That’s why I really hate the “competitive” buzzword. It’s like, alright… let’s say it’s a competition. Are you winning it? Because I can certainly compete against Michael Phelps at swimming, but that doesn’t mean I’m any good.
I recently became a corporate sellout after a lengthy stint in science. I do get a bit higher salary, but what struck me most is how much less competitive this environment is.
Yeah academia can be pretty cutthroat. It’s weird. I loved lots of parts of being in school, but when my advisor started trying to weaponize my personal relationships with other professors so that he could be the new department chair I was like “hahaha just kidding! I’m going to become a carpenter, have a good one forever.”
They don’t even bother with great anymore. It’s all “competitive salary and competitive benefits”. The highest they’re aiming is matching the average.
That’s why I really hate the “competitive” buzzword. It’s like, alright… let’s say it’s a competition. Are you winning it? Because I can certainly compete against Michael Phelps at swimming, but that doesn’t mean I’m any good.
What they don’t wanna tell you is that they’re all competing for “as low as they can get away with.”
“HmMmMmm quite competitive! Yyyyeeess!!”
I recently became a corporate sellout after a lengthy stint in science. I do get a bit higher salary, but what struck me most is how much less competitive this environment is.
Yeah academia can be pretty cutthroat. It’s weird. I loved lots of parts of being in school, but when my advisor started trying to weaponize my personal relationships with other professors so that he could be the new department chair I was like “hahaha just kidding! I’m going to become a carpenter, have a good one forever.”