What do people think about Academics (University lecturers)?
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why have you asked the same question again did you not like the last lot of answers
not much!
go for it if you like the research side as well.
that's the kind of question you really need to answer yourself. I would recommend speaking with someone in academia about what it is like. I know that in chemistry, getting tenure is a long process and that once you get it, the university system is very political. if business is the same, i don't know...
In the long run, academia is like any other job in many ways - politics, frustration, sometimes intense but sometimes a bit of a cruise.
It's traditionally a relatively low-risk career - your job isn't constantly on the line in the way it would be as, say, a merchant banker: but then again the rewards are much, much lower. And most academic jobs these days start as fixed-term contracts which does mean you have to justify your existence every couple of years.
In the end, it's a personal choice. I couldn't have faced staying in the educational world once I had my degree - I needed to find my place in the "real world" - but it may be right for you.
Well i am doing a phd at the moment - there are lots of things to think about.
Permanent contracts can be very hard to get for the majority of people - and if you want promotion you generally have to move.
This has a lot of problems - mortgages with temp contracts are very hard. Also whilst moving around every couple of years is ok when you are young but how would you feel about maybe doing it constantly. As far as i have seen with the staff in my faculty this isn't very compatible with having a family life - especially if you are female.
Also sexism is still rampant - many male faculty members do not think women should have families and still have ambition - sad but true. However it is also very hard for women - lots of networking still excludes women.
PhD is hard work and can be unproductive and is very dependent on supervisor relations and whats going on in the dpeartment you are in. Also without funding - even with funding it is difficult.
Many academic universities don't put any emphasis on teaching quality and if this is what you are into and passionate about you might not be valued in your department (maybe you would at a new university)
I don't think that i will be going into it as a career.
However, what i would say is that no other career would have given me the opportunitiy to study something that i am passionate about for 4 years and paid for me to do some amazing fieldwork.
Also for the right person a career in academia provides a great opportunity to develop their interests, to share their knowledge and to see the world.
Think carefully about the life you want to lead - how much you want to cross over between academia and business/public sector - this is important cause some universities think this is a great thing where as others really dissaprove and place no value on non academic work and research.
Think about the research community - this is key to your motivation - colleagues who understand what you're doing through.
On a more basic level think about whether you have decent desk space at the university. vYou'd be amazed how facilites vary - some people have brand new offices to themselves with lap tops - even for phd but some barely manage to give you access to communal computers.
Also, think about if there are people interested in your specific field to act as mentors and networking - i think you need more than one other member in the department. I feel quite isolated in my department for this reason.
For me its not the right choice - but for some of my friends it is the right place for them - this becomes clear as you develop. I don't think that a few years in academia is a waste - it will develop skills that you don't have anywhere else. Most of these skills are very transferable.
Sorry i went on a bit of a rant there, but i hope it is a little bit useful for you.
They're usually quite quirky and don't live in the real world, and that's why we love them! Well, most of them.
To hell with what people think. What's important is what you think. Personally, I loved academics and had planned to finish my doctorate and teach but, unfortunately, something came up. Its' just another culture to wrap yourself up in, but then so is the business world. Go for it. Just don't become one of those lecturers who are satisfied to drone on and on with all the energy and enthusiasm of a water mill.
not sure but i will be experience on that soon, will let you know.
During my 3 years at uni, I can look back on less than 5 academics who I admire for being truly good at their jobs. The rest were (sadly) rubbish.
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