Summary

An academic transitioned to a high-paying job after over a decade in the field, gaining financial stability by shifting her mindset about money and recognizing her worth.

Abstract

The author, a dedicated academic in biological sciences, shares a personal journey of transitioning from underpaid academic roles to a lucrative job that provided the financial stability needed for her family. Initially, she believed that passion for her field and a modest income were sufficient, but the arrival of children prompted a reevaluation of her financial needs. Through workshops, career change stories, and self-reflection, she learned to translate her academic skills into a compelling resume. She applied to numerous positions, even those with intimidating titles and higher salaries, understanding that job requirements often serve as a wish list rather than a strict checklist. This proactive approach led to interviews and, ultimately, a well-paid job offer that aligned with her qualifications and needs.

Opinions

The author held the opinion that one can be passionate about their field while also seeking financial reward, challenging the notion that money is a secondary concern.
She believed that self-worth should be reflected in one's earnings and that it's acceptable to pursue better-paying opportunities without compromising one's professional identity.
The author suggests that job seekers should not limit themselves based on current earnings or self-imposed constraints, advocating for applying to positions that offer significant salary increases if the fit is reasonable.
She emphasizes the importance of leveraging transferable skills and experiences to appeal to a broader job market, beyond the confines of academia.
The author's experience led her to the opinion that the hiring process, even when unsuccessful, provides valuable insights and should be viewed as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.
She encourages a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity when applying for jobs, advising job seekers to apply widely without the fear of rejection.

How I Landed I High-Paying Job After Being An Academic For Over A Decade

And gained most needed financial stability

How I landed a High-Paying Job After Graduation. Generated with Adobe Express

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This year, I understood a lot of things about how to gain financial stability. All it took was a mind shift.

I used to make two assumptions that prevented me from making the money my family and I needed:

Thinking that I didn’t need the money
Believing my field would never pay me more.

All my life I thought I didn’t need money.

Don’t get me wrong, I don't come from a wealthy family. But I always heard my family say that money didn’t make happiness and that it was more important to find a career that I liked.

And while this is true, and I will always advocate for doing something you enjoy, you CAN have both.

I was very passionate about biological sciences, and that’s what I did. But everywhere I went people would reinforce the idea that “biologists don’t make good money,” unless they wear a lab coat.

I was moving from badly to terribly paid jobs that looked amazing to my Google Scholar profile. Postdoc here, visiting assistant professorship there.

But then I had children, and those jobs didn’t pay the basics I needed to support them.

I had to give myself a pep-talk.

Don’t get me wrong, it took me a few years to come to my senses, but I’m glad I finally did it.

What is that I understood that got me out of that rabbit hole?

That accepting that I needed the money didn’t make me a bad “biologist”
That I was worth more than what I was making.

So, what did I do?

First

I started evaluating different types of jobs I could do with the skills I had.

I attended a few workshops at my university, learned from other people who had changed careers, and objectively evaluated the possibilities I had.

I also had to learn how to translate my skills into a compelling resume. But to be honest, you can simply ask chatGTP how to do that.

Have a conversation with them and you’ll get some insight. Don’t believe me? Just give it a try.

Second

I started applying to EVERY job I could be a “just-right” fit for.

Did I think about these jobs much? No.

I just thought: Here’s my resume, If they think I could be a good fit, they’ll call and interview me.

During interviews, I investigated if those were indeed good fits for me.

But most importantly, the whole process, whether “successful” or not, would give me the most valuable data.

Third

Even if my hands were shaking while doing it, I applied for jobs with intimidating titles.

Jobs that were offering up to 4 times what I was making. The only condition is that I had to meet more than 50% of the requirements.

Did you know that most often, candidates don’t have all the requirements? Talk to any HR specialist. The “required skills” are called “the wish list” in their field.

And you know what happened?

I was interviewed for multiple positions and eventually offered a job I was qualified for. A well-paid job.

So, In a nutshell…

Submit job applications like you have nothing to lose (because you don’t), and let them be the ones who say no. Don’t be your best enemy. Believe in your worth.

Hit that send button. What’s the worst that can happen?

I’ll tell you. That you never hear from them and you forget about it.

The best?

You get the well-paid job you need and deserve.

More soon…