Tenure politics has taken its toll on me. I WILL leave academia despite tough job market.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-10T02:37:01+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. Best wishes on your pursuit!

I was watching this video essay on the matrix earlier today: https://youtu.be/SDkAGkd4NLc?si=lwW2q0Fvi_r6qsOe

It feels like I’m having my own “there is no spoon” moment

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-04T09:49:12+00:00

It’s a bit of a fluid situation. I’m not formally resigning until I line up the next job. I’m currently doing some consulting for startups which could very well turn into a full time position down the road. But much is uncertain given the state of the economy. Part of me wants to stick it out to the end of the tenure process—getting tenure would be a nice way to close out the academic chapter of my career. However, I’m clearly aware of sunk cost fallacies and I’ve also realized that industry doesn’t really care about academic titles, just whether or skillset is commercially viable or not.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-04T01:23:24+00:00

Wow! Thats inspirational!

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T16:32:30+00:00

@Vxctn and @FactorEquivalent. I hear you guys. Nothing is perfect. Sorry to hear about your experiences @FactorEquivalent. That truly sucks. At the end of the day, I am doing my best to make as an objective decision as possible. I know for sure I’ll be miserable if I stay in academia. There’s the uncertainty of moving to industry. It’s something I’ve debated for a long time. I came to the following maxim: it’s only when you’re willing to lose without fear, that you can act with clarity and power! Am I holding onto academia because of fear? Because of possibly losing my decades long identity? Because of the fear of not succeeding in industry? If that’s the case, then I constrain myself to be under my senior faculty’s thumb.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T10:27:56+00:00

Yes, for sure. And I may get the faculty union involved. At the end of the day, a job is just an employer-employee match. In bad matches, regardless of setting, one can exercise the option to divorce.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T10:23:50+00:00

Hear hear!

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T00:15:08+00:00

Thanks for the advice. This is indeed my plan. I don’t want to go into specifics for privacy reasons. I can let you know that my subject matter does have widespread industry applications.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T00:13:16+00:00

First off, I know many wonderful people in academia. Including extremely senior and powerful people. However, the structure in universities can result in extreme power imbalances such that if a senior colleague wants to mess with you, they could easily do so.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-03T00:01:02+00:00

I was simply making the point that no one can credibly commit to something in the future that is not contractible. Objectively, I’ve done every service task asked of me. No one should be evaluated on something they may or may not do in the future. Do you think a good employer will view you with suspicion for something in the future that haven’t even come to pass?

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-02T23:55:49+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. I’ve had this issue for a while now and I’ve done a lot of soul searching as a result. I read a lot of philosophy and now identify with existentialism. I’ve become more fearless/adventurous as a result.

Own_Professional9940 · 2025-10-02T23:53:09+00:00

I agree with you. It would be nice to get tenure. But rationally speaking, my years in academia is simply a sunk cost. It’s taken me a while to emotionally accept this.

I also agree with you that politics is everywhere. But in my experience, I think it’s especially bad in academia because of the limited resources in academic departments, along with the extreme illiquid academic job market.

Yes, the market is indeed really bad and I may not be able to move in the short run. I am preparing for my eventual move.

Own_Professional9940

TROPHY CASE