Transitioning beyond Academia: engagement and disengagement experiences of HASS PhD holders

Abstract

PhD holders are increasingly exploring careers beyond academia, yet, little is understood about their transition experiences, particularly in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) disciplines. While research suggests that these transitions are both challenging and satisfactory, there is limited knowledge about the specific engagement (e.g. feeling absorbed) and disengagement (e.g. experiencing detachment) experiences during these transitions, as well as the career factors influencing them. This study aimed to explore the engagement and disengagement experiences of 20 HASS PhD holders from Spain and Finland who transitioned beyond academia. Specifically, we examined how working conditions, personal values, and professional support interacted with these experiences. Interviews were conducted and analysed using an inductive-deductive content analysis approach. Our findings revealed two primary career trajectories: non-academic and hybrid careers. HASS PhD holders described low levels of engagement with academia, while a pronounced engagement was observed towards hybrid careers. Our results showed that work environment and personal values being relevant besides the well-known job stability and work-life balance factors among engagement experiences. Furthermore, results showed the interplay between diverse career factors, revealing misalignments between PhD careers and support mechanisms. Overall, the study underscores the complex interactions between working conditions, personal values, and professional support within engagement and disengagement experiences, highlighting the need for tailored support systems to facilitate sustainable research careers beyond academia.