HELP: University lecturer redundancies/changing career...

[WorriedNameChange99999]

(I posted this in 'work' as well but it was suggested I try here).

Due to senior mismanagement 'falling student numbers', my DH is one of many in his department facing redundancy from his academic job in social sciences. He is very negative about the possibility of getting another academic job since universities are tightening their belts across the country, and, since it is all so fresh and upsetting (staff have been treated horribly through the whole process, and kept in the dark until the last possible minute), he is understandably panicking about what to do next. He is a program lead, so has management experience, and his current salary is around 50k.

I wondered if anyone on here has been in, or has known anyone who has been in, a similar position - what did you/they do next?

Just trying to get some ideas/curious how others have fared, really. 🙁

Sorry, OP - I know possible redundancy is really scary for him and his family.

What kind of social scientist is he? Does he have advanced data analysis skills or other skills that are obviously transferrable outside academia? Is his kind of research the kind that gets done commercially?

I left academia but still work in HE - but to be honest that's a transition that's much easier made when you're still quite a junior academic. Teaching is another option but, again, that's often more appealing to early career academics because the salary cut is less dramatic. But, if it helps, I know lots and lots of people who left academia and while some journeys were bumpier than others everyone ended up ok!

Huge sympathies for you and your DH. It feels like a very difficult time to be in academia, though when its less fresh and upsetting he might be able to find rationalise and find positives too.

Suggest he gets on Alt Ac facebook page / group where there are lots of social scientists discussing how they have transitioned to research in the third sector, consultancy offering advice and support.

@Hardbackwriter I'm trying not to be too outing, but loosely his work has been related to political thought, so no, not very commercial, and he doesn't have a strong background in the data-heavy quantitative stuff, unfortunately.

@Ermintrudewasinnocent Yes, he has been disillusioned with academia for a while now so hopefully you're right! Thank you for the FB group suggestion, he will definitely be checking that out.

I've no advice as I'm in exactly the same position - I suspect we're at the same university, but I just wanted to offer you both my solidarity. What we are going through is hell xxx

So many in this position at the moment unfortunately. Civil service? Retraining? HE prof services? Second the AltAc page, which is somewhat useful (although mostly the person who runs it touting their own services/ company). There’s also the US-based FB group ‘the professor is out’