Leaving Academia: Leveraging Academic Foundations, Supplementing Cross-Industry Employability, and Adjusting Communication Styles. Step by by Step, Transition from Living for Learning to Learning to Live, and Painlessly Embark on a Diverse Career Path.

Leaving academia is not easy. Ph.D. candidates and Ph.D.s who have undergone nearly a decade (or more) of academic training since college often harbor the hope that "maybe I can make it through," making it difficult to recognize in time that the harsh employment environment in higher education might not be suitable for them. The factors involved include personal aspirations, identity, psychological barriers, and more. Although doctoral programs aim to train students for a career as tenured professors, in the U.S. today, only 7% of graduate students ultimately achieve this. The situation in Taiwan, with its declining birth rate, is no more optimistic.
 
When the author of this book, Christopher Caterine, was still in academia, his research areas were Roman history and Latin philology, and he had no concept of the job market outside of academia. Reality forced him to consider leaving higher education and exploring another career path. From the moment his last temporary teaching position began its countdown, he worked while interviewing approximately 150 people and seeking career advice. After more than two years of effort, he successfully transitioned to a new field. In addition, this book specifically includes formal interviews conducted by the author with 12 former academics, sharing with readers how others bravely stepped out of the ivory tower to explore more diverse employment opportunities.

The author summarizes his own journey and that of others, offering guidance to readers considering leaving academia.