Write an article based on this "Learn about being an academic. Talk to an academic. Think about your personality. Consider your career and salary goals."
Someone who pursues an academic career often works at a university or research institution in a specific discipline such as biology, history, or political science. During their graduate program, academics generally spend 1 or more years working as teaching assistants at a college or university. These are paid positions that feature tuition and fee waivers in addition to a paycheck for teaching 1-2 classes each academic term. You'll also need to conduct research and complete projects, such as a dissertation. Once you graduate, you'll need to competitively seek employment at a college or university, where you'll continue your research, writing, and teaching. If you like studying, writing essays, and teaching, academia might be a good choice for you. Investigate your job options. The U.S. Department of Labor analyzes job opportunities in 800 fields in its Occupational Outlook Handbook that is published annually and on its website bls.gov. Enter 'Occupational Outlook Handbook' in the bls.gov search window. It's increasingly difficult to find permanent or tenured jobs in academia. Researching, writing, taking part in academic conferences, and teaching something about which you are passionate can be incredibly rewarding and make academia seem less like a "job." If you think you want to be an academic, consider meeting someone who is already one in the your desired field or discipline. They can tell you about the realities of academia, answer questions you have, give you tips for getting started, and guide your goals for the future. In the U.S., college and university professors have regular office hours each week as part of their employment. Members of the public can schedule a half hour to an hour appointment to ask questions about entering the profession. If a senior professor is too busy to have time, usually a younger professor will be suggested who is up to date on the most recent trends concerning entering the field and transitioning from graduate school to employment. Inquire how they got into their academic career. Ask about their education and/ or any professional or practical experience they had. An academic career can be very demanding. You'll need to constantly be learning about new concepts and sharing that knowledge in a variety of modes, such as journal articles, books, and the classes you teach. You'll also need to compete for positions. In addition, working with a university faculty can require navigating delicate personal and political situations. You will need to set aside your own emotions and biases to provide equal treatment of all. You might want to ask yourself some of the following questions: How deep is my commitment to this field? Am I willing to potentially move often and continuously pursue jobs? Am I willing to start part-time as an adjunct faculty member? Am I able to work in an unstructured environment and self-start projects? Can I create and pursue my own research topics? Am I willing to participate on a campus committee that has meetings? Do I want to be a mentor to students? Can I handle the competitive nature of this career? Academics often choose their career because it's their passion. However, the jobs you get may depend on what's available at the time. Additionally, salary can vary wildly, as high paying positions are limited. People with the same credentials can make vastly different salaries. Ask yourself if you'd like to teach and work with students. Consider if you're only interested in working with other academics, such as in a think tank. Look up salary amounts in your area. Consider if you can adapt your lifestyle if necessary. For example, a full professor will make considerably more than an adjunct professor or lecturer. The amount can also differ according to your experience and job location. Think about the other skills you can use to add to your income, and if you'd be willing to take on other work. For example, community college, college, and university faculty in the U.S. sometimes make a significant portion of their income through authoring or co-authoring textbooks used in their fields.