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We have this idea of a career as something that is always moving forward. We build our careers. Our careers progress. We take on ever greater levels of responsibility. We make ever-larger contributions. We move forward.
This idea of career progression is strong in academia.
Tenure-track academics have a path. Non-faculty academics - sometimes called staff - move forward to new positions and roles. A tenured professor can become a chair, a dean, a provost. We senior in our titles. We become directors. There are academic vice presidents and jobs with “chief” in their job titles.
I’ve begun to wonder about this career game. Pay attention a bit, and you see a surprising number of academics who don’t seem to want to play. They are not focused on moving up the academic career ladder. They seem to be happy where they are.
There is something liberating about work being about the work. About not trying to strategize how this project leads to that promotion.
Everyone wants to be appreciated and noticed in their work. We need to feel as if we are contributing and that we are making a difference. What everyone doesn’t seem to need are fancy titles and more direct reports.
From what I can tell, the higher up one goes in academia, the less one can control one's own time. Big jobs come with big commitments. There are lots of meetings. Early morning and late evening places one needs to be. More work travel.
Are high-level academic jobs conducive to wellness? To achieving work/life balance? To developing hobbies and interests outside of work?
Career success in academia may not have as much to do with titles and promotions as we assume. Academic career success may be about focusing one’s time and energy on teaching and scholarship.
The best career might be found in the job where we spend our days doing what we love. That might involve working directly with students or colleagues. Or helping a campus organization or unit run well.
We need to find a way to reward and retain academics (both faculty and staff) who don’t want to go after that next job. Academics who want to keep doing what they are doing, but to have that work be recognized and more impactful.
Are you doing what you want to be doing?
How can your school better support you in your work?
Do you highly prioritize work/life balance?
Are you not pursuing that next big job?
