Are you being on track after earn your Ph.D.?
Do you know really moves the needle in academic job searches?
How to avoid the all-too-common mistakes that sink so many of your peers?
When to point your Ph.D. toward other, non-academic options?



The Professor Is In

(The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job )
by Karen Kelsky  
Published by Crown Publishing on Aug 4, 2015
Genres: Personal Growth, Self-Esteem, Self-Help
Pages: 240
Format: Ebooks
Source: Blogging for Books

Karen Kelsky, aka, The Professor, is a former tenured professor and Department Head with 15 years of experience teaching at the University of Oregon and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her Ph.D. is in Cultural Anthropology, with a focus on Japan, from the University of Hawai’i. Her B.A. is from the University of Michigan. Her book, Women on the Verge: Japanese Women, Western Dreams, was published in 2001 by Duke University Press. She has trained 5 of her own Ph.D. students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and related fields. She has worked as a committee member with numerous Ph.D.s and Masters students, and hundreds of undergraduate students.

I'm so honor to get invitation for reading the advance copy of this e book from Crown Publishing, through the service  Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the content of my review and all opinions are my own.

Transition problem from the mentality of graduate students to peer in the job market is thing that Karen Kelsy is an expert in, being former tenured professor and Department Head with 15 years of experience teaching and having built her consulting business from the ground up.

The book covers many different issues relevant to Ph.D. candidate when a Ph. D who lives outside academia is a failure. Karen explains how the job markets work, informed choices about career, and protect the financial security for Ph. D Job seeker.

I was particularly interested in reading this book from the perspective of former tenured professor. I’m interested in continue my study abroad and this book got my eyes opened. I found that even brilliant people  are difficult to find a job. I was really excited to see if some if the tips she had would help me.

First, the good things about the book:

1) It has light cover.  Contrary to its content that were heavy, the cover just like show that this book is an easy reading.

2) It feels personal. You can feel Karen’s voice coming through as you were in a classroom, with the stories she tells about her experience and her own distinct way of speaking. It’s formal, and feels like having a chat with you academic advisor.

Now on to the things I was disappointed about:

1) It is about academic.  For anyone who are not used to read journal or dissertation will find this book is boring. This book are written in advanced ways and specific for selected reader.

2) Long Explanation. Seriously, I find that many chapters in this book can be reduced without losing its message.


Overall, I was really hoping to get some unique and useful information from this book. Karen Kelsky is a great example of reliable advice to be a professor, no wonder her book has anything practical to help others follow in her footsteps.

I would recommend this book for people who plan to continue their study, current, or future  Ph. D. job seeker.

Go find her book in here!