Academic careers are often surrounded by persistent myths and assumptions about what success looks like, how to ‘make it’, and what working in academia is really like. In this third instalment of the Insight into Academia series, join us for a candid panel discussion exploring the lived realities of academic careers.

This session brings together a diverse panel of academics to share honest insights into the challenges, choices, and opportunities they’ve encountered on their career journeys.
Intended for aspiring academics, this event will help you build a more nuanced understanding of what working in academia entails — beyond the job title or CV.

We will explore:

• Career pathways that defy the “linear” model of academic progression
• The pressures and pleasures of research, teaching, and academic service
• Navigating precarity, imposter feelings, and sector change
• What panellists wish they’d known earlier in their academic journey
• You’ll have the chance to ask questions and hear directly from academics working in different contexts, fields, and roles.

This series accompanies the Academia and Higher Education sector briefing available on the Careers Service website.

Other sessions in the series:

Insight into Academia: Academic Application Materials (17-Nov-25)