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Kathryn
Student
Miami, Florida
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What difficulties is a humanities post-PhD likely to encounter in today's current job market?
For the past few years, the job market has seemed a perilous place for those seeking placement in higher education, especially in the humanities. Given today's current socio-political climate, what (new) difficulties is someone with a humanities PhD likely to encounter when seeking employment, and what courses of action can one take to prepare for them?
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Dr H
Dr. H's Research
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Hey there Kathryn
That is an interesting question and you're right to ask this. The job market for humanities PhDs has definitely shifted, and not always in a good way. From what I know, I can share with you. Universities are hiring fewer full-time, tenure-track faculty, and there’s growing competition from highly qualified candidates all vying for limited spots. Add to that many institutions are cutting humanities budgets or merging departments, and it’s no wonder things feel unstable. But there’s still a path forward, because after all we have to keep moving right?
So, one big shift is that more and more PhDs are looking beyond academia. You’ve got research skills, communication strengths, critical thinking and all of that translates really well into fields like publishing, policy work, nonprofit leadership, user experience research, and even roles in tech and media. It just takes a bit of reframing how you talk about your experience.
To prepare, I’d recommend building a strong professional network (LinkedIn helps), learning to tailor your resume for non-academic jobs, and maybe even picking up some basic skills in digital tools or project management. It’s not about abandoning your passions but it’s about being flexible with how you apply them.
Remember bud, you’re not alone in this. There’s a growing community of post-academics navigating these waters. Keep exploring, and don’t be afraid to pivot. The value of your knowledge doesn’t disappear just because the job title changes. And one last advice Kathryn, remember that if you got the dedication to go for it nothing can stop you as long you are willing to work hard, the reward pays.
That is an interesting question and you're right to ask this. The job market for humanities PhDs has definitely shifted, and not always in a good way. From what I know, I can share with you. Universities are hiring fewer full-time, tenure-track faculty, and there’s growing competition from highly qualified candidates all vying for limited spots. Add to that many institutions are cutting humanities budgets or merging departments, and it’s no wonder things feel unstable. But there’s still a path forward, because after all we have to keep moving right?
So, one big shift is that more and more PhDs are looking beyond academia. You’ve got research skills, communication strengths, critical thinking and all of that translates really well into fields like publishing, policy work, nonprofit leadership, user experience research, and even roles in tech and media. It just takes a bit of reframing how you talk about your experience.
To prepare, I’d recommend building a strong professional network (LinkedIn helps), learning to tailor your resume for non-academic jobs, and maybe even picking up some basic skills in digital tools or project management. It’s not about abandoning your passions but it’s about being flexible with how you apply them.
Remember bud, you’re not alone in this. There’s a growing community of post-academics navigating these waters. Keep exploring, and don’t be afraid to pivot. The value of your knowledge doesn’t disappear just because the job title changes. And one last advice Kathryn, remember that if you got the dedication to go for it nothing can stop you as long you are willing to work hard, the reward pays.