Due to the unemployment plaguing the economy, smooth academic career have been relegated to just a means to pay the bills instead of making a real impact.
Even though some people later fall in love with the field, it still doesn’t augment the number of those who don’t.
But if you decide to tow the path of academics, how can you have a smooth career? What are the available options?
How can you set yourself up for lasting success and significant impact in the long run? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more in this article.
Definition Of Academic Career
An individual’s academic career starts from an elementary school and culminates in a position that allows them to contribute to the academic success of students, tutors, and educational institutions by teaching, counselling, or education planning.
For instance, you can volunteer to guide your schoolmate through difficult subjects till they understand.
Many people currently pursue a career in academics due to unemployment, resulting in a slew of angry lecturers, teachers, tutors, and counsellors who are clearly in Education to earn a living and pay their bills, not because they are passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.
This distinguishes folks who are passionate about their academic careers from those who want to pay their bills.
Academic And Career Goals
When your job isn’t in academia, there’s a significant distinction between academic and career ambitions. Although most of these goals apply to other professional careers, it is vital to mention that an academic career improves an individual’s overall well-being.
Increased pay, securing leadership posts, gaining new experience, and growing working experience are perks of career aspirations. Individuals in academic careers can also enjoy these perks and even much more. An academic professional will not only achieve these goals but also develop resilience, learn how to manage time excellently, build a strong network, develop a good study habit, and, more importantly, have the privilege of positively impacting many lives. However, the weight of your reward depends on the academic path.
Academic Career Paths
Yes, you want to make a difference in people’s lives, but I’m sure you don’t want to be poor while doing that. While the earning potential is sufficient for an average academic career, it is not the same for everyone. Academic career paths include, but are not limited to:
Administration Of Education
Education institutions, like other organisations, require administrators to oversee the day-to-day operations of schools. Principals, library administrators, school deans, and other administrators are in charge of budgets, disciplinary matters, and overall school management. As such, it’s difficult for an entry-level candidate to get these positions, considering you need years of experience working in an academic setting.
Student Counselling
The position of a counsellor is crucial but undervalued in the academic world. A counsellor provides emotional and psychological support, which helps students succeed in school. High school guidance counsellors play an important role in assisting students in deciding their career routes and what they want to do with their lives. Some organisations require a master’s degree in school counselling before hiring a counsellor.
Teaching
Teaching is the most prevalent academic career option. To be a teacher, you must first obtain a degree and a licence from the appropriate authorities. Most teachers work in classrooms, either in elementary, secondary, or higher institutions. It is now easier to be an online tutor, thanks to technology and EdTech startups like klasshour, which allows you to teach more students and earn more money.
11 Tips For Having a Smooth Academic Career
It takes a lot of consistency and discipline to have a smooth and successful academic career. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and it takes preparation. However, you’ll find the following tips helpful.
- Decide on your goals and purpose
- Build proper time management skills
- Improve your study habit
- Attend lectures by colleagues and superiors
- Be honest
- Be principled
- Show kindness and empathy
- Be open to criticism
- Collaborate with colleagues and superiors in research
- Be present and punctual
- Join professional educational associations.
