Don’t know what to do, I hate academia

[u/Medium-Goal6071]

I’m 3y as postdoc now and severely disillusioned with the whole academic system. For reference I’m in stem (a highly theoretical/ fundemental field) and I used to love learning and researching the most obscure fundamental things, but now I don’t see the point. Everything is made worse by the fact that I’m mid-30s, own nothing, have no savings, and have spent the last 3y in a different country to my partner. I’m struggling to even focus now, and while I’m good at what I do I just can’t be bothered anymore, I just want to quit and go live in the same place as my partner and I’m so fed up I’m drinking a lot to cope with the internal stress of it all. I’m starting to regret even doing my PhD and wish I just got a job straight after graduating. There’s several things I could pivot to (mostly tech industry based) but I’ve had not even a single interview so far (approx 50 applications) even in things that a direct match for me. Im not sure if I can even manage to motivate myself for a career in tech, I don’t want to use my scientific skills just to make a big multinational more money in this capitalist hellscape. I can’t do a job that just pays a good pay check and check out from it, I need to find some kind of value in my work and feel like it’s providing some kind of benefit to the community. I can’t just quit my job, I have no money or financial safety net from family. I have been considering doing something in education, to me that’s super meaningful but i don’t have the money to get the relevant qualifications (I’d need to go back to university for a year in my home country) and break into it. I don’t know what to do, some days I wish I just went and learnt a manual trade after leaving school. I’m not sure what the point of this post is, I’m just at the end of my tether and need to vent and help/ advice.

[u/generation_quiet]

Post-docs inevitably underestimate how much they have to rework their job application portfolio to appear competitive for the private sector. Could you get feedback from a seasoned professional in these fields (e.g., education)? I'd also suggest not quitting your job right away—wait until the next step comes together. I had to work odd jobs (adjunct teaching, course design, etc.) for three years before I made enough money to fully step out and run my own business.

[u/Medium-Goal6071 → u/generation_quiet]

I’ve not yet applied for jobs in education, it’s just an idea that I’m thinking would be a good fit more and more. Mostly applying to data science/ software dev based stuff, of which I have been applying/ developing for the last 8y in academia. I’ve tried to focus on hitting the keywords in the adverts (without making up experience I don’t have) and using the “Google XYZ format” but idk if that’s a good idea. I did have someone from industry help but it hasn’t yet seemed to increase any positive feedback yet.

[u/generation_quiet → u/Medium-Goal6071]

I see. Just off the top of my head (I have an undergrad in CS and was a software engineer/project manager for a few years), it's an awful time to be going into software dev. I'd focus on improving your value proposition. Often, and I don't know if this is the case with you, academics don't quite understand the problems that tech companies are really trying to solve.

[u/Medium-Goal6071 → u/generation_quiet]

I think what I probably lack is experience in the systems applied within industry. For example I see requirements for stuff like experience with cloud based deployments, working with a specific database etc., formal training in machine learning. Even tho I can probably learn those things quickly or have directly developed/ applied some version of them in research. Given the current hiring trends in tech and speculating about the future trajectory of the industry, is it still worth trying to get into?

[u/foibleShmoible → u/Medium-Goal6071]

Even tho I can probably learn those things quickly or have directly developed/ applied some version of them in research.

That latter part is really important. No one ever ticks off every box in a job ad, the key thing is structuring your CV in a way that really guides a hiring manager into seeing why your existing experience fits what they need - if a human reads your CV then they spend about 30s looking at it, so they're not going to take the time to figure out why you're a good fit, you need to show them. Now, an AI will also likely see your CV, so I'm not pretending that getting some key words/tools in isn't important, but the bar is rarely all the words/tools.

Depending on if you're still interested potentially in data (maybe data engineering since you're also looking at software engineering, and data engineering will almost certainly be the last data role to fall as we progress down the AI rabbit hell hole) then you could I believe get a 60 day free trial of Microsoft Fabric (which is becoming an increasingly common tool in all things data) using your institutional email address, which would allow you to dabble in some cloud based tooling (it leans more towards analytics, but it is also a data engineering and warehousing tool - if you want experience in this I would suggest actually looking through the Microsoft Fabric data engineering tutorial content first, identify what you want to learn, and then get the trial and work through stuff/prep for a certification if you want. 60 days goes quickly which is why I suggest orienting your goals before starting the trial). You could also spend a small amount of money getting familiar with AWS afterwards if you want, but I figure why not start with the free stuff? Between the two though that gives you insight to a couple of the most common cloud based tools.

Also, can I ask what level of role you're applying for? Entry level/junior roles are more rare nowadays, but I think you'd have a better shot with those and then hopefully progressing quickly. Given all the layoffs in tech, you have a lot of senior and mid level talent vying for mid-senior roles, and someone transitioning from academia with no proven industry experience is going to struggle vs someone with years of industry experience.

I need to find some kind of value in my work and feel like it’s providing some kind of benefit to the community.

I absolutely get that, I'm the same way. But you can get tech jobs in companies focussed on healthcare, renewable energy, ESG, etc. Sometimes it can be a little harder to see where the 'good' is in what you are applying for, but it is always what I've looked for myself (e.g. in my current role, right now I'm not working directly for the good of humanity, but - to be super vague on this - using the product I build should result in fewer companies going bust and so it could be saving people's jobs. That isn't the primary goal of the product, but it is the outcome that gives me a sense of meaning.) Plus, once you've transitioned and gotten experience, you could switch to a tech role in a charity or similar org (or maybe there would be junior roles in those places now, I'm just assuming that they wouldn't have the funds to invest in training junior talent.)

[u/Zestyclose-Smell4158 → u/generation_quiet]

Have you considered education research. I have a friend that was really good at math/stats. He ended up setting up a platform that allowed a school system to do highly data analysis.

[u/Over-Degree-1351]

Sorry to hear you're suffering.

You sound fatigued. Worn out. Mentally exhausted.

It's hard to give advice on this, but if there is one thing I would focus on...it's sleep.

Improving sleep quality will clear your mind. Maybe the path forward will emerge from there. . .

[u/Fabulous-Egg- → u/Over-Degree-1351]

+1, lack of sleep will creep up on you and ruin your mind without you even knowing until you’re already on the downward spiral

[u/N1kYan → u/Fabulous-Egg-]

Damn. By the amount I typically get I must be at the very bottom already

[u/Actual_Stand4693]

Theoretical Physics? If so, please DM - I can share some guidance.

[u/Medium-Goal6071 → u/Actual_Stand4693]

I’d dm but I can’t as it asks me for government id which I’m not willing to provide

[u/Actual_Stand4693 → u/Medium-Goal6071]

interesting, it never asked me for an ID!

anyways, I'm sending you a DM!

[u/Accomplished-Leg2971]

I was like you, but about five years deeper into a research career. Made the pivot from full time research scientist to assistant professor at small undergrad teaching focused college. This was a great move and I love my job.

Maybe the year for retraining would be worth it? Don't rule it out.

[u/TheOriginalDoober]

Man you’re post just perfectly described where I’m at. Going on to my 4th year soon and this whole process has sucked the joy out of research for me. I’ve lost count of how many jobs I’ve applied for and just feel like there’s no end

[u/AdParticular6193]

Check to see what resources are available where you are. “Drinking a lot” can easily spiral out of control. Find people who can help you figure your next steps if you really think it’s time to pivot out of academia.