The Career Myth
The media are once again raising the age old (and ever widening) issue of the disparity between the richest and the poorest in society. While in some cultures such extremes are widely perceived to represent the crowning hallmark of an advanced civilization, especially within the false meritocracies of Europe and an American society obsessed with dukes and divas, the British have traditionally shown a softer spot for their under classes. Whether those in the UK brand such empathy as ‘caring conservatism’ or ‘socialism’, the clear historical message from the UK is ‘woe betide’ any colossus who bestrides the English Channel or treads upon the institutions of the British welfare state. Naturally, there are those fortunate enough to aspire to ascend the career ladder, although the popular definition of the term ‘career’ is ever widening (heard of a career in sales, as an entrepreneur, or as adult film star?) Most however do not have the opportunity or good fortune to access a gainful career.
Career, career, a word pounded into our minds and aspirations from early adolescence to late adulthood. Those who receive a full education are indoctrinated to live, eat, sleep and breathe the word career until their diligent studies and tireless efforts propel them from university into high office after some twenty years of service. The reality is however altogether different as many career debutantes are finding. After completing university, many students in the UK are shackled by debts to the tune of up to £20,000. Whilst such debts are often dwarfed by those of our American cousins, most UK graduates are required to undertake years of unpaid post-graduate ‘training’ or service, followed by many more as a junior professional. Let’s take some idealized career paths from within the UK and determine their projected career earnings (i.e. those who will ‘make it’ by 34, have performed no unpaid training or service, and who have suffered no redundancy or unemployment – i.e. the few) against the projected earnings of skilled manual or adult industry workers.
A junior doctor in the UK typically trains for five years (average debt over £20,000 in 2005), then serves 3-4 years as a house physician (£20-29k), then a further 4-5 years as a registrar (£31-44k), before finally becoming a consultant at the age of 34 until retirement (£70-90k). Hence an elite physician (the brightest & the best) would expect total career earnings barring any mishaps, suspensions or redundancies of some £2.4 million if the world contained no speed humps, although his or her total career earnings would only reach some £100,000 by the age of 30 (see graph).
A UK researcher typically studies for three years as an undergraduate (generating some £15k debt), and then earns in the region of £13-15k for three years as a PhD student, although most require an extra unpaid year or two to complete their PhD program. This is followed by a period of 6 years as a post-doctoral researcher (£26-28k) until a successful publication record earns a five year lectureship in the mid-thirties (£28-34k). This is followed by five year positions as a senior lecturer (£36-45k), then as a reader (£42-48), and eventually as a professor (for the exceptionally fortunate, and most are not), who may earn a salary of some £50-70k. A grand old professor may expect to attain career earnings in the region of £1.8 million, although most scientists never achieve £40,000 a year.
Let’s contrast these two careers with the projected earnings from two very different walks of life, those of an escort and an electrician (please see inset graph). A self-employed electrician would typically earn some £50-70k a year after a five year apprenticeship and, although their highest earnings might never be as high as those of top professionals, they may already have career earnings of half a million by the age of 30. Moreover, a self-employed electrician will rarely exceed a fifty hour week, unlike their professional contemporaries, and may earn far more if they start their own company. In contrast, a London escort would typically expect career earnings of over £5 million by the age of 35, although those who serve society’s elite or who enter the adult industry as adult film stars often earn considerably more. Hang on a minute?!! Are you comparing the earnings of a professional to those of a society prostitute?!!! Indeed I am. As most of those who enter professional society will quietly admit, especially the more attractive amongst us, we all have to ‘do it’, and at least the society escorts make a good living. Having to endure sex with middle-aged men or women to whom one would not normally be attracted is a high price to pay for an office and a salary in later life.
Whilst an electrician may not aspire to the social clubs or grandeur of a professor or a hospital consultant, at least the electrician realizes earnings at a much younger age, avoids student debt, and works only half the weekly hours of his professional contemporaries. Most escorts and adult film stars are fully retired before they are forty, and are left with their fortunes to take up other business interests and activities, or else to choose family life.
