Post-academics in new jobs due to the current crisis! How much are you now earning?

[stilllostbutfindingtheway]

I took a £20k pay cut on leaving, though the pension is a little better. Anyone else?

I happened to read the THES redundancy survey report earlier and wondered how others were finding the transition.

I'm fine, but finding it difficult adjusting to being very junior - having to report daily to someone twenty years younger.

The sector is in total crisis and surprised it's not being reported more widely. Our university has just done their staff survey and it doesn't make for pretty reading!

Are you willing to say what job you do now? Did you have colleagues who also left, and what are they doing now?

I moved to a regulator. I hoped to find a grade 7 civil service post as closer to where I was but not many came while I was looking. I only applied for two & didn't crack the 'behaviours'.

Not civil service but more opportunities to progress than higher ed under current conditions (sign up at https://ukrn.org.uk/job-board/ for alerts)

Colleagues retired early, found other academic posts, or went back to home countries. Some are taking short career breaks. I've heard a couple of people have gone p/t to develop consultancy work.

I left (took VR) in 2024, retrained in something completely different. New job pays just under £20k less than my leaving salary (top-of-the-spine SL).

But I am probably at least £20k a year happier now. I'm very glad I left when I did.

And I'm happy to talk to anyone via DM about my 'journey' (as it's a bit outing).

Others who left in my dept at the same time as me either took early retirement or are cobbling together bits and bobs of academic work until they can take their pension. They were all at least 10 years older than me though (late 50s and older).

Thanks will message you @FlappicusSmith