I earned my PhD in German literature in 2016. I was fully invested in my
career, taking visiting positions (wherever they may be) that allowed me
to grow professionally. I became increasingly frustrated with the lack of
agency in where I live.
2020 profoundly amplified and rearranged my priorities. I went from
selectively applying to positions (TT or non-TT) that were close to my
family and/or my partner to finally realizing that I did not want to teach
and research German language and culture anymore.
I realized that I wanted a career path that provides more variety, more
collaboration, and ample growth opportunities. Quite frankly, I had maxed
out on my potential for growth in academia and yearned to solve real-world
problems.
Below is a list of resources that I've found useful that will help you in
your (potential) exit from academia: