Leave Corporate America for Academia

[skimple]

OK old guys. I've been slugging it out in the cube farm for many, many years. I'm now assistant chief bottlewasher with a fairly decent shot at becoming chief bottlewasher in the next 10 years, if:

- we don't have more layoffs
- we don't get split up and sold
- C level execs don't decide to bring in their buddy

However, a position has opened up at a local university which right now seems like a lock. It would be an individual contributor position, with very little chance of leading to a "big shot" role. But the job security is great, the work environment would be a huge improvement, and my kids would qualify for free tuition.

So I'm faced with a choice of continuing to play the corporate game. It I win, it could become big salary, international travel, big networking opportunities. If I lose, I grind out the next 15+ years in misery as mid-level exec, or end up being yet another victim of endless layoffs.

or:

Give up all reasonable expectations of "advancement", and settle in to a secure job with a reasonable salary, and free college for my kids.

I am ping-ponging between the two options right now. Anyone else made this choice?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Happiness is the most important thing in a job provided both options allow you to have a decent standard of living. Some people chase money and that's fine if that's what you want. I've never found money to fulfill me. Temporary happiness yes but that's it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm going to shoot for a government or university job in around 5 years or so and hopefully coast to retirement. The government job is ideal because it has a pension and me giving even 10% of my effort would make me a rock star. The university doesn't have a pension but has generous retirement benefits and is still cake compared to private industry. The disadvantage to both is that they pay peanuts compared to what I currently make but in a few years, that won't matter to me.

How old are you, OP? The free tuition for the kids is a huge perk, IMO, and might be worth it if you can negotiate pay close to what you make.

 

[skimple]

How old are you, OP?

50 is right around the corner...

I don't know that I want to "chase" money, but boy, it sure could make retirement a lot more fun.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I'm going to shoot for a government or university job in around 5 years or so and hopefully coast to retirement. The government job is ideal because it has a pension and me giving even 10% of my effort would make me a rock star. The university doesn't have a pension but has generous retirement benefits and is still cake compared to private industry. The disadvantage to both is that they pay peanuts compared to what I currently make but in a few years, that won't matter to me.

How old are you, OP? The free tuition for the kids is a huge perk, IMO, and might be worth it if you can negotiate pay close to what you make.

This is interesting. From what I recall, aren't you an EE as well? What would you be doing for a university (assuming you don't have a PhD)? I could see teaching some calc, physics, etc. class or something at a local Comm College, but not a higher ranked university. I could keep this in my back pocket to use 20 years down the road from now....

BTW - do you have your PE?

 

[yllus]

Is the job security great? I've always been told (by friends in academia) that that was one of the worst parts about being in education - you can be turfed at any minute.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This is interesting. From what I recall, aren't you an EE as well? What would you be doing for a university (assuming you don't have a PhD)? I could see teaching some calc, physics, etc. class or something at a local Comm College, but not a higher ranked university. I could keep this in my back pocket to use 20 years down the road from now....

BTW - do you have your PE?

EE by education, IT Consultant by profession. No, never got my PE - didn't see the point.

OP, 50 is around the corner for me too. My goal is to land a government or university job somewhere after 50.

 

[CraKaJaX]

EE by education, IT Consultant by profession. No, never got my PE - didn't see the point.

OP, 50 is around the corner for me too. My goal is to land a government or university job somewhere after 50.

Cheater.

I have a very good nursing friend in the IT Consulting biz (hospitals). She's got it made. It seems like every god damn thing she does is paid for - apartments, flights, car rentals, food, hotels, etc. She's been trying to talk me into it for a while. What did you have in mind at a university after 50?

The PE in the utility world is well worth it - reviewing/approving drawings. It comes with a solid bonus/promotion as well. I can see where you wouldn't benefit. I started putting my stuff together this weekend to take it next Oct... D:

 

[Linflas]

I jumped off the government contracting rat race 11 years ago and went to work for the local school system. I was tired of living at the whim of the Federal Contracting system, hated working 12-13 hour days 4 hours of which involved getting to/from work while getting paid for 8. The pay is no where near what I would likely be making if I had stayed in the contracting game but we make enough to live the way we want to live, I now spend 15 minutes a day total commuting, have a decent retirement package to look forward to in addition to what I built up in private industry, and best of all job security.

 

[purbeast0]

I jumped off the government contracting rat race 11 years ago and went to work for the local school system. I was tired of living at the whim of the Federal Contracting system, hated working 12-13 hour days 4 hours of which involved getting to/from work while getting paid for 8. The pay is no where near what I would likely be making if I had stayed in the contracting game but we make enough to live the way we want to live, I now spend 15 minutes a day total commuting, have a decent retirement package to look forward to in addition to what I built up in private industry, and best of all job security.

if you had to drive from manassas to dc every day ... holy shit i feel sorry for you.

 

[mmntech]

My aunt worked at a university for many years in an administrative role. She just retired last year. Of course tenured professors make a lot more money than instructors. Pay is still good though, and so are the benefits. My cousin got her entire education paid for.

If the university does have a good track record for job security, I'd say go for it. IMO, that's the single most valuable benefit any employer can offer today.

 

[unokitty]

...I ping-ponging between the two options right now. Anyone else made this choice?

Early in my career, I went back and forth between working in the computer industry and working in Academia (administrative and teaching positions at different times).

