I am excited about starting my new job and wanted to share with you why it is kind of like getting tenure in academia.

As academics, we always think of academia as our natural habitat. We equate doing cutting edge research, teaching, collaborating, becoming professors… to making an impact.

I was no different and dreamed of becoming a professor when I started graduate school. However, towards the end of graduate school, I started to see academia in a different light. I appreciated everything I had learned there but also realized that it did not lead to careers for everyone.

Academia to consulting

I might have had a career in academia but I took a different route. I accepted a position in the industry and learned a lot more about the real world by doing so. Now, I feel confident about career options for physics PhDs and really any STEM PhDs. 

Right out of graduate school, I started an engineering consulting role at Booz Allen Hamilton working for the government as my clients. Moving to now, I am starting a role in the government directly. 

Why I quit my job in a large consulting firm during this pandemic

Before I was performing on contracts and helping to win more work from the government in my role as a contractor. Now I will be on the other side of the house. This type of transition is not uncommon but there are a lot of government contractors and not as many open government positions. 

Permanent positions are limited and rare

Therefore, I feel lucky to have been selected for this position. This type of position is limited and rare. The position that opened in my case only opened because someone retired from their government service. 

I know professor positions are limited and rare as well. Hence, my comparison of a role like this to one in academia. Of course, a new professor has to earn tenure after which their position becomes permanent. Luckily, my position is starting off as a permanent position and career path.

One- or two-year contracts are not permanent positions, although, of course, they can lead to permanent positions. Permanent positions also, generally, have better benefits. 

So, all of this is to say: go for it. You have a second home and a second natural habitat, PhDs. It is the government. You can get hired into a permanent position and start a career as a government scientist.  

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