I’m finishing up my PhD in astrophysics shortly, and I’ve been burnt out for several years of it. Applying for postdocs has made me realize that my heart just isn’t in it at all, and the thought of continuing the grind makes me miserable. I am happy with the research output I’ve done, but I’ve come to accept research just isn’t a good fit for me. (And grad school has obliterated my mental health.)
To those who have left astro, what jobs did you end up getting? I have been steered towards data science, but that doesn’t really appeal to me at all. I am fine with completely pivoting to something else, but I don’t know what’s out there yet. I just want something with a better work-life balance so that I don’t constantly think about work/feel guilty for not constantly doing it.
Any advice is appreciated!
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I’m not in your field, I’m a biologist with a focus in ecology and evolutionary biology, but I am in the same transition point as you post-PhD (but currently employed as a post-doc) and don’t want to go into data science. I haven’t landed anything new yet, but my advice would be start networking and talking to people. Who do you know that graduated from your program and is no longer in academia? Ask to meet with them and get 1-3 more names of people to talk to. Ideally meet in person and have a conversation to learn about their job and showcase your personality and skills. Stay in touch, thank them for meeting with you. Get a presence on LinkedIn to help keep track of your network. Start working on translating your academic CV into a resume that focuses on skills. Look into resources that explain how to write a cover letter, maybe your university has an info session.
Overall, what is really important in be open to new opportunities and conversations with people you wouldn’t have thought to talk to. Really reflect on the top 3 careers you think you’d be interested and use that as a starting point. Use these informational interviews to explore a range of careers, companies, and reflect on whether you liked or disliked what you heard. And most importantly, actively work to stay positive. It is so easy to feel hopeless and like your PhD wasted formative years, but keep looking and moving forward. You are a specialist after a PhD and so generally there will be fewer obvious fits for the “right” job, just keep networking and people might start contacting you with opportunities.
This graphic from AAS might help get you started thinking. What sectors of the diagram appeal to you?
https://aas.org/careers/astronomy-powered-careers