The myth of “I can’t do anything else” in academia

Have you come across the myth of “But I can’t do anything else”? Many academics feel trapped by the belief that their current research focus or career path is the only option available to them – that they aren’t qualified to pursue a career outside of a university. This mindset makes you feel stuck, limits your growth, and it’s just not true. Here, I want to unpack this common misconception and convince you that “I can’t leave because no-one else will employ me” is not a good reason to stay in an academic role if it isn’t bringing you personal or professional fulfillment. The truth is your academic skills are super transferable – it’s all about how you tell your story.

Rethinking career paths for academics

Now, this is not a you-should-leave-academia post. There are plenty of reasons to choose a career in academia if you’re afforded the opportunity. I would be lying if I said there weren’t days that I missed the giant whiteboard I had in my office. (I really miss that thing and when I establish Hamilton Editorial HQ in my dream garden-office/luxe shed, a massive whiteboard is going to be the very first thing I buy.) But I am strongly suggesting that if you’re only staying in academia because you think you can’t do anything else, then it might be time to rethink things... and I have a suggestion for how you can go about doing that.

Understanding the fear of leaving academia

First things first: let’s start with understanding what is really at the core of this.

After dedicating countless years to becoming an expert in your specific field, it’s natural to see yourself as fit only for academic roles (and it’s a belief that academia has a vested interest in perpetuating just fyi). You might feel that your expertise in a specific area has left you with a skill set that’s too narrow for other fields. There’s also a common belief that the skills we value in academia don’t translate so well to the private sector or other industries. And let’s not forget our good old friend, imposter syndrome, where many academics doubt their abilities and feel like it’s just a matter of time before they get found out for being the big fraud they really are.

The reality of transferable skills in academia

These fears are understandable but unfounded. You’ll have no doubt heard it time and time again, but the skills you’ve developed throughout your academic career really are incredibly valuable outside of academia. Critical thinking and problem-solving are at the heart of academic research and are equally crucial in every industry. Employers need people who can analyse complex problems and devise effective solutions; they also need people who can write, research, structure an argument clearly, and know where to find reliable research.

The communication skills that you will have honed throughout your academic career, whether through writing papers, giving lectures, or presenting at conferences, are highly sought after in many fields. Being able to convey complex information clearly and persuasively can be a game-changer in any role. Same with running a research project – completing any piece of research involves planning, executing, and managing resources – skills that are directly applicable to roles in project management, consultancy, and more.

Data analysis is another huge asset: experience with data collection and analysis is highly prized in sectors ranging from finance to marketing. And don’t forget your teaching and mentoring abilities. These can translate into training and development roles in various industries. These are just a few very superficial ways in which the skills you have now give you options out in the ‘real’ world. But what they demonstrate is the skills that you might take for granted in your academic life are not skills that everyone possesses.

Experimenting with stories: Reframing your academic career

We’ve established that “But I can’t do anything else” just isn’t going to cut it as far as reasons for staying in academia go, and that you probably have a whole pile of skills and experiences that would make you an asset to the not-academic world. And I think moving beyond this myth lies in storytelling, or to use coach-speak, ‘narrative reframing’: basically, experimenting with new stories. This is – I hasten to add – distinct from lying. Perhaps a practical example is in order.

I recently streamlined my LinkedIn page because it seems to be the new place for academics to hang out and humble brag. Before, I had what was effectively just my academic CV there – my qualifications, the job titles I had, the usual. But I realised that it didn’t really make sense anymore, because I’m not going for academic roles – I’m not pitching myself as an academic. Indeed, I’m not an academic. And this is why I changed my last official academic job title – ‘Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Gender, Justice and Security’ – to ‘Qualitative Researcher and Research Supervisor’. Same role, same experience, I’m not lying – I’m just telling a different story to a different audience using different framing.

That framing suits my purposes for now, but if I wanted to shift and pitch myself as a content creator, I could do that using the same role of research fellow – but instead really drive home the writing and other ‘content’ I created (the publications, blog posts, other digital content) during my time as a postdoc. Instead of ‘Research Associate’, I’ve used the language of ‘Research Project Manager’. (Essentially I’ve sort of search-engine-optimised my CV, but that might be a blog for another day). This is a small but somehow long-winded example of how storytelling can help you to undo the “I’m stuck in academia” myth – because there are many, many ways to (re)tell your story that don’t need an academic backdrop to make sense.

After the myth

Perhaps the trickier thing to confront is what happens once you’ve dispelled the myth because often there are big and very valid emotions or limiting beliefs that lie behind it. “Change is too hard”. “I’m scared of failing”. “People will judge me for leaving”. “I’ve invested too much”. And these limiting beliefs – in addition to “I can’t leave because I’m not qualified to do anything else” – are much easier to sit with than confronting the possibility that “I’m choosing to stay in a situation that isn’t serving me”. Because acknowledging that means you have to do something to fix it (urgh!).

Is it worth that discomfort? Only you know that. I can say that it was entirely worth it for me because I now do work that is much more aligned with the kind of life I want to live, but I had a particular constellation of life factors that made it easy(ish) to step away from a traditional academic career. However, recognising the value of my academic skills and reframing my story is what opened up a world of possibilities beyond academia. There are many good reasons for starting or continuing a career in the academy. But “I’m not qualified to do anything else” isn’t one of them.