2. Getting a foot in the door is almost always more important than finding the perfect role early on. Plan to iteravely improve your positions and "fall up." Just as lecturing or adjunct positions are a reality of academia, job hopping is increasingly a part of industry life. If you do it right (try and stay in positions around 2 years, then start looking at other options) you'll get a significant raise every time you hop -- typically way more than you would get staying put. The perfect role may come, but it won't be your first. Probably not your second either, so focus on building industry experience rather than one specific job.

  3. Since you'll need to cast a wider net, you may be applying for roles which do not require postgrad stuff. It will be necessary to show transferrable skills rather than relying on academic experience or accolades. I've felt that my academic experience has been helpful everywhere, but people don't tend to get hired for that alone for most positions. It is imperative that you are able to show your worth in a way that is not pointing at a piece of paper. From a hiring standpoint, if it is between you with degree(s) and another applicant who may have far less academically but showed the skills, the employer will pick the other person most times, because they likely suspect you want more money on the basis of having the degrees.

Just a few things that come to mind. But of course, once you get those first couple roles under your belt, it's a different story. "This person has years of good experience and results AND they have a PhD?" That's when you start looking for the perfect role.

And especially for #2: job hopping is infinitely easier if you can land remote roles. I have been lucky enough to have been in remote roles for nearly 10 years. The same logic applies: show your worth. And, take that remote contract to start. The need to build experience is annoying, but it is a necessity, and if you're coming from academia, it's one thing for which you are automatically behind the curve.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

Great advice. Thank you!

[-] Tja@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago

Apply. I myself was contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn. It's absolutely normal to switch.

[-] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

My company hires academics all the time. If anyone knows anything about incremental sheet metal forming, PM me.

[-] anarchist@lemmy.ml 32 points 1 month ago

I think Arts and Sciences folks need to team up and fuck up Commerce bros.

[-] prowling4973@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

Deal of the day: tech bros and finance bros fuck shit up for everybody. Take it or have it shoved down your throat.

[-] anarchist@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

How do you define Tech bros? I lump them in Commerce category in my head.

Computer Science/Engineering people I have encountered are more into liberatory politics (whether they overtly acknowledge it/are awareof it or not)

[-] prowling4973@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

I define tech bros as people who want to solve every single problem with an app. World hunger? I'm building an app for it, bro. Climate crisis? I'm building an app for it.

For instance, the number of COVID trackers built in 2020 was ridiculous. These websites/apps didn't really make any meaningful difference, but the people who built it speak about it like it did.

Also see: accelerationism.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 19 points 1 month ago

really? did you not know? I spent one year in a PhD program and although I dreamed my whole life of researching the natural world and teaching I realized I really like eathing and having climate controlled shelter.

[-] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 15 points 1 month ago

Why I noped out of academia for industry.

[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 8 points 1 month ago

Yea, I figured this out my first year of classes.

It's not like it's unknown, and I started college in the 80's.

[-] AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago

Got my bachelor's and wanted to go to PhD, but realizing this has me strongly considering skipping it. I want to do the research, but holy shit, there's so much other bullshit, and it's so fucking competitive for funding. Since I'm considering an international move, I also have to consider how stable my position will be so I don't get deported. I want to push science forward, but I dunno if I can wade through all the bullshit to get my chance to...

[-] Tja@programming.dev 9 points 1 month ago

If someone doesn't know this about academia, their reasearch skills are not that great.

It has meme status at this point.

[-] nonfuinoncuro@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

I used to read this comic 20 years ago https://phdcomics.com/

[-] HexesofVexes@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I feel personally attacked by this!

Ok, but what good has 'science' ever done. /s

this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2024
684 points (100.0% liked)

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