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I think this applies to society more broadly. I am not convinced there is wide acceptance of the fact that some people value work-life balance more highly than salary and/or career progression. There is a default assumption that a competent, qualified employee should naturally want to "progress" to senior management roles. If not, they are deemed to have "unfulfilled potential" or to have "underachieved".

So let me tell you about myself. I had an accomplished academic career. I was an International Fulbright Scholar - a foreign student awarded Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States universities for a doctoral degree. Those who have an understanding of fellowships, they know what it means to be a Fulbright Scholar. Due to some inevitable medical reasons, I had to request a waiver and work authorization to stay in the United States and find a job. Because I was on a J-1 visa, I was not allowed any graduate assistantship position. Once I graduated and started looking for a job, I stumbled. I was always looking for an administrative job, though an academic position was a priority. I got a community college academic position and started teaching. Interestingly, I found that community colleges pay far more than universities. Four years after teaching at the community college level, I was able to get an R-1 university lecturership position. For the last five years, May is a month of depression because the yearly contract ends and we are put in danger of losing a livelihood. It has been happening every year. My student reviews and passing rates have improved significantly. Nevertheless, employers ditch at the last moment and they do not feel any remorse about it. There is an inherently biased behavior in higher education institutions, particularly in the administration, considering a foreign-born graduate unfit to serve that side of higher education. So far, I have applied for more than 600 administrative jobs. Unfortunately, I have never received a single call for an interview. Those who come with an undergraduate degree rise to higher levels, are paid better, and enjoy job security. On the other, people like me, who work and prefer higher education are ruined. In this sense, acquiring higher education beyond an undergraduate degree is a curse. If someone is interested in looking at the record of 600 applications, I have saved every single thing.