National and international statistics show that across disciplines there are many more PhD graduates than academic positions. In fact, more than half of graduates find their careers outside the academy—though the kinds of positions they accept, their work satisfaction, and the relevance of their PhDs is much less clear. As regards scholarly studies on post-PhD careers, most have examined social scientists and scientists with little attention to humanities doctoral graduates. This study addresses this gap by exploring the career experiences of Canadian PhD humanities graduates through descriptive statistics and narrative analysis. Specifically, it highlights the PhD experiences and post-graduation career trajectories of 212 Canadian humanists from 24 universities who graduated between 2004 and 2014. The study offers insight into humanities career challenges, including during the PhD, the range of non-academic careers that humanists find, as well as their work satisfaction and the perceived relevance of the PhD.National and international statistics show that across disciplines there are many more PhD graduates than academic positions. In fact, more than half of graduates find their careers outside the academy—though the kinds of positions they accept, their work satisfaction, and the relevance of their PhDs is much less clear. As regards scholarly studies on post-PhD careers, most have examined social scientists and scientists with little attention to humanities doctoral graduates. This study addresses this gap by exploring the career experiences of Canadian PhD humanities graduates through descriptive statistics and narrative analysis. Specifically, it highlights the PhD experiences and post-graduation career trajectories of 212 Canadian humanists from 24 universities who graduated between 2004 and 2014. The study offers insight into humanities career challenges, including during the PhD, the range of non-academic careers that humanists find, as well as their work sa Austin Canadian Journal of Higher Education Revue canadienne d’enseignement supérieur Volume 48, No. 2, 2018, pages 1 - 19 Humanities PhD Graduates: Desperately Seeking Careers? Lynn McAlpine McGill University, University of Oxford Nichole Austin McGill University Abstract National and international statistics show that across disciplines there are many more PhD graduates than academic positions. In fact, more than half of graduates find their careers outside the academy—though the kinds of po- sitions they accept, their work satisfaction, and the relevance of their PhDs is much less clear. As regards scholarly studies on post-PhD careers, most have examined social scientists and scientists with little attention to humani- ties doctoral graduates. This study addresses this gap by exploring the career experiences of Canadian PhD humanities graduates through descriptive sta- tistics and narrative analysis. Specifically, it highlights the PhD experiences and post-graduation career trajectories of 212 Canadian humanists from 24 universities who graduated between 2004 and 2014. Further, studies of post-PhD career-related expe- rience, regardless of discipline, are also rare (Kyvik & Olsen, 2012). This study addresses this gap by reporting the career hopes and outcomes of Canadian post-PhD humanities graduates. This study is of particular importance given national and international statis - tics showing that across disciplines there are many more PhD graduates than academic positions (Neumann & Tan, 2011). So, more than half of graduates will end Still, a focus on time to completion is misdirected if funding is inadequate and the careers for which graduates have prepared are not available. Funding Over 15 years ago, Golde and Dore (2001) noted that many students were unaware of the financial implications of doctoral study prior to enrolment, and students, particu- larly in the humanities, accumulated significant debt in graduate school. We noted faculty concern about funding several years later among English academics in Canada (McAl- pine, Paré, & Starke-Meyerring, 2008). Faculty were challenged with generating fund- ing strategies to both attract and support students. Lack of Academic Positions While many PhD students imagine research-teaching positions, at least when starting their degrees, humanities PhD students tend to imagine this to be the case more so than students in other disciplines (Kyvik & Olsen, 2012; Maldonado, Wiggers, & Arnold, 2013). While it is true that humanities graduates have more employment in higher education than other fields (Auriol, Misu, & Freeman, 2013), such reports often do not distinguish between academic and other forms of employment within the sector (Neumann & Tan, 2011). In fact, the data are disturbing. Further, since the interview followed a structured protocol, there was little follow-up or probing. Lastly, data on race and ethnicity were not captured, and other demographic data, such as family leave, part-time status, and international status, were not consistently collected. And, of course, there is subjectivity inherent in any qualitative analysis, despite the authors’ joint efforts to reach consensus. Still, we believe this study provides insights into humanities graduates’ experiences that is not available elsewhere. Results Research Question 1: How do humanities PhD graduates characterize their doctoral experience? What we would highlight is the variation in agency: from strategic and goal-oriented to retrospectively recognizing the lack of such strategies (McAlpine & Amundsen, 2016). Discussion We argued initially that evidence collected over the past 15 years in different countries demonstrates that doctoral education is not preparing graduates for the kinds of jobs they find—though humanities graduates were little studied. This research adds to that picture by contributing a current, as well as retrospective, picture of the career paths of Canadian humanities PhD graduates.

RESEARCH ARTICLE How to Thrive Beyond Academia with a Humanities PhD Abby Williams1 and Fatimah Williams 2 1Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA 2Professional Pathways, LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA Corresponding author: Abby Williams; Email: abby.williams@nyu.edu (Received 04 September 2024; revised 07 November 2024; accepted 17 November 2024) Abstract Navigating a career beyond the traditional academic path can be both exciting and daunting for humanities professionals, often leaving them eager to explore new opportunities but unsure where to start. This article addresses five common challenges faced by those venturing outside academia and offers practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles. By tackling key issues such as translating academic expertise into broader contexts, expanding skill perceptions, and building professional networks, it provides actionable advice to help humanities graduates thrive in diverse career environments. Whether you are struggling with imposter syndrome or looking to leverage your unique skills, this guide aims to empower you to unlock new career possibilities and achieve success beyond academia. Keywords: academia; career transition; humanities; professional development Hope was an advanced humanities PhD student focused on indigenous beading practices –a fascinating but niche area of study. After six years of focused work things started to unravel. Her advisor retired, a close family member fell ill, and her job search revealed just a handful of scholarly roles that even remotely aligned with her expertise. The existential dread kicked in. “ Writing the dissertation felt like hitting a wall– I was overwhelmed to the point of‘Find me a therapist and take me Hope initially struggled to see how her skills would translate to roles outside her field. However, by broadening her network and exploring opportunities beyond the traditional academic path, she began to see her potential in new, unexpected ways. Instead of confining herself to roles directly aligned with her academic training, she identified industries in user experience research – an obvious fit for her expertise – and also looked at Big Tech companies that, though outside her specific field, aligned with her broader interests and skills. This exploration allowed her to recognize that her ability to contribute meaningfully to society extended far beyond the boundaries of academia, and it encouraged her to embrace opportunities that she might have otherwise overlooked. 6. Charting your path forward Start by creating a plan with small, actionable steps. Even dedicating just a few minutes each day to industry research or updating your LinkedIn profile can make a significant differ- ence. 17 Make career exploration a consistent part of your routine, turning it from an overwhelming task into a manageable habit. Reach out to your network –both inside and outside of academia –for advice, and remain open to adjusting your approach as you learn more about what is out there. The important thing is to keep moving forward. The good news? You are not starting from scratch. Your academic training has equipped you with a valuable set of skills that are highly transferable across industries. The key is in strategically reframing these skills to resonate beyond academia. Abby Williams is the Assistant Dean for Professional Development at New York University where she leads Public Humanities Initiative programming. Her academic research focuses on PhD Career Pathways. Fatimah Williams, PhD is founder of Professional Pathways and creator of Options for Success career exploration program for PhDs. Author Contributions. Conceptualization: F.W., A.W.; Data curation: F.W., A.W.; Formal analysis: F.W., A.W.; Investigation: F.W., A.W.; Methodology: F.W., A.W.; Project administration: F.W., A.W.; Resources: F.W., A.W.; Writing –original draft: F.W., A.W.; Writing –review and editing: F.W., A.W. Funding Statement. No funding was received for this article. Conflicts of Interest. No competing interests are declared. References Baker, V. L., and M. J. Pifer. 2011.“The Role of Relationships in the Transition from Doctoral Student to Independent Scholar.” Studies in Continuing Education 33 (1): 5 –17. Berdahl, L., and J. Malloy. 2018. Work your Career: Get What you Want from Your Social Sciences or Humanities PhD . University of Toronto Press. Cassuto, L., and R. Weisbuch. 2021. The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education . Johns Hopkins University Press. Denicolo, P., and J. Reeves. 2013. Developing Transferable Skills: Enhancing your Research and Employment Potential . Sage Publications Ltd. Feldon, D.F., A. M. Wofford, J. M. Blaney. 2021. “Ph.D. Pathways to the Professoriate: Affordances and Constraints of Institutional Structures, Individual Agency, and Social Systems. ” In: Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research. Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, vol 38. edited by L.W. Perna. Springer. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-3-030-94844-3_4-1 17 Mewburn et al. 2020. Public Humanities 7 https://doi.org/10.1017/pub.2024.53 Published online by Cambridge University Press

... Leave , or Being Pushed Out ? Personally , my decision to leave academia was positive . I chose to leave because it ... significant pain . This is especially true in the humanities , where PhDs and professorships are still seen as ... Grad school isn’t easy. It’s even less easy when you’re also managing a second job, a family, or depression—or when you are a first-generation student, or if you come from an underrepresented group or a lower socioeconomic-status background. Grad students are overworked, overstressed, and over it. Most grad school advice books focus on the professional side: finding funding, managing research and teaching, and applying for academic jobs. But students today face a difficult job market. Only a handful will obtain coveted tenure-track professorships, so they need alternative career prep. Plus, grad school is only one part of your life. And with an average age of 33 years, today’s students are juggling far more than school. That’s where this book comes in. It will help you keep up a personal l Most grad school advice books focus on the professional side: finding funding, managing research and teaching, and applying for academic jobs. But students today face a difficult job market. Only a handful will obtain coveted tenure-track professorships, so they need alternative career prep. Plus, grad school is only one part of your life. And with an average age of 33 years, today’s students are juggling far more than school. That’s where this book comes in. It will help you keep up a personal life, make the most of your time, and prepare for your career—whether in academia or beyond. This pragmatic book explains how to persevere through the grad school long haul, covering challenges both on and off campus. It shares candid, specific advice on personal finances, mental health, setting your own learning and career goals, maintaining friendships and relationships, and more. Peppy, sensible, and smart, Grad School Life points out the pitfalls of academia and helps you build the life you want. With fresh insights, concrete suggestions and exercises, and helpful lists of resources, this book gives grad students a new roadmap for not only surviving but thriving—both in school and in the real world. Grad school isn’t easy. It’s even less easy when you’re also managing a second job, a family, or depression—or when you are a first-generation student, or if you come from an underrepresented group or a lower socioeconomic-status background. Grad students are overworked, overstressed, and over it... See more about this book Jacqueline M. Kory-Westlund is a writer, artist, and independent scholar with the Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship. She received her PhD from the MIT Media Lab in 2019. As a student, she published many academic articles, earned top fellowships, got married and had kids, and even kept up with a couple hobbies. Kory-Westlund has worked for NASA developing autonomous vehicles and laser space robots, designed graphics for software startups, and currently consults for small businesses and think tanks on education, design, and technology. Jacqueline M. Kory-Westlund is a writer, artist, and independent scholar with the Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship. She received her PhD from the MIT Media Lab in 2019. As a student, she published many academic articles, earned top fellowships, got married and had kids, and even kept u... See more about this author Smartphones and tablets Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone .