Beyond the Ivory Tower

From Humanities to High Tech

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By Elizabeth New

Putting the terms "humanities" and "high tech" in the same sentence seems like an oxymoron at best. What could the two possibly have in common other than the same first letter? As a committed proponent of the humanities, via my life as a professor of French and applied linguistics, I did not expect the high-tech world to come knocking at my door. However, life has a funny way of making the apparently impossible possible.

I obtained my Ph.D. in French and applied linguistics with a specialization in technology-enabled learning from Vanderbilt University in 1994. That fall I became an assistant professor on the tenure track at a public university. In addition to teaching my own courses and working on my research, I was responsible for creating the French curriculum at the beginning and intermediate levels and training 6 to 10 graduate students who taught these classes. One of my main goals at the time was integrating technology into the curriculum to enhance how students learn.

After four or five years of this routine, however, I realized that something was missing. A lot was missing, actually.

While I very much enjoyed the interaction with students, the myriad opportunities to "make a difference," and the immersion in subjects I loved, there were other parts of the job that I did not like: petty politics, illogical administrative tasks and committees, poorly financed programs, low pay, seven-day work weeks, and weak leadership and management skills among department heads and administrators. I thought about changing institutions and departments but realized that I did not want to spend years trying to find the lone department that was free -- or somewhat free -- of these problems.

By January 1999, I had not yet decided what I was going to do. The thought of getting out of academe was pretty scary: What kind of work could I do? But the thought of staying in it was becoming intolerable.

I happened to go to a party and chatted with the husband of a friend who ran his own training-and-consulting company. He was working on several projects for big high-tech firms and needed some help with instructional design and test writing. We agreed that I would help out with one of the projects on a trial basis. Basically, the work involved synthesizing copious amounts of material on new technology products and putting the crucial information into a condensed format that could be used to teach and test people.

Long story short, the project was a great success. The work was relatively easy and paid very well. Over the next year and a half, in the role of freelance consultant, I completed bigger and bigger projects for him and for another firm. I used those experiences to begin interviewing for a full-time position in corporate training. Given my background, it seemed that training was the most logical and rapid way of getting my foot in the door of the corporate world. I accepted a job as a consultant in training and technology-enabled learning with Dell Computer Corporation in June 2000.

I faced two key hurdles in landing my current position with Dell. One was translating my CV into a good résumé and the other was networking.

Building a résumé

Putting your academic experience into terms that corporate America understands is essential. Many of the skills used in academe translate perfectly into the business world. It's all a matter of how you present them.

For example, in interviews and on my résumé, I used words like "training," "courseware," and "facilitator" rather than "teaching," "classes," and "professor." When I described my work with the French-language program, I used terms like "managed" and "directed." You get the idea. I scoured the Web for relevant job descriptions and bought a few résumé guides, taking note of terms and expressions that applied to my experience.

It's critical to place your work experience first on your résumé. After spending so many years getting the Ph.D., it is tempting to want to put educational background first, but I would strongly recommend against it. Employers want to know more about how you function than about your academic credentials. Finally, tailor your résumé to each position you are applying for and make sure that you highlight the skills desired by that particular employer.

Now for the really difficult part -- whether to put Ph.D. after your name. That is the question that often gets asked by Ph.D.'s and ABD's who are pursuing alternative careers. I'd say, go with your instinct. If you've done your homework about a particular position, you should have some sense of whether making your doctorate visible will tip the balance in your favor.

Networking

The second key to making a successful transition to nonacademic work was meeting people.

I made sure to tell friends and acquaintances that I was looking for a corporate position. I attended local meetings of organizations that specialize in professional training and development. As I already noted, my big break came at a party, a party that I almost skipped. Opportunities can come from the least likely places.

So, now that I have a position in the corporate world, what is a typical day like?

Well, no day is typical. Dell has the mentality of a start-up company in the body of a large corporation, which means that lots of initiative, as well as a high tolerance for ambiguity, are needed to get things done. On any given day, I work on a variety of training projects and programs for our internal audiences, mostly the sales force. Our team handles the strategy, the delivery format, the course content, and the public relations for the programs.

I spend quite a bit of time on the computer. And Dell has a very meeting-oriented culture, so some days are spent in discussions with experts, executives, and fellow team members. I am surrounded by bright, interesting, and fun people in an environment that is fast-paced, social, and results-oriented.

After more than a year at Dell, I have no regrets about my career change. In spite of two recent layoffs at the company and an uncertain economy, the benefits of being in the corporate world are many. I control my career, I can choose where I want to live and work, and I have more options for advancement. My salary and benefits are better -- much better -- and I have more resources at hand to do my job. All of the travel I do to conferences is paid for by the company. I have the advice of a mentor on a regular basis. I work fewer hours and I leave work at work. Finally, the politics are far less nasty. OK, people are people so there is some jockeying for power, but it is certainly not as petty as my experience with academic politics.

Now for the downside: Companies have always been, and always will be, most interested in the bottom line. In addition, tenure does not exist so one has to be prepared for changes and shifts in an organization (keep your résumé updated and your professional networks well greased).

While my work no longer revolves around French, it remains one of my primary passions. I keep up with French language, culture, and theory in every way that I can -- reading, speaking, travels. I also work with private clients who are planning trips abroad and need language and cultural support to make the most of their sojourns in French-speaking countries. In fact, their questions and requests have led to ideas for two books that I hope will fill a niche in the library of every Francophile. Finally, my current company has extensive operations overseas so a stint in Europe might be an option in the next year or two.

Looking back on my journey from being a professor in the humanities to being a consultant for a Fortune 100 high-tech company, I have to say that it has been quite a ride. Trading in the certainty of the tenure system for the uncertainty of corporate America was not what I originally had in mind. But life today is very, very good. What I find most rewarding in my current situation is the incredible freedom to work, to learn, and to live as I choose. And it is liberating indeed.