Your Career: How to escape a cycle of career discontent

In times of change, it’s critical to distinguish between what you have control over, and what you don’t. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. In times of change, it’s critical to distinguish between what you have control over, and what you don’t In many fields, but especially in the humanities, Ph.D.s spend a great deal of their careers feeling uncomfortable. Your “discomfort” is not just the awfulness of competing for a tiny number of tenure-track jobs, but the numerous personal readjustments, realignments, reframings, and accommodations that you have had to make as you settle into careers that look little or nothing like the ones your faculty mentors enjoyed. Picture the aggregate of Ph.D. career experiences as an enormous funnel. Clustered at the tiny end of the funnel is a relatively small number of Ph.D.s who hold jobs that allow them to spend much of their time on the pursuits that drew them to the profession. They do research and teach things related to their interests. Further up the funnel are other faculty positions that require different sorts of teaching, lots of service work, and few (if any) resources for doing research. At the widest end are jobs that require Ph.D.s to rethink their entire professional identity, in addition to acquiring new skills. As the funnel widens, so does the likelihood of discomfort. It’s not uncommon for academics — faced with a career-altering challenge — to hunker down into defense mode and attack the idea, person, or entity that seems to be generating the change. But instead of fixating on how to control an impossible situation (in this case, the tenure-track job market), how can you focus your attention on your own career transition? Continue reading: “[Career Change Is Uncomfortable. Embrace It]( by Maria LaMonaca Wisdom Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Upcoming Workshop [The Chronicle's Crash Course in Academic Leadership | August 2024] If you’re curious about becoming an academic administrator, we’re once again offering The Chronicle’s Academic Leadership Crash Course, a four-hour virtual workshop designed for faculty aspiring to administrative roles. Join us in August to gain essential insights, practical tips, and valuable resources that will help you pursue your next professional step. [Learn more and register!]( LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [My University Closed. Now What?]( By Brittany Carlson [STORY IMAGE]( What it’s like to go back on the faculty job market when financial troubles shutter your institution. ADVERTISEMENT [My University Closed. Now What?]( ‘TORCHED WITH BURNOUT’ [He Got His Dream Job as a Professor. Then He Walked Away.]( By Beckie Supiano [STORY IMAGE]( Michael Chen thought he’d stay at Nazareth University for the rest of his career. But, like other professors in recent years, he found that the job’s demands became too much. COLLEGE ACCESS [‘There’s No Secret Sauce’: An Enrollment Leader Looks Back at 35 Years]( By Eric Hoover [STORY IMAGE]( In an in-depth conversation, Monica Inzer, who just retired as vice president for enrollment management at Hamilton College, discusses the complexity of access — and what kept her in the field. THE REVIEW | ESSAY [Why Are There So Few Conservative Professors?]( By Steven M. Teles [STORY IMAGE]( The facts are beyond dispute. The causes and solutions are not. CHANGES AHEAD [New Anti-DEI Legislation Goes Into Effect in 4 States]( By Maggie Hicks [STORY IMAGE]( Of at least 39 bills introduced in 19 states this year, four have passed, according to a Chronicle analysis. Utah’s law is the most sweeping. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Fostering Students' Free Expression - Buy Now]( [Higher Education in 2035]( Higher education is facing an array of challenges: economic headwinds, political pressures, and shifting demographics. [Order your copy]( to help your institution prepare for what’s ahead, and discover how the sector will evolve in the coming decade. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - [Advice]( in The Wall Street Journal on the “dos and don’ts” of making friends in the workplace. - In the Harvard Business Review, tips for the [first-time manager]( on “how to delegate. - An [essay]( in The Atlantic explores whether the “DEI backlash” has “come for publishing. MORE CAREER RESOURCES ADVICE [How to Make the Most of an Academic Conference]( By Thomas J. Tobin [STORY IMAGE]( Advice on navigating professional meetings in all formats — in person, virtual, and hybrid. PAY UPDATE [How Much Has Faculty Pay Changed Over Time?]( By Brian O’Leary [STORY IMAGE]( See the latest federal data on compensation for all ranks of the profession at thousands of American colleges. DATA [How Much Do Noninstructional Employees Earn?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Here’s how wages have changed over the past five years for those who work in sectors such as business and financial operations, management, and education services. [Student Mental Health and Safety]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: July 16, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET: Amid a mental-health crisis on campus, how can safety officers, mental-health professionals, and the campus police work to ensure student safety? Join us for a free forum. With Support From AT&T. [Register here.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Faculty Openings]( Towson University [Vice President for Finance & Treasury]( Montclair State University [Search other jobs.]( Stay ahead of the game and upload your resume to our job board. You'll be visible to hiring managers who are actively seeking top talent like you. [Upload your resume today.]( CAREER RESOURCES [Preparing for a New Role] [Read the July collection]( for advice on preparing for a new role. Learn how you can prepare for onboarding, move into your new office, and more! NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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