Cannot face going back to academic role

[Marasme]

I am a prof at a RG uni, STEM subject. I worked through to the 23rd to "catch up" before finally switching everything off. This was a long awaited break following the semester of hell, and no holidays last summer.

I opened the email yesterday and got totally overwhelmed by the amount of work hiding in my inbox. Ten years ago, I would have happily worked on pet projects during the break, but this has massively changed over the last 3 or 4 years. I cannot complain - my group publishes well, I have more than enough funding.

I just can't face going back. It could be burn out, or just falling out of love with the job and the workload, especially now that the nice parts have vanished (conferences, workshops). My uni has also done some dodgy financial moves that restricts us from spending any discretionary money toward CPD or conferences (unless from grants).

DH suggests that I just pack it in a retrain in sthg else. I don't like the idea of retraining. I am sitting on an academic job offer elsewhere (not UK) which i haven't actioned just because it would mean disrupting DH s career and DC10 and DC13 too much.

[hernamewasrio]

I've done it! I have been so frustrated with increased workload, no resources and student grievances that I've just accepted a consulting role! If I'm going to work my ass off I might as well get paid for it!!

[goingpearshaped]

Well done @hernamewasrio, huge congratulations! . Can't say I blame you, wokloads, expectations and grievances are indeed just increasing. Good luck!

[hernamewasrio]

@goingpearshaped thanks! My past month has been spent dealing with students complaining about their grades! So frustrating- they're not as smart as they think! Then they complain about my email tone as I get so hacked off dealing with it 🤣

[goingpearshaped]

I hear you completely @hernamewasrio. I want to appeal my mark.....

[howtoplaythegame]

This is such an interesting thread. How I envy you lot - I just migrated to London, from overseas (gave up a postdoc to do so) and now I am struggling to find a job in HE. Doesn't help that I haven't published enough, but even just teaching with no/minimum research expectations are difficult to get. Any advice on how I can get a foot thru the door?

[hernamewasrio]

@howtoplaythegame write to departments about Associate teaching. Most Universities are massively understaffed for teaching and we rely on Associates. Great way to make connections and get a foot in the door.

[howtoplaythegame]

[quote hernamewasrio]@howtoplaythegame write to departments about Associate teaching. Most Universities are massively understaffed for teaching and we rely on Associates. Great way to make connections and get a foot in the door.[/quote]
Thanks so much for the suggestion @hernamewasrio. I'll do that.

[Marasme]

I ve done it.... or at least step 1...
applied for an industry job and interviewing at the end of the month!

[RetrainRetrain]

Congratulations! Hope it all goes well. I'm still just looking at ads and wondering if it's worth the energy needed to apply.

[goingpearshaped]

Good luck @Marasme !!