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Post by intlsoc on Mar 23, 2011 8:30:54 GMT -5
This site may be listed elsewhere on this blog, but have a look at Beyond Academe: www.beyondacademe.com/. It's for History PhDs, but it gives a lot of suggestions and options that are relevant for Sociology PhDs as well. There are plenty of fulfilling, exciting careers outside academia. Depending on your skills, you can work in media/publishing, government, non-profits, international development, foundations/philanthropy, thinktanks and research, and so on. You may need to start at fairly low levels, even taking internships at first to build up your resume and show that you are serious about this career path, but there are plenty of PhDs who have done well in all these fields. Definitely talk to the career services office at your university, as they will probably have some more specific ideas about how to break into different fields.
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Post by anonywolf on Mar 23, 2011 11:17:02 GMT -5
if i don't get to be an academic, i'm going to at least move to a large city and join writing groups, and take classes in various fields, so i can still communicate with other thinkers/researchers. have a very, very good day, you're not alone. I think this is the conceit of the academic that all of us need to get over (myself very much included). Thinkers and researchers don't just exist in academia, but the way we are socializing within academia encourages and supports the belief that that is the case. There are a lot of sophisticated, educated, productive thinkers outside of academia--and if you see that for yourself, leaving academia might seem far less tragic.
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Post by I agree on Mar 23, 2011 11:54:07 GMT -5
I agree with anonywolf. That's why it's helpful to start going to career services and talking to as many people as you can outside of academia. You will discover that there are a lot of smart people out there doing interesting work they are satisfied with.
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annoyed and discouraged
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Post by annoyed and discouraged on Mar 23, 2011 17:11:36 GMT -5
honestly the last few responses were SOOO annoying! i started this now quite annoying thread by saying I left a professional career to invest a lot of time and money to become an academic and feel (get that idea FEEL? ) discouraged but nontheless (get that key point NONTHELESS even if never an academic) would remain a thinker/researcher by taking classes -- meaning non-academic classes, you annoying folks, you know like classes in the Real World? Like creative writing and fly fishing and beer making your morons! Where there are lots of interesting people who aren't always trying to teach each other a lesson! Also, don't suggest that i start over in business as an intern. I had a professional career that i could return to. Read the darn thread, right? Before you jump in with your not-helpful ideas, like turning to academic bureaucracies such as career center, gosh every school has one, remember the institutional isomorphism point these office are not really that helpful... The most annoying thing is that half you of are know-it-all academics how try to point out solutions like trying another career, orpointing out mistaken beliefs, like only academics are smart (it's a conceit, blah, blah, blah). You're like a bunch of old teachers on a holiday who don't know how to relax and stop teaching! Don't give everyone a lesson, OK? the other half you, thank god, know how to respond to an expression of disappoint, just offer a hug, a beer, a kind word, whatever!
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Post by wowzers on Mar 23, 2011 17:52:58 GMT -5
maybe an anger management class?
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Post by beenthere on Mar 23, 2011 18:10:14 GMT -5
Forget the anger management classes. I think “annoyed and discouraged” needs to take a writing course. This is incoherent rambling at best. Unfortunately there are numerous qualified candidates out there that may not get academic jobs this year (or ever) but there is a reason why some people will not (and should not) get academic jobs. Case in point….
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Post by Amused and Elated on Mar 24, 2011 0:10:59 GMT -5
"Sad and discouraged" wants to become an academic but feels annoyed by people who "teach lessons." No paradox there!
Maybe those classes in fly fishing and beer making are a wiser choice, better than finishing that dissertation after 6 years. Just don't throw the beer cans in the lake, and watch out when casting and inebriated. Those hooks can be so, well, "annoying."
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Post by happy on Mar 24, 2011 7:39:42 GMT -5
guess what I was a professional writer! if you look at yourselves stop giving advice
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Post by academia on Mar 24, 2011 8:23:17 GMT -5
Maybe those classes in fly fishing and beer making are a wiser choice, better than finishing that dissertation after 6 years. Just don't throw the beer cans in the lake, and watch out when casting and inebriated. Those hooks can be so, well, "annoying." The last academic puzzle: why everyone hates em.
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Post by laughthroughit on Mar 24, 2011 8:25:01 GMT -5
guess what I was a professional writer! if you look at yourselves stop giving advice WHAT?! Both of those sentences don't make any sense at all! This is hilarious. Listen, happy/sad/sd/annoyed and discouraged... You posted on a public rumor mill looking for virtual hugs and beer from anonymous people because you gave up a professional career and you don't have an academic job. I understand that this sucks - it really, really sucks. The vast majority of people posting in this thread have attempted to shine a little light at the end of the tunnel for you, AND for others who might be in a similar situation. This thread isn't all about you, as much as you were apparently hoping it would be. It's okay to not like what people are saying, but calling people "morons" while yelling about how annoyed you are when people took the time to craft a response to your disappointment is just plain rude. Threads here often change topic or focus as they get longer. If you're looking strictly for a pity party where no one attempts to give you advice, you're not going to find it on the boards here. Best of luck to you in wherever your life takes you.
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well said laughing person
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Post by well said laughing person on Mar 24, 2011 8:56:49 GMT -5
Well put laughthroughit - that is one constructive response.
I found some of the suggestions helpful, and I'm grateful to sad and disappointed for starting a thread that proved to be valuable, even if they didn't appreciate it. Good luck with the fishing, s&d.
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Post by Fish and Beer on Mar 24, 2011 14:41:41 GMT -5
Maybe those classes in fly fishing and beer making are a wiser choice, better than finishing that dissertation after 6 years. Just don't throw the beer cans in the lake, and watch out when casting and inebriated. Those hooks can be so, well, "annoying." The last academic puzzle: why everyone hates em. Who hates a witty response to the unintentionally humorous original poster's "you annoying folks, you know like classes in the Real World? (sic) Like creative writing and fly fishing and beer making your morons!" (sic)? ;D
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Post by wow on Mar 27, 2011 6:56:21 GMT -5
If "annoyed and discouraged" is really the original poster then wow. I guess that may explain a lot. (Getting so many interviews with not one job offer is rather rare so something's likely going on...)
To those who kindly took the time to write supportive messages, thank you, don't be discouraged, there are people on here who appreciate your time and advice.
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Post by formergradstudent on Mar 30, 2011 23:04:28 GMT -5
I gave up on the academic dream just this past month. This was my second time on the market, I graduated last spring. It is sad to work for soemthing for about 6, I guess not seven years and not attain that goal. What I think is even more sad, is that I wasn't training for an olympic gold, I was going to school, living a life of poverty, so that I could be a thankless Sociology Professor. I loved the autonomy that grad school afforded, and the intellectual stimulation of thinking up a research question, and answering it (within the budget I had). It was fun. Still, it was getting me into debt, and causing an unbelievable amount of stress. I went on an interview last month, and well, felt like I was just putting on a show (I was for the school) but also for myself. It has been hard, and I have not the energy for being an overworked junior faculty. Still have not heard back from school, but they have engaged in some, let's just say underhanded snooping around into my history at my school, weird stuff (a Virginia School- all I will say). Anyway- give yourself a hug. Take one day at a time. remember, it's a structural issue, and not a personal thing, teh reason why we aren't getting jobs. Still, it's rough on the ego no matter how many times you tell yourself, but it gets easier. I too would discourage people from going into academia. Life is too short to dwell on the how things turned out. Every minute is a chance to trun it all around.
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yep
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Post by yep on Mar 31, 2011 8:41:06 GMT -5
^ Can you be more specific about the type of snooping without revealing yourself? Just curious...
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