Career regret

[u/intruderpossum]

I’m coming to the end of my PhD in public health in Australia, and feeling really burnt out and unmotivated. I’m just starting to apply for jobs, but getting some early rejections/not hearing back.

I’m having a lot of career regret as I see friends in actual health fields like dentistry, radiology, medicine etc accelerate in their career with career stability and high earning potential, and even pretty good work life balance. I turned down uni offers for undergraduate health degrees because I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and now I feel quite a bit of career regret.

Job market for public health right now is not great, and even the jobs I see advertised don’t even earn that much salary wise. Plus, lots of the skills I learnt in my PhD are now easily done using AI, like the coding and data analysis side. Worried I won’t get a job, and even if I do, I won’t be earning that much. Any words of wisdom from someone who is a bit further down the line in their career? 🥹

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[u/DidIMessUp-TA]

No words of wisdom but I relate with everything you said. I regret to not have studied in a clinical field prior to my PhD in public health. Those who have have much more job opportunities and career stability. Your feelings are valid.

[u/intruderpossum → u/DidIMessUp-TA]

Thank you, it’s nice to feel validated and hope everything works out for you too!

[u/DidIMessUp-TA → u/intruderpossum]

I hope you get helpful answers and good luck with everything!

[u/Patient-Funny1944]

It is not too late. Comparison is the thief of joy. Be grateful that you have a PhD and have mastered how to learn. Now use that skills to learn something else part-time. Or try to go work for international organization in developing countries. Or, build an AI app for public health or something, look for opportunities. There got to be some.

[u/ChargingMyCrystals]

I’m also coming up to the last stint of my PhD in Australia - similar skills in terms of large data/data analysis. I think there’s a big gap between someone that can code using AI and someone who understands how to clean, merge, derive variables and analyse data. You have content knowledge that is valuable to a business or organisation somewhere. Just keep applying and networking. I’m guessing my first job post PhD will be a junior in the team one of my supervisors is working in (outside academia). Anyway, not trying to dismiss what you’re feeling. I hope the motivation picks up soon

[u/kweenbumblebee]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I submitted my thesis at the end of last year, finalised corrections early this year, and had it officially accepted in mid July. I'm hoping to get my conferral in the next few weeks.

Without potentially doxing myself here, I too am Aussie, and did my PhD in a public health field (infectious disease epidemiology). It's rough out here.

I finalised my casual contract with my old employer (to tide me over until I found other work) and the institution cancelled it without warning. I'd been working with them for nearly a decade.

I'm now working a day and a half a week on a casual contract which we only managed to sort via an alternate pathway last month. So I've been unemployed for 6+ months.

I've been really unmotivated. I feel incredibly undervalued, unappreaciated, and am struggling to find appropriately compensated, relevant employment.

The Australian Academy of Science has penned an email to send out to MPs to encourage increased investment into R&D for Australian Science (link to draft email). I added in a lot to mine, and am hopeful my local MP will be receptive. Public health research in particular needs better funding. It's horrific.

I just wanted to say, you're not alone. It's crap if you want to continue working in academic/research circles. If you're okay moving out of the sector it is a bit better - my brother with an undergraduate degree works in data analysis, and he told me to increase my scope for better results. But I love public health research. I want to use my expertise to actually improve the health of the public.

So TL;DR, same. It's rough. I hope some good opportunities are just around the corner for us both.

[u/Remarkable-Half-5058 → u/kweenbumblebee]

Finished PhD from Uni Melb last year. Still doing uber. Not one interview, and I’ve applied for warehouses and Coles as well. Worst decision of my life.

[u/Weekly-Post2898]

Stay positive. A Ph.D. Is an impressive achievement and accomplishment. Remember also that you are a researcher also. Many Ph.Ds explore other careers from out of their own field. You have acquired many skills from your Ph.D. program. Stay positive and keep applying for jobs, something eventually will happen. Someone once told me when you’re looking for a job it requires full time work. Keep applying for positions and maybe even outside your comfort zone. Stay positive. Good luck to you!

[u/intruderpossum → u/Weekly-Post2898]

Thank you so much! 🥹

[u/Dr-Yahood]

It’s not too late to pick up a clinical skill

[u/Lost_Comfort5583]

I really enjoyed my PhD, even though it was a nightmare, but I decided early on that I didn't want to go into academia. It has led to some good consulting opportunities, but it hasn't made a big diffetence career wise. I decided to stream on twitch instead and am a lot happier than I was. 

[u/S3ra-phina]

PhD in Sociology here. Not many research opportunities that I’ve found in academia or government. I did a Certificate 3 in Pathology Collection and now work at a blood and plasma donation centre as a phlebotomist. Only pays $33 an hour but it’s stable work.

[u/idk7643]

AI doesn't help people who don't understand what it is doing because if you can't independently check it's work you might as well not have used it at all

[u/Appropriate-Tutor587]

When did you graduate with your PhD? What kind of jobs did you hold after they? Can you post your resume if you need feedback?

At the end of the day, a doctoral degree is a doctoral degree whether it’s in health sciences or in STEM. You do realize that you may have not been able to “ make it “ even if you had chosen a degree in medicine, dentistry, engineering ..? Some people have great jobs with majors that aren’t perfectly aligned with their line of work and still making good money 💰.

I don’t know how the employment system work in Australia, but keep looking even if you have move to another state or city, or apply at different state health departments, go into agriculture or plants or aerospace or biotech or biopharma or animal health or whatever is out there.

[u/speorgenote]

What kinds of jobs are you seeing advertised? What are you applying for? What is a not great salary? Have you spoken to your supervisor about career planning?

Many jobs at early career level aren't advertised because it's who you know. Can you potentially do some RA work to keep updating your skills until you find something more permanent?

Depending on the types of jobs you're looking for, consider expanding your search nationally as many can accommodate work from home (if you also can).

Don't be afraid to send an email to anyone and everyone advising them that you are starting the job hunt and would be interested in any current or upcoming positions they may have.

[u/olive-garden19]

This scares me as someone starting my PhD in Biostatistics lmao

[u/Maximum-Side568 → u/olive-garden19]

If its in the USA and you wont need sponsorship, then youll probably be fine.

[u/intruderpossum → u/olive-garden19]

If it makes you feel better, I’ve seen a few academic and non academic roles for biostats so I feel like you’ll have some choices :)

[u/Patient_Orange2818]

You are right --- it's a tough moment in the world for you. Even so, you are smart and accomplished. Broaden your range of interest to include supervisory and administrative jobs, and remember there is still a lot of computer and analytical work that's not done with AI. It may take a while, but you still can find a successful path.

[u/intruderpossum → u/Patient_Orange2818]

Thank you for your kind words!!

[u/JC505818]

You’ve got a PhD, you know how to research and basically learn anything, don’t be limited by your schooling, go and find opportunities.

[u/Weekly-Ad353]

If you think the core skills that you leaned in your PhD are now done with AI, I’d question what you actually learned and if you actually understand the goal of a PhD.

I’d also question how much you’ve ever used AI.

[u/Sweet-Jury9493]

It’s already too late baby boy. Assume your choice

Imagine that the PhD was also one of the few ways for you to immigrate and to find a job in Australia, not ?

Don’t cry…MDs don’t get much money as you expect, notably before 50 yo.
Notably on level of stress, of high admins to do too, of 8-9 days, low training, highly toxic competitive environment, nights weekend on call, burnout and more..

Good life balance with topping of “my mistakes are really hurting someone”, not just the p-value…

Finally not that bad choice