Please note: This story reflects the personal experience and perspective of its contributor. Academic careers vary widely, and others may experience different challenges and opportunities. 

Career Story 

After my PhD, I worked for five years in a very small post-92 institution. One real advantage was that it was easy to take on responsibility and to engage with university leaders, right up to the Vice Chancellor. I sat on several university level committees and was vice chair of one; I was seen as a safe pair of hands, and colleagues often came to me with questions about assessment policies, ethics, REF processes and more. I usually had the answer at my fingertips.

Over time, though, I felt I had outgrown the institution. I was looking for something with more hustle and bustle, having done all my own studies in the Russell Group. I moved to Sheffield and am now in my fourth year.

I imagined that a Russell Group institution would solve the “problems” I had experienced in a small university. There would be more people, more training, more money and more student buzz. All of that was true! What I did not anticipate, however, was how hard it would be to go from being a big fish in a tiny pond to being a tiny fish in a massive pond.
Suddenly, I did not know where to find guidance or forms, who to ask about things or how to respond to student queries. No one knew me, so they did not come to me for help; I was not successful in applying to committees. In my first year, the only teaching I had was seminar groups. I had five years of experience, but in some ways I felt back at square one and was certainly treated as “new” by the university machine.

I have had to learn patience. Moving from one Grade 8 role to another should have felt seamless, but in practice it felt like one step forward, two steps back. I am certain I would have been Grade 9, or even 10, by now at my previous institution. Because the promotion criteria were different, having moved institutions I felt behind where I “should” be, and seemingly what I had achieved previously did not quite count.

Was that transitional time wasted? I do not think so, on balance. Being in a larger Russell Group institution has its own advantages and I am glad to be here. Four years on, I feel back on track.

I know what I am good at and what I enjoy, but in a large institution people do not know that until you demonstrate it. Opportunities to do so can be slower to emerge. Over time, I have been able to show that I am that safe pair of hands in module and programme leadership, which has led to a School level leadership role. In my first job I learned how important it is for me to feel perceived as competent and capable, and for that to be recognised formally. In a large institution, that trajectory can simply be longer. You have to keep showing up.

Reflections I would offer now 

• Moving to a larger institution can feel like starting again, even at the same grade. Plan for that emotional and professional reset.
• Being known and trusted takes time. Previous achievements do not automatically transfer with you.
• You may go from being the person with answers to the person asking basic questions. That is normal.
• Promotion pathways differ across institutions. In larger settings they may be slower and more competitive. Adjust expectations accordingly.
• Identify one or two areas where you can quickly demonstrate competence and reliability. Visibility builds gradually.
• Feeling “behind” does not mean you made the wrong move. Transitional years can be developmental rather than wasted.