3 answers
1
Question
Updated
132 views
What are the benefits and disadvantages of working as a professor, and how do these differ from working at a non-profit?
I am a freshman at Georgia State University currently interested in working as a professor. On the surface, it seems like a perfect job for me because I like research, teaching, and, although I know less about it, service seems interesting as well. However, I am also open to researching at a non-profit but have heard that there is less work-life balance and less of a safety net. I value work-life balance and appreciate the multitude of tasks that professors do in a given day but understand that the field is very competitive, so I want to make sure it is the right path to pursue.
Login to comment
3 answers
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
I was in a PhD program for five years and have seen the career paths of many classmates and professors, so I hope I can give you some helpful advice.
If you want total freedom to work on the exact topics you're interested in, becoming a professor is the way to go. On the other hand, you have to apply for your own funding, which means you bear the pressure of making sure your students are financially supported enough to graduate. One of the professors has been in IT company for 10 years, and get fed up of not working on the project they like, so become a professor to have their own research team working on the area they really want.
If you go into a non-profit or an industry research department, you still get to do research, but your projects have to align with what the company wants. The upside is that you don't carry the financial burden; the economic pressure is on the company itself, not on your specific research group.
If you want total freedom to work on the exact topics you're interested in, becoming a professor is the way to go. On the other hand, you have to apply for your own funding, which means you bear the pressure of making sure your students are financially supported enough to graduate. One of the professors has been in IT company for 10 years, and get fed up of not working on the project they like, so become a professor to have their own research team working on the area they really want.
If you go into a non-profit or an industry research department, you still get to do research, but your projects have to align with what the company wants. The upside is that you don't carry the financial burden; the economic pressure is on the company itself, not on your specific research group.
Updated
Shareen’s Answer
Hi! My sister has a unique career path that might inspire you. She works as a lead researcher at a non-profit and teaches undergraduate communications as a part-time professor. She initially wanted to be a full-time professor, but there weren't any local positions available. Instead, she found a research job at a nearby non-profit that matched her interests. This experience helped her qualify for a part-time teaching position at a local university a year later.
Her research job has some exciting benefits. She travels across the U.S. and sometimes internationally for conferences. She also frequently publishes her work, which adds to her credentials. Plus, she enjoys a great work-life balance at the non-profit, and while her pay might not match major corporations, she finds it satisfying.
Regarding research and work-life balance: her colleague started at the non-profit, went to Netflix, and then returned to the non-profit because she missed the work-life balance. This shows that not all companies offer the same experience, so a non-profit may suit your needs more.
Being a part-time professor allows my sister to avoid some of the pressures of full-time academia, like constant publishing and funding concerns as Rebecca mentioned above. So, you might be able to combine both roles too! I hope this is helpful.
Her research job has some exciting benefits. She travels across the U.S. and sometimes internationally for conferences. She also frequently publishes her work, which adds to her credentials. Plus, she enjoys a great work-life balance at the non-profit, and while her pay might not match major corporations, she finds it satisfying.
Regarding research and work-life balance: her colleague started at the non-profit, went to Netflix, and then returned to the non-profit because she missed the work-life balance. This shows that not all companies offer the same experience, so a non-profit may suit your needs more.
Being a part-time professor allows my sister to avoid some of the pressures of full-time academia, like constant publishing and funding concerns as Rebecca mentioned above. So, you might be able to combine both roles too! I hope this is helpful.
Updated
Susan’s Answer
Hi there! I work in research in a large consulting firm, and my husband was a professor for years before leaving the field and teaching independently. I also wanted to be a professor, as I loved research and writing. I am so glad I didn't become a professor, however. With respect to research, for me, I like my research to have practical uses and directly benefit people. Doing research (on workforce and business topics) in a consulting firm makes me feel like my research is directly benefiting organizations and people. Not only do I talk to organizations about my research regularly, but it also often turns into new solutions my firm can offer clients. I also like that I can do a variety of research projects and use journalistic writing; in academia, topics tend to be more narrow with more academic writing.
My husband was a professor of history (tenure track) for over ten years, and because the job market is so tight, we had to move where he got a job. His first job was in rural Kansas, for example. So there was little flexibility in where we wanted to live. If you are not tenure track and want to adjunct teach, there aren't a lot of research opportunities and the pay isn't as high as tenure track. Because we wanted to choose where we wanted to live, he eventually gave it up and is now freelance teaching.
My husband was a professor of history (tenure track) for over ten years, and because the job market is so tight, we had to move where he got a job. His first job was in rural Kansas, for example. So there was little flexibility in where we wanted to live. If you are not tenure track and want to adjunct teach, there aren't a lot of research opportunities and the pay isn't as high as tenure track. Because we wanted to choose where we wanted to live, he eventually gave it up and is now freelance teaching.