All in all, everything is far from rosy for the modern career professional, and many find themselves working like slaves well into their thirties. Worse than this, a failure to advance by this age may destroy any remaining social or marital prospects. The numbers given are representative of only one or two professional paths, and city analysts, accountants and financiers may expect to fare far better materially, whilst teachers and nurses expect to fare far worse. It is not the debt and the slavery of the junior professional that represents the ‘career lie’, rather it is the myth that the deserving majority will make it to the comfort and wealth of higher office. The career pyramid can always be counted upon to narrow towards its apex, and such an elite must be supported by a broad and heavy base of underlings who serve long hours for low pay. The few who ascend to the top of the pyramid are largely comprised of those with the right social 'background' and 'qualifications', and merit often has very little to do with who makes the cut, as any seasoned professional will tell you
Career, career, a word pounded into our minds and aspirations from early adolescence to late adulthood. Those who receive a full education are indoctrinated to live, eat, sleep and breathe the word career until their diligent studies and tireless efforts propel them from university into high office after some twenty years of service. The reality is however altogether different as many career debutantes are finding. After completing university, many students in the UK are shackled by debts to the tune of up to £20,000. Whilst such debts are often dwarfed by those of our American cousins, most UK graduates are required to undertake years of unpaid post-graduate ‘training’ or service, followed by many more as a junior professional. Let’s take some idealized career paths from within the UK and determine their projected career earnings (i.e. those who will ‘make it’ by 34, have performed no unpaid training or service, and who have suffered no redundancy or unemployment – i.e. the few) against the projected earnings of skilled manual or adult industry workers.
A junior doctor in the UK typically trains for five years (average debt over £20,000 in 2005), then serves 3-4 years as a house physician (£20-29k), then a further 4-5 years as a registrar (£31-44k), before finally becoming a consultant at the age of 34 until retirement (£70-90k). Hence an elite physician (the brightest & the best) would expect total career earnings barring any mishaps, suspensions or redundancies of some £2.4 million if the world contained no speed humps, although his or her total career earnings would only reach some £100,000 by the age of 30 (see graph).
A UK researcher typically studies for three years as an undergraduate (generating some £15k debt), and then earns in the region of £13-15k for three years as a PhD student, although most require an extra unpaid year or two to complete their PhD program. This is followed by a period of 6 years as a post-doctoral researcher (£26-28k) until a successful publication record earns a five year lectureship in the mid-thirties (£28-34k). This is followed by five year positions as a senior lecturer (£36-45k), then as a reader (£42-48), and eventually as a professor (for the exceptionally fortunate, and most are not), who may earn a salary of some £50-70k. A grand old professor may expect to attain career earnings in the region of £1.8 million, although most scientists never achieve £40,000 a year.
Let’s contrast these two careers with the projected earnings from two very different walks of life, those of an escort and an electrician (please see inset graph). A self-employed electrician would typically earn some £50-70k a year after a five year apprenticeship and, although their highest earnings might never be as high as those of top professionals, they may already have career earnings of half a million by the age of 30. Moreover, a self-employed electrician will rarely exceed a fifty hour week, unlike their professional contemporaries, and may earn far more if they start their own company. In contrast, a London escort would typically expect career earnings of over £5 million by the age of 35, although those who serve society’s elite or who enter the adult industry as adult film stars often earn considerably more. Hang on a minute?!! Are you comparing the earnings of a professional to those of a society prostitute?!!! Indeed I am. As most of those who enter professional society will quietly admit, especially the more attractive amongst us, we all have to ‘do it’, and at least the society escorts make a good living. Having to endure sex with middle-aged men or women to whom one would not normally be attracted is a high price to pay for an office and a salary in later life.
Whilst an electrician may not aspire to the social clubs or grandeur of a professor or a hospital consultant, at least the electrician realizes earnings at a much younger age, avoids student debt, and works only half the weekly hours of his professional contemporaries. Most escorts and adult film stars are fully retired before they are forty, and are left with their fortunes to take up other business interests and activities, or else to choose family life.
All in all, everything is far from rosy for the modern career professional, and many find themselves working like slaves well into their thirties. Worse than this, a failure to advance by this age may destroy any remaining social or marital prospects. The numbers given are representative of only one or two professional paths, and city analysts, accountants and financiers may expect to fare far better materially, whilst teachers and nurses expect to fare far worse. It is not the debt and the slavery of the junior professional that represents the ‘career lie’, rather it is the myth that the deserving majority will make it to the comfort and wealth of higher office. The career pyramid can always be counted upon to narrow towards its apex, and such an elite must be supported by a broad and heavy base of underlings who serve long hours for low pay. The few who ascend to the top of the pyramid are largely comprised of those with the right social 'background' and 'qualifications', and merit often has very little to do with who makes the cut, as any seasoned professional will tell you
For those of you who are mulling over the pros and cons of a university education and a professional career - a word of warning. If you desire a work-life balance, significant earnings before you are thirty, and a fighting chance of a successful and happy life, please give serious consideration towards owning a coffee stand, taking up dog walking, or becoming a bricklayer – you can see it makes financial sense…
posted by The Angry Man at 9:14 AM
0 comments
