Why Your Academic Job Search Isn't Working (Hint: It's Not Your Resume)

Burned out, overworked, and secretly Googling "alternative careers for PhDs"—but not sure what you actually want to do next? This episode is for you.In this conversation, I sit down with Jen Polk, one of the most well-known and trusted post-academic career coaches, to talk about what it really takes to figure out your next move after academia.Jen has been doing this work since 2013, and she has helped dozens of PhDs—from postdocs to full professors to tenured department chairs—find career clarity and build lives they enjoy.Here's what we get into:🖋️ Why so many tenured professors (not just grad students) are leaving academia right now🖋️ The #1 mistake academics make when starting a job search—and why "converting your CV to a resume" is a symptom, not a solution🖋️ The self-reflection question that Jen uses with every single client (it's deceptively simple yet powerful)🖋️ Whether you need coach training to become a coach—and Jen's honest, no-BS answer🖋️ What Jen's PhD Career Clarity Program looks like and who it's for🖋️ Why small-group coaching can be more powerful than one-on-one support (backed by what actually happened in her program last week)If you've been feeling lost, stuck, or like academia has wrung every last bit of joy out of you, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone—and that there's a way through.👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.Resources Mentioned:Jen Polk's PhD Career Clarity Program: https://fromphdtolife.com/Jen Polk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-polk-phd/Want to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor2:40 - Academic Background to Coaching7:00 - How Coaching Changed Her Life10:00 - The Rise of Post-Academia14:00 - Why Tenured Faculty Leave18:00 - Global Higher Ed Challenges22:00 - Finding Your Next Career Path27:00 - What is "Flow" State?31:00 - Resume vs. Clarity36:00 - The Power of Community42:00 - Coaching vs. Mentoring47:00 - PhD Career Clarity Program53:00 - Finding Your True Calling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.