My Transition to An #altac Career
It’s safe to say that I made early education decisions based on a lot of various influences. Although I’m sure I want the things I chose. Looking back I may have wanted them (or not) based on views of other people. For example, in VCE (the final years before university in Victoria, Australia) I chose health professional university degrees — medicine, physio, optometry, pharmacy — but only at the “best” university in Victoria for each. I could have got into the courses at the other universities. But I did not put them down. That’s not what my peers were doing. So, I got into a newly minted degree (Bachelor of Science(Biomedical)). The degree has since been refined and updated.
Just like the various memes show I chose to do honours because it felt easier than getting a proper job (I had a casual job in a department store). I enjoyed honours. So did a PhD. Again, it felt easier than getting a job. I felt a PhD was needed to be competitive in the market place. And there was a degree of family pressure (7 of 11 cousins ended up with a PhD).
Then it hit me. Year 2. Nothing specific happened inside or outside the lab. But I began to think more deeply about work beyond my PhD. I realised I did not want to be a researcher. I did not want to write grants. I did not want to write articles. I did not want to be subject to the grant treadmill. I want to know that hard work and effort would be the sole drivers of success. Not luck, or serendipity.
After telling my supervisor 1we then agreed the focus would be to complete my PhD while also experiencing alternative carers to academia. The #altac career pathways. That process helped me learn what I did and did not like (2).
I was lucky enough to land a faculty job. Non-academic university jobs are perfect for transition. University value PhDs outside academic teaching and research. The roles also help you identify and hone your transferable skills. In my first job — one that I call my PostDoc — I learnt all about strategy, planning and business development in a research context. My supervisor was great — she helped identify and hone additional skills necessary beyond my PhD.
Again, luck or good planning meant that I had an opportunity to set up my own business 3(what I now call a practice because it is a lot more like a legal or health practice being based around me as the sole practitioner with support staff. Rather than a business which is often about creating clones of yourself who deliver work on your behalf). To make that a success I had financial backing (money to live for four months), supportive friends and family as well as belief I could do it (I saw people working for themselves as part of my first job).
Since that time (mid 2008). I’ve been doing my own thing. Making my own way. It’s a lot like research in that regard. I decide the topic of the work, within the context of someone else requirements. Just like grants are written and delivered based on your interests within the context of the granting body’s requirements. Like a research group I have to manage staff as well as collaborators and clients. I need to balance the budget, apply for funding, and write reports on what I do.
Looking back, the reasons I thought I had for leaving research were not that strong. In my practice I am on a different (shorter) grant treadmill. Some of my success is also based on good luck, and timing. I can see that what makes all of that tolerable — now — is my passion for the work I do 4.
Dr Richard Huysmans is the author of To find out more, call 0412 606 178, email (Richard.huysmans@ravencg.com.au) or subscribe to the newsletter. He’s on LinkedIn (Dr Richard Huysmans), Twitter (@richardhuysmans), Instagram (@drrichardhuysmans), and Facebook (Beyond Your PhD with Dr Richard Huysmans). Connect the Docs: A Guide to getting industry partners for academics. He has helped more than 200 PhD students, early career researchers and established academics build their careers. He has provided strategic advice on partnering with industry, growing a career building new centres and institutes as well as establishing new programs. Richard is driven by the challenge of helping researchers be commercially smart. His clients appreciate his cut-through approach. He knows the sector and how to turn ideas into reality.
1That was a tough conversation to muster up the courage to have, but I encourage you all to have it as soon as possible. Indeed, that’s my first tip for making the best possible transition: Tell your supervisor or manager you want to move.
2That’s my second tip: experience alternative careers to learn what you do and do not like.
3That’s my third tip: be prepared to take risks to achieve your goals.
4Final tip: following your passion, rather than someone else’s will make the different seem possible
Originally published at https://www.drrichardhuysmans.com on March 19, 2019.
