The hottest Career transition Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Welcome!

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 21 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Career transition
  1. Sustainable performance needs both effort and careful energy management. Effort builds growth, but energy is what keeps that growth going.
  2. Life after professional sport can become a meaningful second career through coaching, speaking, and leading teams, turning past experience into purposeful work.
  3. Community action and storytelling — like free events and sharing personal stories — help fight suicide stigma and build resilience.

Job hunt update

Sex and the State • 33 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Job hunting can trigger panic about being unemployable, especially when you worry about age, physical limits, or lack of experience.
  2. Even if you’re willing to take entry-level work, practical barriers like businesses not hiring can block your plans.
  3. It’s normal to feel embarrassed about downshifting, but talking yourself into accepting practical work helps remove shame and move forward.

Pivot to Space: Key Educational Resources for Industry Transition and Advantage

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🚌 Education Career transition
  1. Learning about space technology can help many industries like agriculture and tourism. It can give you a better job and help your company succeed.
  2. The more talented people we have in the space industry, the better solutions we can find for Earth's problems, like climate change. Space technology can improve our lives here on Earth.
  3. There are many great educational programs and resources for anyone interested in space. Whether you're new to the topic or an experienced professional, there's something out there for you to learn.

Leaving the Military: What I Learned

The Radar • 119 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Career transition
  1. In civilian life, don't expect people to understand or care about your military experiences. You are a new kid on the block.
  2. Be cautious of trust and mutual support in civilian teams. Not everyone has the same values and can work against you.
  3. Job security is different in the civilian world. Always be prepared for uncertainties and be mindful of stricter performance expectations tied to pay.

Use the AI Transition Period to Transition Your Career

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 137 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Career transition
  1. You have a short window to adapt your career before AI changes everything. It's important to start learning new skills now rather than relying on old methods.
  2. Embrace the idea of inventing your own future. Instead of waiting to see how AI will impact jobs, actively work on creating new ways to integrate AI into your work.
  3. Focus on developing key human skills like agency, judgment, and persuasion. These skills will be crucial as AI takes over routine tasks and collaboration becomes more essential.
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Welcome to The Recovering Academic

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🚌 Education Career transition
  1. The Recovering Academic newsletter offers exclusive interviews, essays, poetry, and resources for writers.
  2. Paying subscribers get access to behind-the-scenes interviews, thought pieces on higher ed, personal essays, and craft resources.
  3. Joshua Dolezal, the writer behind the newsletter, has 20 years of experience, has published a memoir, and co-produced a podcast.

The case against locking in

The Next Chapter • 2 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Career transition
  1. Being rigidly "locked in" to plans can make you exhausted and lead to burnout.
  2. Schedule rest and actively de-prioritize tasks when you feel tired to protect your energy and mental health.
  3. Progress is non-linear, so pay attention to how the process feels, give yourself grace, and accept slow, messy progress.

How a humanities PhD got hired at Amazon

The Recovering Academic • 158 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Transitioning from academia to industry is possible for humanities PhDs, and it involves exploring opportunities, strategic preparation, and confident networking.
  2. In informational interviews, it's important to ask specific questions about people's projects, tools they use, and break down the tasks involved, as understanding the day-to-day aspects is key.
  3. Effective job search strategies for humanities PhDs involve learning from others' transitions, strategizing candidacy by refining resumes, and confidently seeking opportunities by networking and asking for referrals.

Industry needs an education in the value of a PhD

The Recovering Academic • 98 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. PhDs possess valuable skills for the industry, which may require education from companies to realize their worth.
  2. Transitioning from academia to industry may involve networking and seeking help from non-academic contacts.
  3. When applying for jobs as a non-conventional candidate, connecting with people within the organization can help stand out amidst more conventional applicants.

The Optimistic Bulldog

The Recovering Academic • 79 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Dr. Lauren McClain found fulfillment in entrepreneurship after leaving academia, where she realized she could be in control of her own destiny and income.
  2. The transition from academia to entrepreneurship involved self-reflection, learning new skills, and embracing challenges, proving that one can adapt and succeed in unfamiliar territories.
  3. Entering entrepreneurship allowed Dr. Lauren McClain to utilize her strengths and optimism to make a meaningful impact, demonstrating that one can still make a difference in different ways outside of traditional academic settings.

