As I mentioned in my introduction, I have been trying to make the post-academic transition for three years now. I want to be working of a human rights NGO. I have served as Amnesty International's Legislative Coordinator for NJ since early 2005. I have had some great interviews, but I still don't have a real job.

I have tried to start with an entry level position. But I have been told many times that I "don't really want" a particular job beause it is below my qualifications. (Or "we don't hire Ph.D.s to do X.")

I stopped sending out teaching applications a couple years ago, but have resumed doing so. I am also preparing a research paper for an academic conference in September.

I have done career counseling through my undergrad university. I have read books like So What are You Going to Do with That? and been involved in discussion groups such as WRK4US. I network whenever possible. I just don't know what else to do.

I get very frustrated because I thought it would be comparatively easy to get a job outside of academia.

(I temp for income, by the way.)

I had a very good interview yesterday for a position I found here on Idealist. They won't be able to make a decision for at least a couple of weeks, though. If I do get the job, I will need to relocate (to CT).

Larry, congrats on the interview, let us know how it turns out. I just started teaching this semester (mostly due the dangers of running out of soft grant money) and I can easily see the appeal of academia....However, my long term goal is still to work for an international organization and when I run job searches it is difficult to find something that fits. For now I'll be trying to connect everything I do including University and UN work, I'll see how it goes.