Your perspective is needed, for both young academics and long-term professors getting out of the current academic environment. We get told it’s our calling and we’re doing good work, but the pay and hours and sheer commitment don’t line up.

In my experience, the first job in industry might not be the ideal pay that a former academic wants (or is told to want). There’s a sense of “but I have this high dollar degree, shouldn’t I be worth more?” that I and I’m sure others have had to come over. I’m curious of your thoughts on that and if you faced that issue as well.

In short, thank you for the truthful perspective, more current and former academics need to read this.