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What I wish I’d known about academia Advice from scholars to their younger selves about career, teaching and research
Building a career as an academic doesn’t come with a clear road map, so what if academics could begin again knowing what they know now about sustaining motivation, teaching those first classes or thriving in a competitive research culture? This collection also gathers insight from the voices of experience on work-life balance, how to know if academia is right for you, being a good supervisor, and negotiating money and promotion.
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. How to find passion in your work – and sustain it
A simple strategy to sustain passion and enthusiasm for your work by keeping big dreams in view while celebrating each small step
Early career researchers can say no , too
Coming up with a series of questions for ECRs about each ‘ opportunity ’ as it arises can help them decide what is worthy of their time , …
As a black , female student , I wish I ’ d had a peer - mentoring scheme
Asking more experienced students to volunteer to help first - years navigate their university journey can make all the difference …
Dos and do - overs : reflections on life as an early career researcher
Reflecting on her time as an early career researcher , Edzia Carvalho looks back at the things she did successfully – her dos …
I ’ d tell my younger self that my chequered past would be my strength
With the benefit of hindsight , Anson Mackay re - examines their career path to see lessons in self - compassion and being their authentic self in collaboration and the classroom
What I ’ ve learned from a decade of working with a disability in academia
Meredith Wilkinson gives her younger self advice on climbing the academic ladder in an able - bodied world , but also calls for greater support for academics with disabilities
What to do when your students don ’ t seem to care
Ayten Ordu outlines some of the strategies available to academics when students have lost their enthusiasm for lessons and lectures
Classroom management techniques you don ’ t get taught
‘ Fake it till you make it ’ is a useful motto for new university teachers facing a classroom of antsy students for the first time . Here are …
Switching career directions : lessons from the first year as a teaching academic
The first year in a teaching role is challenging , particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic , yet …
Ask for help : a survival guide for inexperienced academics
Research and teaching are two sides of the knowledge coin : creation and dissemination . How do young scholars learn to balance these fundamental roles ?
When am I going to be found out ? Tackling academic impostor syndrome
Do you find yourself thinking ‘ everyone knows more than I do ’ or ‘ I shouldn ’ t have got this promotion ’ ? If so , Jo Clift has tips for challenging your impostor syndrome
How to find personal fulfilment after being a scientist
Academia encourages experimentation and innovative thinking . Why not apply these skills to finding a more satisfying job ? Greta Faccio …
I took an alternative route to academic success – and I ’ m happier than ever
I ignored senior management and marketing departments and experimented with making my work more accessible and …
Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members
In the age of inflation , increased competition and an emphasis on adjunct faculty roles , knowing how to effectively negotiate …
How to spin the plates of academic visibility , engagement and pleasing yourself
Think like a journalist . Think like a content creator . Think like a musician . Jonathan Wilson gives tips on getting ahead in your career without sacrificing personal satisfaction
You can have it all , just not all at once
It might just be possible to achieve a good work - life balance in academia , but it requires focusing on certain areas of your life and career at certain times , says Lucas Lixinski
The boundaries to set so your students don ’ t take over your life
As the role of university teacher evolves , a key workplace challenge is how to offer proximity without becoming a 24 / 7 bot service
This is not normal : advice for stressed academics
With the overhaul of teaching , soaring workloads , childcare demands and other challenges presented by Covid - 19 , many …
Good daily work habits for early career researchers
A collection of good daily work habits that will help early career researchers flourish , based on insight from a number of academics
One thing at a time : tips for making decisions
Academic life is rife with everyday choices that can sap your bandwidth . Here ’ s why this is exhausting and how to ease the load
Bad news , kids ( and academics ) : the magical motivation fairy doesn ’ t exist
Motivation for tricky tasks doesn ’ t just appear magically , but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving , says Hugh Kearns
Key knowledge to be a good manager in higher education
Academics are the most important asset for any university , though they are often the most neglected , making it even more vital to be …
Giving and receiving doctoral writing feedback
Advice for PhD supervisors on setting out clear expectations and strategies for delivering effective feedback to their …
I ’ m finally ready to admit that I ’ m an academic who suffers from depression
I ’ m opening up because those of us hounded by mental health issues should not have to add fear of job loss and stigmatisation to our …
Fool ’ s gold : career advice for young , Black academics
Freshly minted professor Jason Arday provides tips for aspiring Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard themselves on the hazardous journey to the top
Looking for a tenured teaching job ? I ’ ve got one piece of advice : get lucky
By reinforcing the myth of meritocracy , we perpetuate a system grounded in cruelty and false promises . It needs to stop , says David Webster
