Have you ever had cold feet? You know, the expression when you have that “Shall I, shan’t I?” dilemma. The “Shall I stay or shall I go?” situation when you’re not sure whether you ought to sit things out a bit longer to see if they work out, or take a leap into the unknown …..
Stepping out of academia can be a daunting prospect, especially for postdoctoral researchers and academics, who have only ever known this work environment and culture for most, if not, all of their careers. But sometimes, doing something new and scarey can also be the very opportunity that takes your career into more interesting and rewarding territory.
When I was in my 30s, I had been working for a scientific journal for over five years and felt the job was going nowhere. No promotional prospects, no career development, no growth. To offset the boredom and routine, I ventured over to the career service and ended up work shadowing and volunteering with them whilst still doing my ‘day job’.
One day, the head of the career service said a temporary 3-month position had come up and did I want to apply for it. I hesitated …. Should I give up my permanent safe journal job for a new decidedly unsafe job that I wasn’t even sure whether I would like, and which would only be temporary and with a lower salary??
It was my cold feet moment…. Should I stay or should I go?
My head said, “Hmm, maybe, maybe not”, but my heart said, “Let’s do it!”
The rest is history. The 3-month post turned into a 2-year post, which led to another job and another and so on and here I am now, 25 years later, running my own career consultancy.
So, if you’re feeling hesitant, uncertain, or even a little afraid about making a big change in your life, such as leaving academia, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Getting ‘cold feet’ usually means you’re standing at the edge of something unfamiliar, but also potentially exciting and life-changing. Cold feet is not a sign of weakness, it’s an acknowledgement that you’re making a conscious decision to leave your comfort zone and try out something new.
So, if like these birds, with their feet in the icy snow, you are also experiencing cold feet, here are some tips that might help you to warm them up:
1. Name the fear before you try to fix it
Cold feet often hide specific worries, such as: “Will I be satisfied in a non-academic job/company?”; “Am I wasting my PhD?”; “What if I can’t come back?”
Tip: Write down your fears: Vague anxiety becomes manageable once it’s been made more specific. You can get help from a career coach to work through this.
2. Decouple identity from job title
Many researchers don’t fear leaving academia, they fear losing their identity, their sense of belonging and the value of their PhD and years of research expertise
Tip: Reframe your doctorate and research experience – it reflects how you think, your skills and your expertise, not your job description and where you work.
3. You don’t need certainty, you need direction
Academia trains people to wait for the perfect data, complete information and peer approval, however careers outside of academia rarely work that way.
Tip: Aim for next experiments, not final answers: Do your research on the job market, make connections, identify any gaps and address them with, e.g. courses or a side project.
4. You don’t have to jump alone
Leaving academia can feel like leaving a tribe or a family and the prospect of entering a new career sector can feel unfamiliar and scarey.
Tip: To overcome this and reduce the stress, talk to people who left recently or alumni who have gone into similar roles (you can find them on Linkedin). There are also plenty of blogs, podcasts and books that showcase PhD stories.
5. Leaving Academia is not closing a door
Many researchers fear the irreversibility of their decision to leave academia and disconnect from their current life and colleagues. However, in many cases this is not what happens.
Tip: Many researchers stay in touch with their former colleagues through research interests and personal associations. They even return later to engage with career events, helping junior colleagues to transition out of academia when the time comes. Although I left academia, I stayed connected to my university in an honorary teaching role and I know others who have done the same in other capacities, such as a visiting professor.
Keep in mind that very few careers are linear nowadays, especially fulfilling ones. People move between sectors more than ever bringing their expertise to diverse and evolving roles. In the meantime, skills, reputation and publications don’t disappear – they will always be there, alongside your PhD qualification. You’ll just be taking them to a different place and using them in a different way.
Happy New Year and, for those who are in transition, Happy New Career 😊
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Should I stay or should I go?