When you start having doubts about academia, there's a lot on your mind--and a lot to learn about getting out.
How do I know? Because I've been there.
My name is Jen Michaels, and I'm the owner and course author at Academic Anywhere. In 2016, I made the jump from humanities adjunct faculty and PhD candidate to a thriving career outside of academia. From the moment I left, until today, I've been doing exactly the kind of work that I most valued in my academic life. I'm using all the skills I developed in academia. And all the things I thought I had to "say goodbye to"--like my love for teaching and students--came back to me in new, exciting ways.
But to make that jump outside the academy, I had to learn a LOT. I spent many hours, made many mistakes, test drove many unhelpful resources--and eventually, figured out which ones WERE helpful.
I got out, but I did it by fighting through burnout, overwhelm, isolation, while working three jobs and taking care of a toddler. And you deserve better than to get out "that way."
In 2017, I started doing live "how to transition out of academia" workshops at Research I universities, and taking private consulting clients from across academia. Clients and attendees went on to find jobs in many industries: user-experience design, marketing and communications, technical writing, instructional design and learning strategy, non-profit work, and more. More than one person told me, "This was the most valuable time I have ever spent in academia, learning any topic, period."
But I know that many of you are "going it alone" without a department or college that will pay for a group workshop. So I'm thrilled to announce this pre-launch of my first online course, directly provided to individuals, to help you understand and thrive in the search for ex-academic and alt-academic work.
I've set aside a few weeks for us to share this course with you and invite you to share it with friends and colleagues. And then, on October 10, 2021, course content will begin to debut weekly until the course is completely released to participants (approximately 6-7 weeks total). Course content will be available on-demand, asynchronously, so you can use it at your own pace.
And because you're joining at pre-launch stage, you'll not only get the existing workshop content--you'll have a chance to weigh in on what content you'd like to hear even more about! Truly, there won't be a better time to join us.
So what's in the course?
Great question! Here's a summary. As you can tell, we're talking about a LOT of content here, in three big buckets:
Shift Your Mindset
By the time you think about leaving academia, your confidence is shot. You're probably burned out, likely overworked--and you might be overcoming years of behavior patterns that served you well in academia but will sabotage your exit strategy.
In this course, I don't just tell you "how to get a job." We'll talk about how to think productively about your search, overcome any biases you've internalized, and rebuild your confidence in what you have to offer.
Explore Your Options
When I work with clients, they often say, "I don't even know where to start." If you're overwhelmed by all the possible industries, job titles, and different kinds of workplaces--or you're not sure where to get "real deal" info on what it's like to work in an industry, job, or organization--this course content is for you.
We'll also talk about, well, how to talk to other humans about this stuff. How can you learn more about a job or industry? How can you talk about your academic skills in a way that non-academics will understand? We'll spend a lot of time talking about how to make this translation--and once you get the hang of it, it's actually fun. Yes, even for the introverts!
Ace the Process
The academic job search process, and the non-academic job search process, don't have much in common. And even if you've conducted a non-academic job search before, most folks are mystified about what makes a "good interview" or how to maximize the results of a salary negotiation.
In this part of the course, we'll not only help you understand the key milestones and what needs to happen--we'll also talk about how to do well at each of these stages. And give special watchouts for academics in this process...including under-valuing themselves and leaving money on the table.
Meet the Course Author
Let's be real: Outside of academia, online paid courses like this are very common. But I know they're not yet common in academia. So I wanted to talk with you, one to one...to reassure you that I'm very real, that I am indeed an ex-academic (ABD from The Ohio State University, MFA from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)...and that I really did make this course for academics like you.
So what's in it for you to join during pre-launch?
To be candid, the answer is awesome pricing that I'll never be offering again. I truly believe that this knowledge is worth 3-4x the pre-launch pricing, which is why starting in 2022, the price of the course will indeed be 3-4x higher than your pre-launch pricing. And I believe that even at those prices, it will be an incredible value!
So please join us now, while it's an awesome deal, by clicking the green "Enroll Now" button below and reserving your seat. And as a special gift to my pre-launch participants who sign up by October 10, I'll be offering an exclusive online "video office hours" session to address your questions and interests.
Know that this course is designed for humanities academics at all levels and ranks (including graduate students!). But I welcome any academic who wants to think about new career paths, including STEM academics and K-12 teachers.
If you're still not sure, know that I have a 100% Happiness Guarantee. After course launch, if you take the first three course modules and don't find them valuable, you can contact me for a cheerful refund. Yes, seriously! I believe in this content and I think you're going to be blown away by the value.
Oh, hi! If you're still reading, let's talk for a moment.
Thanks for reading this far. Whew, you've really scrolled a long way! I appreciate it. And honestly, when I was in your shoes...I would have scrolled the whole page too.
Because I was tired. Because I had analysis paralysis. Because I was so burnt out that I often felt unsure. Because when I was in your shoes, this course price would have burned a lot more than it does with a 4x salary.
So let me tell you about my 100% Happiness Guarantee. If you sign up, and you complete the first 3 modules of the course and you still think it's not worthwhile, email me through the course portal and I'll give you a full refund.
Yes. For real. I really believe in what I'm doing here. I grieved the loss of academia hard--and the only thing that healed my heart was giving this info to other people, and watching it change their lives, and screaming and crying and sharing their joy when the ex-academic job offer landed on their desk. I can tell you that when we meet up for coffee a year or two later, and I can visibly see the improvements in their health and mood, all of the time I spent learning--and making mistakes, and feeling lost, and feeling alone--is totally worth it.
I'll also be very candid here. This is going to take some work on your part. This is not one of those "just follow the method step by step, and do no critical thinking, and never leave your comfort zone" kinds of things. But you know what? If you're an academic, you're already brave as a lion. You don't feel that way, maybe, but every day you question assumptions, you challenge people think differently and better, you look for new knowledge. I believe in you. And if what I'm saying is resonating with you...I think you're really going to like my teaching style.
Nobody, including me, could ever promise you that an online course will get you a job. If anyone ever tells you this, please walk away from their product, seriously.
But I can promise you this much: when I was in your shoes, scared and grieving at the end of my academic career and feeling very alone, this is the resource I wish I'd had.
For years, I debated whether to build this course. But especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, and watching so many of my personal friends question "Is there life beyond academia?" and watching the white-hot talent market in non-profit and industry for 2021--they're literally calling it the War for Talent!--it's time now and I feel great about it.
And I hope you'll join us--and share this with friends or colleagues that you know are struggling.
