Creative writer wants out of higher ed: How to leave academia if you are in the arts and humanities? Feeling at a loss....Help with networking or any other tips greatly appreciated!!
I'm a creative writing faculty member. I have a salary with benefits (not tenure-track, so no real room for decent pay increases/job growth), which I know I should be more grateful for--but I would like to shift out of higher ed for better work-life balance, better pay, better mental health.
Creative writing isn't the same as professional writing or technical writing, and a lot of job title suggestions I'm getting seem to be for those types/genres: proposal writer, grant writer. I'm open, but I've spent a month researching, composing a resume, communicating with coaches (free consultations + 1 round of resume help I paid for). I've actually submitted several job apps. Yet, the problem is there are no entry-level jobs. All the job ads want specific experience: "must have 3-5 years experience in proposal writing." Or they want area-specific knowledge I don't have about A/E/C industry or healthcare, and these are stated as requirements, not preferences. Bonus: seems like a fair amount of remote full-time positions?
If I stick to something closer to teaching, I'm limited to working in human resources or admissions. Those areas don't pay better, require on-site presence/an inter-state move (without financial aid), and also don't have entry-level positions.
On the more artistic side, copywriting/content development or strategist--I do not know a lot about SEOs or how to use Figma or InDesign. And these ads are also specifically asking for a portfolio, and I don't think a spec portfolio is even going to get me an entry-level job. Sure, I can do freelance or volunteer work to gain experience, I guess, yet that seems like a lot of effort while I have to keep my full-time job for no guarantee--and a spec/freelance portfolio still doesn't get me 1-2 years experience that the job ads are asking for.
Instructional development and design want specific degrees in education, for example, and also require knowledge of programs that I don't have. Again, these are stated as requirements, not preferences, in most ob ads.
So, I'm told to try to network right? Go after this thing called "hidden jobs." This is starting to sound like Narnia. I feel like it's a million times easier to do this type of career transition if you're STEM. Once again, I feel the arts and humanities are just positioned as trash, useless.
I would appreciate advice!!! Really, go at it. Tell me what to do. And if you are in one of these professions and would be willing to talk to a grumpy, pessimistic....but hardworking teacher and writer, please let me know!!
P.S. I promise I'm not all negative--just really disillusioned and discouraged with this process.