Top Likes and Dislikes of Working in Academics

After more than three decades working in academics (graduated from MIT 1993), this is a small list of things that like and dislike the most. I understand that my position at a private university in the United States is very privileged. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for having my job. The order of presentation is random.

Likes

1. Freedom from teaching requirements in the summer.

2. A study leave every three years (mostly using unpaid leave).

3. Mentoring students (graduate and undergraduate) doing research.

4. The thrill of scientific discovery.

5. Decent health care benefits for me and my family.

6. The opportunities for travel (research, conferences, teaching, etc.).

7. Teaching curious undergraduates.

8. Solid retirement plan.

9.  Tuition remission for family members.

11. Learning about different cultures and languages.

12. Flexible schedule.

Dislikes

1. The difficulty (impossibility?) of maintaining a reasonable work-life balance.

2. Completely lack of job mobility once hired.

3. Hypercompetitive job market for beginning scholars. 

4. Attending departmental meetings.

5. Yearly sexual harassment prevention training.

6. Obtaining IRB approval for fieldwork.

7. Going through administrative hurdles to do research.

8. Departmental politics.

9. Dealing with student plagiarism (not very frequent).

10. Anything work related on the weekend.

11. Largely sedentary profession with negative health consequences.

12. Publishing for profit (not my profit).