Leaving academia?

[HistoryAt]

Hi,

I'm an ECR on a 9 month temporary research post. I have a couple of publications but never applied for grants. I've been offered a post outside of academia in a non-research post. Pay is better and it's a permenant role, and will give me the security I really want (want to get a mortgage and get on the property ladder etc). Yet I feel like I'll miss the academic rigorous work. I really enjoy research methods, critical appraisal skills, reviewing etc. The new job is also in a completely different field to what I thought I'd be working in, but does have plenty of opportunities/jobs in it.

What would you do? Any advice please?

[HistoryAt]

Just bumping this :)

[geekaMaxima]

It depends on too many variables not detailed in your OP...

You say you're on a temp research post, so I assume you're post PhD. Do you have experience of different academic environments and departments - for instance, did you do your PhD in a different institution to your postdocs(s)? Or are you getting itchy feet from staying in your PhD dept (many find that claustrophobic) and need a change of scene rather than a change of career per se?

Are you deeply interested in your subject in a way that would have you following the area to some extent even if you left academia? Or is it just an interesting job and you could imagine being just as interested in any other regular job?

Have you worked in a non-academic salaried job before? If not, are you aware of the cultural differences you are likely to find between research jobs and industrial/corporate sector, such as reduced freedom to work from home, work flexible hours, pursue your own interests some of the time, etc.? (Yes, I know some research posts don't allow this degree of freedom, but it's immensely less common to have such freedom outside academia.)

Loads of people I know have gone to non-academic jobs within a year or two of their PhD. Some returned to academia, some stuck it out for the money but hate it, but most are happy enough where they are. The ones that are/were unhappy outside academia either couldn't endure being a brain for hire in an area that bored them to tears (either in topic or because they felt it wasn't intellectually challenging enough - their words) or got very frustrated with the corporate culture in their companies (e.g., long hours, presenteeism, formal workwear with heels, blatantly sexist "banter" and a disinterested HR dept, etc.).

OP, only you can know whether you'll be happy with the move! Academia is far from a idyll but the world outside academia isn't perfect either. If you decide to move, just make sure you do it with your eyes open and don't burn any bridges.

[HistoryAt]

@geekaMaxima Thank you for your advice - there's lots to think about. What is driving me away is job insecurity - nothing else. Obviously the whole grant application and publications woes are not ideal, but I am happy to put up with those.