Credit: Adapted from Getty.
The full impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on science careers may not be known for years, but the hiring freeze and other signs of confusion at universities have already shaken faith in academia as a career option. As universities try to adapt and survive in a pandemic world, an increasing number of doctoral students and other early career researchers will seek careers in industry, government, and other sectors.
It is unknown how many of these researchers will eventually leave the academy, either by choice or necessity, but observers expect a seismic readjustment in scientific careers. “More and more people who come to me want to leave the academy,” says Tracy Bussoli, a London-based professional consultant and development coach who works with universities in the UK and the rest of Europe. “They are thinking of an exit plan, but they don’t know how to do it.”
Whatever the magnitude of the academic exodus, researchers will have to prepare to navigate a new professional landscape. Those who decide to look for work in the industry should expect to face stiff competition, but can take steps to stand out from the crowd.
Global concerns
Concern about academic careers has spread worldwide. In the UK, some 30,000 jobs could be lost in the university sector, according to a report published in April by the London Economics consultancy.
A May report from Universities Australia projected losses of more than 20,000 university jobs in the second half of the year. Many researchers early in their careers in the country are “going through a bit of fear,” says Inger Mewburn, director of research training at the Australian National University in Canberra and author of the popular blog Thesis Whisperer. “People are going to have a lot of difficult conversations and difficult decisions.” The situation is especially pressing for researchers with short-term contracts at the academy. “If I were a postdoctoral fellow, I would be going to hell,” she says.
In Germany, where the slowdown and freezing of hiring at universities are less common, the past few months have been a time to reflect and rethink. Cecile Petit, a molecular biologist and postdoctoral representative at the European Laboratory for Molecular Biology (EMBL) in Hamburg, has been communicating during the closing months to remind her postdoctoral colleagues that they have options beyond academia. “Perhaps [the pandemic] It will actually help them, “she says. If they decide to head into the industry now, they won’t spend ten years doing postdocs only to discover that there are no permanent academic positions in sight, he adds.
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Petit, who is nearing the final year of her postdoctoral contract, says she realized the academy was not for her before finishing her PhD in 2018 at the University of Toledo in Ohio. She says the numbers put her off: too many postdocs competed for too few tenure positions, leaving many stuck for years in dead-end positions. The pandemic and the resulting economic downturn have only strengthened her convictions, and she does not believe that she is alone. “Doctoral and postdoctoral students are realizing that they have no chance” at the academy, he says, “even more so now.”
History suggests that the shortage of tenured and tenured university positions will only deepen in the coming years. The sharp recession of 2007-09 offers a strong lesson. In the United States, for example, the recession coincided with a sharp shift toward “temporary” or temporary work. According to a report by the US Government Accountability Office, the number of full-time positions in tenure by higher education institution decreased slightly from 2007 to 2011. During the same period, the number of ‘contingents ‘Full-time, or without tenure tracking, positions increased by almost 20% and the number of part-time positions increased by 14%.
Start in skills
Even if the exodus from the academy reaches unprecedented levels, job seekers will still be able to make their mark, says Christopher Caterine, a communications strategist based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and author of the upcoming book. Leaving the academy. To begin, academic escapes need to learn to emphasize the skills they developed in their college careers. “Instead of telling people what you do, tell them how you do it,” he says. In describing their work, academics should focus on the processes and outcomes that are important to the employer. “If I’m talking to someone in business, I’m not telling them that I taught three classes per semester, because that doesn’t mean anything,” he says. “I tell you, I generated $ 500,000 a year for the department in tuition revenue.”
Cecile Petit at the European Laboratory for Molecular Biology in Hamburg, Germany.Credit: Claudia Litz
Petit wants to find a job in the industry in Europe and is already trying to build a network of potential contacts. Among other activities, he is looking for job offers on the professional online network LinkedIn, but for now, he is focusing on finding employees of companies that interest him, with whom he can speak to for more information on how to work in those companies. You will also communicate with EMBL alumni who have moved into the industry. “The way to get a job is to make connections,” she says. “And you can’t wait until you need a job to start doing that.”
Mewburn says researchers who have trouble finding employment outside the academy may need to broaden their search. She and her colleagues have been using machine learning to identify job offers that would be suitable for someone with doctoral-level skills. She says around 80% of the jobs identified so far aren’t specifically targeting PhD holders, meaning job applicants might be missing out if they’re searching for the word ‘PhD’ on the list of eligibility requirements. . This October, Mewburn plans to launch a subscription-based service that will allow researchers around the world to search for job offers that have been assigned as appropriate for the PhD.
Despite the current economic climate, doctors have a reason to be optimistic, Bussoli says. “Doctorates are highly employable,” she says. “There will always be industrial research and development. Doctors have to defend their skills and experience. “He often reminds researchers that they can reach positions, even if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements.” Companies look for potential and the ability to learn very quickly. ” She says, “Early career researchers have that in cubes.”
Bussoli notes that he still meets many young scientists who are still married to an academic career. “There is a real mismatch between reality and people’s aspirations,” she says. “I want people to be flexible and open their minds.” She adds: “I am a great believer in doctorates. I think they will get over it.
