OK, here’s the deal: I’m 31 years old, I have yet to finish my Ph.D. in English/20th C. American Lit., I’ve taught university freshpeople for 7 years running, and I’m burned out. I have a wife and a daughter, and I’m tired of living on TA wages. I’m tired of trying to teach people who aren’t interested. I have experience in literary and technical editing, my grasp of grammar and spelling is unsurpassed (you grade 250 3-page papers every four months for seven years and see if you can’t spot a comma splice from a mile away), and I can read and write well. I have an updated vitae/resume, and will email it on request. Anyone want me? Anyone willing to pay me better than TA wages? I’d prefer the Southeast US, but location and salary are negotiable.
OK, this is probably out of line for the boards, but I’m desperate to get the hell out of here!
In the software field, this means either editing programmers’ instructions to a legible and consistant form for inclusion in a manual, or writing original instruction manuals based off of discussions with programmers.
Given enough experience and general computer know-how, I think $30-40,000 would be a starting range for the position.
How close are you to finishing your doctorate? If you’re close and plan on finishing it, then finish it. Do not get a “real job,” don’t leave the university - finish the doctorate. Seriously, I see very few people finishing their degrees once they leave academia. There is all the good intent on working on the degree after hours, but it is damn hard to do so. Your priorities change. Soon, the months go by and then the years. Another ABD.
I have comps, languages, and a diss. to finish. But I’ve come to hate it. I fully realize that if I leave the university I will probably never finish my Ph.D., but I really don’t care. I want to make some money, buy a house instead of rent, and take care of my family.
Put your resume on Monster.com. I did that (you can put up to three different resumes for different jobs) and immediately got requests for applications. And I’m in the same field you are. Make sure your software skills are up to date, though.
I know how you feel about still being in school; my husband’s going through the same thing. He really wants to finish his PhD, but if someone offered him a good job in his field (hah!) tomorrow, he’d probably take it.
You could go to http://www.myspace.com and look at the job openings available. It would constitute a move to San Francisco, but it is a great company to work for.