In recent months, Isabelle Kohler has engaged with numerous PhD students seeking career guidance. Many have shared their interest in following an academic career but are quite confused by the overwhelming number of online posts and articles recommending against it. In this column, Isabelle gives her perspective on the conventional academic path, highlighting the benefits and challenges associated with this career choice.

Since I started writing this column for C2W International  and engaged more actively on LinkedIn, I have received many messages from early-career researchers seeking career guidance. Many of these messages come from PhD students who are preparing for their post-PhD journey. Often, they have already spent considerable time researching online and on social media, only to find themselves confused by the myriad of paths available. Why confused? Because they have come across many posts and articles that discourage young researchers from opting for an academic career.

I have noticed these posts as well. I think there are multiple reasons why such viewpoints are more visible. For instance, individuals who have chosen non-academic paths feel more at ease sharing their experiences. Additionally, it seems that fewer academics are active on LinkedIn or other social media platforms, and those who are active tend to focus solely on showcasing their research. This dynamic, coupled with the algorithms of social media, creates a biased representation in my feed, which I do not like.