Ask HN: anyone here moved from academia to corporate?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1006196

by crocowhile • 17 years ago

26 14 17 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

After a dedicated career in university I am now trying to get a job as assistant professor (neuroscience) but the market is a bitch and so far has been really difficult despite the fact I have a damn good CV.

I am starting to consider that maybe I should take this as opportunity to explore new ways in life. I am thinking doing something completely unrelated to acquire new skills (and maybe some money) and then start something by myself again. I met someone who works for McKinsey recently and I am tempted to give it a try.

Has anyone here done a similar step? Namely, realizing that a career in university may not be the best for them and explore new area? How did it end up?

RiderOfGiraffes• 17 years ago

Not sure it will help, but I had two three-year post-doc contracts. During the second I was doing external consultancy, and as my University contract was coming to an end, the company with whom I worked most closely offered me a job, which I took.

After many mergers, split offs and other coporate movements, I (and some colleagues) did a management buyout, so now I (part) own the descendant.

It's working well for me, but I think my position is a bit unusual.

Still, if you want to get into the commercial world, see if you can do some external consultancy while still employed by the University. They will want a cut, but it will give you a taste of what's wanted, and what it's like.

crocowhile4• 17 years ago

I cannot really do that because I've just finished my first postdoc. Despite scientifically it went extremely well, my contract got terminated pretty much the moment I told my advisor I wanted to look for a position as assistant professor (They don't like people moving on to become their competitors, I guess. Don't get me started with what are the things I hate about academia).

I have been thinking of starting an internet business of mine in the past year but did not get far yet because I though it would feel more like a "plan B" than a genuine choice and I wanted first to make sure I'd do it with the highest motivation.

Thanks for your view.

hga• 17 years ago

Hmmm; in the corporate world a position akin to a postdoc's would require no more than the standard two weeks notice.

Given the nature of the work and the theory of collegiality I'd expect things to be different, but what would you say is expected from postdocs? I guess seeking the position of professor is not something you'd be able to keep secret, if for no other reason than that the hiring institution would expect to talk to your current adviser and so on.

Maybe it's a good thing I got sidelined into a sordid life of programming ^_^.

Good luck! Finances forced me to change careers after my freshman year in college, but that was at a time when programming and system administration work was very hot (1980) and I had the skills for the former and the foundation for the latter. Today, I don't recommend a career in these areas unless you have a calling, and it doesn't sound like that's the case for you.

lutorm• 17 years ago

my contract got terminated pretty much the moment I told my advisor I wanted to look for a position as assistant professor

That is outrageous. I've never heard a case of this happening, everyone I know has had supervisors that did their best to make their postdocs succeed. (It seems it's even in your self-interest as a faculty, since screwing up-and-coming people over isn't going to lead to many collaborative opportunities in the future.)

Some people are just 1st class assholes, I guess, and you find them in all disciplines.

dmd• 17 years ago

I'm in exactly the same boat - finished my PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, now a postdoc, also at Penn, and want out. Funnily enough I'm also looking at things like McKinsey and BCG, but they hire on a yearly basis only - as in, I couldn't even get an interview until September 2010, and they wouldn't be making a hiring decision until January 2011.

I'd love to chat with you about this - send me an email to my username at 3e.org.

crocowhile4• 17 years ago

email sent.

robg3• 17 years ago

Small world on these pipes!

It all depends on your interests and tolerance for risk. I've never cut the umbilical cord because I still enjoy my research. Being a visiting scientist has allowed me to keep a toehold in the academy and still push out papers. But I have needed more extended periods for ideas I wanted to pursue that everyday research didn't allow. I'm biased but the Boston area is perhaps one of the best places to try to turn research into action but it's less a startup culture, it seems, than CA.

Where possible you might consider lateral moves into fields that could benefit from the skills and concepts you've been thinking about but that are closer to industry. A clean break might feel more freeing however. That's where your current interests come in. If you spin off of your current work you'll probably have an easier time landing on your feet into a related field (e.g., computational vision and robotics?) or startup (e.g., lumosity.com). If you stay in your current position you can try some classes in new fields. Rely on the strengths you have there. See if you're interested in the business/finance side by auditing courses at Wharton (or your business school, crocowhile). Or sample research in bioengineering etc. A big university is a great place to reorient and by connecting with like minds. After all, that's what got you on your current path. Then again, if you see that as part of the problem, then a clean break may be necessary.

Honestly, the more I've been talking to people outside of the bubble, the more I've been seeing the bubble. But it's been a slow process of self-discovery for me. How quickly you move will probably depend on how much urgency you feel for a change. And how cheaply you live will determine how long you can live free to pursue your own ideas. YC and similar programs (DreamIT in Philly) seem like a really good way to develop any ideas you may be interested in pursuing.

DaniFong• 17 years ago

Consider applying here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Wills_Neuroscience_Instit...

They'll understand that the market is trouble, and Jeff Hawkens (and presumably many of his employees) have had one foot in both doors for a while.

michaeljung• 17 years ago

Many good answers here already.

What I can add is that having learned, worked or teached other parts of the corporate environment, say management, accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, public relations, which can be found in the corporate world will make the entry much more easier.

Knowing something of the above will help you move faster and the hurdle 'to learn on the job' is not there. But still be able to apply insight of (say neuroscience) to your job.

And consultancies aren't the only ones who are looking for outsiders to their business. Small companies and start-ups are much more open to people (IMHO) with a different profile but obviously in the last third part of the IQ spectrum. Smart people with a can do attitude are always an asset.

Ask HN: anyone here moved from academia to corporate?

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