When I would speak at conferences, it always seemed that I would meet academics that wanted me to characterize one type of work as 'better'...

Which, for me, was problematic as I didn't really see it as a hierarchy.

All I could tell them was that in academia, I had plenty of time and not so much money. In contrast, in industry, I had plenty of money and not so much time...

My perspective is that you can be happy, or unhappy, in either place. Depends more on what you want or expect ...

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[John Connor]

Okay, WTF is a bottlewasher? Wikipedia doesn't have shit.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Cheater.

I have a very good nursing friend in the IT Consulting biz (hospitals). She's got it made. It seems like every god damn thing she does is paid for - apartments, flights, car rentals, food, hotels, etc. She's been trying to talk me into it for a while. What did you have in mind at a university after 50?

I figured I'd do IT work - I have a friend at the local branch of Indiana/Purdue in Indianapolis and they have a massive environment and are hiring. They've had several positions I qualify for and I seriously considered jumping last year but the pay was just too low and I wanted to try to make serious money for a few more years before I decide to enter "coasting" phase.

The PE in the utility world is well worth it - reviewing/approving drawings. It comes with a solid bonus/promotion as well. I can see where you wouldn't benefit. I started putting my stuff together this weekend to take it next Oct... D:

I interned at a utility while in college even though I didn't take a single power course. :awe: It was actually very cool and I seriously considered going that route and perhaps getting a Master's degree with focus on it, but instead went to grad school and focused on DSP.

 

[Herr Kutz]

OK old guys. I've been slugging it out in the cube farm for many, many years. I'm now assistant chief bottlewasher with a fairly decent shot at becoming chief bottlewasher in the next 10 years, if:

- we don't have more layoffs
- we don't get split up and sold
- C level execs don't decide to bring in their buddy

However, a position has opened up at a local university which right now seems like a lock. It would be an individual contributor position, with very little chance of leading to a "big shot" role. But the job security is great, the work environment would be a huge improvement, and my kids would qualify for free tuition.

So I'm faced with a choice of continuing to play the corporate game. It I win, it could become big salary, international travel, big networking opportunities. If I lose, I grind out the next 15+ years in misery as mid-level exec, or end up being yet another victim of endless layoffs.

or:

Give up all reasonable expectations of "advancement", and settle in to a secure job with a reasonable salary, and free college for my kids.

I ping-ponging between the two options right now. Anyone else made this choice?

Is there a lot of female talent on this campus? Find the answer to that question and you will find the answer to your original question.

 

[theknight571]

I'm an IT guy, and have worked in both environments. Although I would probably still be in the corporate world if the company had I not been laid off.

After being laid off I took a job at a large university. The pay was roughly half at the time, but the daily pressure is considerably less, I get more vacation time, the benefits are better, and there's always "snow days" a couple of times a year.

The room for advancement here isn't as great, but if you bide your time and watch the postings you can move up.

I can't say I wouldn't go back, but the offer would have to be really good to get me to leave my current situation.

 

[skimple]

I can't say I wouldn't go back, but the offer would have to be really good to get me to leave my current situation.

I don't have an offer in my hand, but they have told me that they would be be trying to "be competitive" with my current salary. So keeping a private sector pay rate and moving into university life would seem like a big win. But - that's likely where I would stay for the foreseeable future.

As far as job security, all that I can say is that I know several people that work for the same university. While they sometimes have tight financial years, they have never involuntarily laid off staff. Of course, there is a first time for everything.

 

[Humpy]

I made the move to working for a large state university doing accounting and grant administration stuff. Less pay but for far less work/stress. Pretty confident I could work here for as long as I wanted.

The way things are going, working for the government made the most sense to me. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

 

[Exterous]

We work with several Universities and it looks like quite the change. The good thing is that if you are in its hard to get fired. The bad news is that means you'll work with a lot of people who should be fired (and whose bosses wish they could fire). I also thought it would be difficult to find places where policies made even less logical sense that the corporate world I previously worked with but that appears to be the norm for academia.

The pay isn't always less but that is going to vary widely based on University. If its a big name one you may even find a small pay bump depending on responsibilities.

Workload varies seasonally a LOT. Summer is often dead while Fall is bat shit crazy as those towns swell to 4-6x times their summer population. Professors and students suck ass at planning ahead too.

They often seem pretty engaged in professional development and education. I also hear stories of some cool team building exercises that you don't see outside of the 'hip and cool' companies. There are also a lot of cool projects going on that you may or may not get to be a part of but that varies by University as well.

 

[skimple]

The bad news is that means you'll work with a lot of people who should be fired (and whose bosses wish they could fire).

LOL! Thanks for the laugh! I hadn't thought about having to work with idiots who couldn't be fired. At least around here I can maintain the false hope that the idiots will be the next to go!

 

[SP33Demon]

Go with the secure option. Peace of mind is more important than fear and lack of fear will lead to creativity which will lead to you possibly opening up your own side business and go full time after retirement. That is the route I am taking.

 

[OverVolt]

Dude, you are approaching 50?

Please go into academia. Your 60 year old-close-to-retirement self will thank you. My opinion anyway.

The corporate execute life only sounds fun if you can get there by 40.

 

[Linflas]

LOL! Thanks for the laugh! I hadn't thought about having to work with idiots who couldn't be fired. At least around here I can maintain the false hope that the idiots will be the next to go!

In government/academia those people generally get promoted to get them out of the way.