I have multiple humanities degrees, (BA, MA, MLitt) and have planned on getting a PhD to teach at the university level. However, they seem to only be hiring adjuncts and phasing out TT positions. So, like… what should I do?
I am sick of being exhausted constantly and making basically no money. I want a job that I can do from home (or at least hybrid), that doesn’t kick my ass every day, and pays me enough that I can afford hobbies, and doesn’t have so many hours that I have time for those hobbies.
I could get a PhD or EdD and continue to try to make ends meet in education.
Law obviously requires lots of reading, which is within my skill set, and is something I have considered, but also has 80-100 hour weeks and I want nothing to do with that.
So I’ve been thinking about computer science. Would it be stupid to go back to the bachelors degree level so I can abandon the humanities for the sciences? I think I would be good at computer programming or engineering, but are the job opportunities any better there, or am I just experiencing “the grass is always greener”? I really don’t want more debt just to find out 3 years from now that it’s just as difficult in IT as it is in education.
Would really appreciate any advice you can share, thanks!
7 comments
Engineering. Mechanical/Civil would be my recommendation.
Engineering would be my recommendation, but it’s not as easy as it was 10 years ago. A lot of new computer science degree holders, are having difficulties finding their first job. We are entering a new phase in labor market, I think there are too many white collar workers, especially with non-technical skills, an AI is going to disrupt a lot of that stuff….
Honestly, we’re going to have a Renaissance of blue color work, looking to 3D home construction, that’s going to be the way homes are built in the future….
> I have multiple humanities degrees, (BA, MA, MLitt)
You’ve been a ‘professional’ student (just how many years in college, have you put in)?
If you got on well with people, you might have useful sales skills (successful real estate salespeople do very well, but, 80% do not).
I would not go into comp sci now. The market is saturated and AI is going to further reduce the need for entry-level coders.
No offense, but you have plenty of schooling. If you aren’t getting where you want to be professionally, I would recommend seeking advice from others who are where you want to be and finding out what is holding you back.
I would bet a fair amount that working on developing your people skills & intrapersonal relationship skills will take you father than another degree, at this point in your life.
Here’s what I can tell you about the state of software engineering as a career. The job market is pretty rough right now, it’s nowhere near the boom cycle it was in the 2010s. You can still make big money in big tech, but that’s assuming you can get in. The current big trend is AI/ML, but that’s one of the harder fields to excel in, and typically requires advanced education (MS/PhD) in that field.
The money is nice but the burnout is real. Personally I would really love to get out of this field, I just feel like that would be a poor financial decision at this point. I’m hoping to save enough money to retire into something where I’m not chained to a desk in my 40s. Although if I end up having kids, it might again be a poor financial choice.
I work as a contractor in big tech, which means I make a similar salary but no stock (which can easily make the compensation double or more). As much as I would like more money, most of those really high paying jobs are at companies with RTO policies so it’s not a remote option, and you have to live in a VHCOL area that offsets a lot of that extra money.
If your from the UK don’t study mechanical engineering, don’t believe the hype or bullshit about “there’s a shortage of engineers”. You’ll be overworked, underpaid and unless your an old white bloke with grey hairs growing out of your nose you won’t be promoted to a senior level etc. no matter how good you are at your job.