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  • 🍿 Her Plan A’s dead. Plan B feels worse.

🍿 Her Plan A’s dead. Plan B feels worse.

She missed the PhD cycle, hates her backup plan, and feels stuck living at home while applying to jobs she doesn’t even want.

Author

CareerSnacks Team
July 01, 2025

Inside today’s snack: She’s stuck in post-grad purgatory, unsure whether to chase a risky PhD or settle for a backup she doesn’t believe in.

🎁 Snack Drop is UNCOMMON.

đŸŽŸïž Pickle Draw odds: 1 in 15 (6.67%).

đŸ„’ Today’s pickle

I graduated with an MA in History from a prestigious university in 2023, but I still haven’t figured out what to do. I didn’t get any work experience during school because I always saw myself going into academia. I missed the PhD cycle because my program moved too fast, and everyone told me to try working first. Now I feel lost outside of academia and have no real identity beyond it. I wanted to join the Peace Corps, but medical issues got in the way. I interned at a local NGO and liked it, but don’t see myself in that niche. I’ve been applying to full-time jobs, but I’m not excited about them and don’t have much formal experience. I’m mostly applying because it feels like what I’m supposed to do, and my parents want me to.

Ideally, I’d work part-time while preparing PhD applications. I’m lonely living at home and miss the freedom that comes with working. My parents don’t support the PhD because of the academic job market. They want me to do an MLIS and become a librarian. I’m applying to library school as a backup and have an archives internship lined up, but it’s hard to go all in on something that feels like a dream when I could be making money instead.

Should I stop applying to jobs I don’t care about and focus on the PhD? Or keep trying to get any job, just to move forward somehow?

đŸ—łïž Chip In

đŸ„’ PICKLE #14: What would you do if you were in their shoes?

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What would a $300/hr career coach say? 🧀 Here’s the cheese:

1. Make sure the PhD is a deliberate choice, not a default.

  • If you’re applying because you don’t know what else to do, hit pause.

  • A strong PhD app needs a clear research focus, not just general interest.

  • Talk to recent grads, read current job placement stats, and ask yourself if you’re ready to compete in that environment.

2. Give the PhD app your full attention but only if you’re all in.

  • If you decide to go for it, cut the noise. Prep your materials, get feedback, and use your internship to strengthen your case.

  • Set a 3–6 month timeline. Treat it like a full-time project with structure and deadlines.

  • You don’t need to chase unrelated jobs while doing this. They won’t help your application.

3. Use the MLIS as an intentional backup, not a passive fallback.

  • If you’re applying, understand what the actual career path looks like. Talk to librarians in different settings.

  • Library school won’t guarantee a stable job either. Know what kind of work you’d be doing, and if that excites you.

  • Don’t commit to it just because it sounds practical. Be honest about whether it’s something you’d want.

4. Fix your day-to-day before trying to fix your whole future.

  • The isolation is a real problem. A job won’t solve it if it isn’t the right one.

  • Join a local research group, writing cohort, or class. Meet people who think like you.

  • Structure and social connection will help with motivation, clarity, and confidence.

TL;DR: If you want to apply to a PhD, do it with intention. Focus your energy and give it a real shot. But make sure you understand the path, not just the fantasy. No more half-plans. Pick a direction and own it.

🎁 Snack Drop UNCOMMON

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