My Journey of Iteration and Reinvention

DecafQuest's Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🚌 Education Career transition
  1. Transitioning from academia to online teaching can lead to unexpected opportunities and global connections.
  2. Being open to changing plans and exploring new avenues can result in finding a better fit for personal and professional growth.
  3. Adopting a new mindset, seeking diverse opportunities, and rebranding can lead to a successful pivot and expansion into different industries.

A psychology PhD's journey from academe to human factors engineering

The Recovering Academic • 59 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Ashley Ruba transitioned successfully from academia to the industry, showcasing the value of building online professional relationships.
  2. The academic job market can be challenging and unmeritocratic, leading to difficulties in securing faculty positions despite impressive achievements.
  3. Ashley Ruba's journey highlights the importance of exploring career options outside of academia, especially when facing challenges like limited job prospects and the impact of external factors.

The best work is on the B-side

The Recovering Academic • 59 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🚌 Education Career transition
  1. Instructional design involves designing and building learning materials and experiences, which can range from formal training programs to informal learning spaces like Slack groups or podcasts.
  2. Effective diversity and inclusion training goes beyond just one-time sessions and includes ongoing discussions, cultural shifts, and deep engagement with materials like literature to foster lasting change.
  3. For individuals leaving academia, networking is a key strategy for marketing oneself, building relationships, and ultimately finding career opportunities outside of traditional education settings.

Don’t be a “success disaster” in academe

The Recovering Academic • 59 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Transitioning from academia to industry requires translating academic experience into industry-friendly resumes and leveraging networking to identify opportunities.
  2. Exploring different career paths through prototyping can help in understanding personal strengths and passions before making a career change.
  3. Building a focused and impactful portfolio can make a difference in catching the attention of hiring managers in a competitive job market.

Is Now the Right Time to Become a Manager?

sumitha • 1 HN point • 09 Jul 24
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Making the switch from individual contributor to manager is a big decision that requires careful timing and consideration.
  2. Assess your readiness for a management role by evaluating your experience with technical problem-solving, leadership capacity, and familiarity with different tech stacks.
  3. Before transitioning to a management role, avoid pitfalls such as switching companies, attempting the switch during challenges, or considering management as an escape from technical challenges.

On sabbatical

The Next Chapter • 21 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Career transition
  1. The author is taking a sabbatical from their corporate product job due to burnout and feeling disconnected from their values.
  2. During the sabbatical, the author aims to find a new balance, explore different career options, and redefine their relationship with achievement.
  3. The decision to take a sabbatical was met with mixed responses, highlighting the privilege of being able to align work with personal values.

To-Do or Not to Do

The Next Chapter • 4 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Career transition
  1. Starting a sabbatical without structure can lead to a sense of freedom but may later cause stress and guilt.
  2. Balancing clear goals, rest, and long-term perspective can help create a structured yet flexible routine.
  3. Implementing rituals like holistic goal setting and embracing failure can lead to a more controlled and gratifying lifestyle.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 215

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 04 Jan 18
🕹 Technology Career transition
  1. Many data scientists come from different backgrounds, both academic and non-academic. It can be helpful for those in academia to learn from others who successfully transitioned to the industry.
  2. Algorithms used in various fields can reflect our biases, which creates ethical issues. Understanding these biases in data processing is crucial to avoid unfair outcomes.
  3. Reflecting on advancements in AI and deep learning over the past year can inspire new ideas and projects. It's a good practice to review and learn from previous developments.

The First Day

The Next Chapter • 2 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
💼 Business Career transition
  1. The author shares the challenges and experiences of their first day at a new tech job.
  2. Navigating the subway, meeting coworkers, and impressing the CEO were key events of the day.
  3. The narrative highlights the transition from a big company to a startup, showcasing the struggles and need for support.

Full-time after 10 Years of Freelancing

Consumer Solo • 0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Career transition
  1. Transitioning from freelancing to a full-time role after 10 years requires a shift in focus and a craving for stability.
  2. In freelancing, larger ongoing gigs provide opportunities to collaborate, learn, and build trust with clients and internal teams.
  3. Balancing a single focus in a full-time role with side projects like a journaling app can require adjustments in time management and project prioritization.