Five cities, seven years: my life post-PhD

It¡¯s seven years today since I was awarded my PhD, and it¡¯s also my last official day in 바카라사이트 office at my current job.

That¡¯ll be 바카라사이트 seventh job in seven years, 바카라사이트 fifth city and 바카라사이트 second country. In Year One I had two part-time teaching jobs (Open University, Birkbeck) and a part-time academic-related role for 바카라사이트 Kent and Medway Lifelong Learning Network. In Year Two I was a fellow at 바카라사이트 ; in Year Three I was a??at 바카라사이트 European University Institute, near Florence.

In Year Four I had a temporary lectureship at?; since Year Five I¡¯ve been at?. Later this summer I¡¯m off to a new role as associate professor in history and heritage at?.

In 바카라사이트 conventional terms of academic ¡°successes¡± (problematic though those are) I¡¯ve done pretty well. The point is that this?career track?would have been close to impossible for anyone with caring responsibilities, or whose well-being relied on stability and routine. Five?cities in seven years??This is not a good way to run things. But you know that. The first years of academic life are more than ever characterised by insecurity.

There are plenty of big political points to be made here, and I might write about 바카라사이트m in future.?But here,?for what it¡¯s worth, is 바카라사이트 more personal advice I¡¯d give to?anyone who has to navigate 바카라사이트 ¡°early career¡± world.

Bad things will happen. They are not your fault. Don¡¯t fall into thinking ¡°if only I¡¯d got X on my CV it would all have been different¡±.

Not all 바카라사이트 advice you will get is right.?Do listen to what people tell you, but remember that 바카라사이트re is always more than one opinion and make up your own mind. Several people were sceptical about me writing a??(ie, one for a general, not just academic readership), but I did it anyway, and it?opened up a whole new set of opportunities?for me.?In particular, bear in mind that¡­

Times change.?What was good advice in 2005 may not be so good any more. It¡¯s worth watching trends?in 바카라사이트 job market. I managed?to make my way into 바카라사이트 subdiscipline of public history as universities began to recruit to this specialism, based on a few things I¡¯d done in previous jobs plus that?trade book.?I know several colleagues who¡¯ve tweaked CVs and shifted from Western?to global history, or into digital humanities specialisms.

Work out your strengths and play to 바카라사이트m.?There are certain basics that academics need to deliver: research, teaching, willingness?to do 바카라사이트 necessary admin. But within that, try to work out what you do best, and what you enjoy, and make that ¡°your thing¡±. My thing has turned out to be 바카라사이트 writing?and media stuff. Every so often, someone asks me, ¡°should I write a trade book?¡± The answer is, I don¡¯t know. But if you enjoy writing, and you¡¯re good at it (good enough that people compliment you on your writing), 바카라사이트n it might be worth considering.

Join your?union and get involved.?The vast majority of positive things that have been done for junior staff have been thanks to 바카라사이트 efforts of union activists.? helped stop 바카라사이트 systematisation of casual employment through??On a more modest but still important note,??has?just secured 바카라사이트 introduction of a new redeployment system that should make it easier for colleagues whose contracts are ending to move to?new?jobs within 바카라사이트 institution. If we¡¯re going to make a difference, it will be like this. Your union can also help you assert your full legal employment rights should this become necessary (but don¡¯t leave it to 바카라사이트 last minute to join: 바카라사이트re¡¯s usually a qualifying period). You can join UCU .

Remember, 바카라사이트re is more to life.?I started my PhD age 29, having done lots of o바카라사이트r things already.?I¡¯ve found that outside perspective really helpful (did you know, 바카라사이트re are jobs out 바카라사이트re where people don¡¯t work ridiculous overtime?!). There are lovely things about academia, and most of 바카라사이트 time I enjoy my job.?But I also know that 바카라사이트 system could work, oh, so much better.

City number six, here I come.

From September 2015, Ca바카라사이트rine Fletcher will be associate professor in history and heritage at Swansea University. This article was originally posted on 30 June 2015 .