Walking the Tightrope: Considering Non-Academic Jobs When Your Department Doesn’t Approve

If you’re a PhD student quietly exploring jobs outside academia, you may feel like you’re living a double life. On paper, you’re the committed apprentice: publishing, teaching, presenting at conferences, signaling dedication to “the life of the mind.” But under the surface, you’re also scrolling job boards, wondering how your skills might translate beyond the university walls. And in some departments, admitting that curiosity feels almost like betrayal.

The taboo runs deep. Maybe your advisor insists that “serious scholars” don’t even think about non-academic work. Maybe peers whisper about “selling out.” Maybe you’ve internalized the idea that leaving academia is failure—even if the thought of chasing tenure makes your stomach sink.

So how do you navigate this without burning bridges or betraying yourself?

Separate your audience

Not every mentor will be a safe person to talk to about career exploration. That’s hard, especially if you’ve been trained to treat your advisor as your intellectual and professional lifeline. The reality is that telling the wrong person can even put you at risk -- I was given advice numerous times during grad school that I should be careful who I told that I was considering non-academic jobs because some professors would refuse to work with me. But protecting your curiosity sometimes means building a second circle of support: alumni who’ve made career shifts, professional associations, even friends outside academia who see your value more broadly. These are the people you can speak openly with while still keeping peace in your department.

Reframe your curiosity

When someone pushes the “life of the mind” narrative, it can feel like they’re invalidating your hopes. But remind yourself: considering careers outside academia isn’t about rejecting intellectual life. It’s about finding contexts where your skills and interests can flourish sustainably. Many non-academic paths still involve writing, teaching, research, analysis—just in different containers.

Treat exploration as professional development

Departments often respect anything framed as “building skills.” If you approach workshops, internships, or side projects as a way to expand your professional toolkit, you can carve out space for career exploration without triggering alarm bells. I even did this myself. What looks like hedging your bets may actually strengthen your academic profile in ways advisors will understand, even if you’re eyeing other futures.

Acknowledge the grief

Leaving (or even contemplating leaving) academia can feel like a loss. You’ve likely invested years of identity and effort into belonging to this world. Feeling sadness, anger, or even shame doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’re human. Grieving what you imagined your path would look like is part of clearing space for what comes next.

Remember whose life it is

At the end of the day, your career is yours to live. Your committee doesn’t pay your bills. And your department doesn’t get to decide what fulfillment means to you. Academia will always try to claim your loyalty. But your loyalty first belongs to yourself—the version of you who deserves not just intellectual growth, but also stability, joy, and possibility.

This is where the story gets bigger: the taboo only has power if it stays hidden. By exploring beyond it, you’re not only shaping your own path—you’re quietly cracking open the door for the students who’ll come after you.

Looking for support in navigating your career journey? Let’s chat — it’s free, and you’ll walk away with actionable steps to start your journey.

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© 2025 Marya T. Mtshali. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.