How tough to get permanent Asst Prof job in India after UGC‑NET/JRF?

[Samar]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some seasoned folks to share their experience. I've heard this career isn't easy and many survive on low pay. I've cleared UGC‑NET and I'm close to finishing my PhD, but I'm doubtful about staying in academia and thinking of switching. I'm fine with taking the AP exam for government colleges, but a private college job paying 25‑30k a month isn't what I aim for. Is there any silver lining, or would it be wiser to switch now? I don't want a struggling career. – myquals, pursuing PhD

[Preeti]

In my view, the job is a nightmare. Recruitment is riddled with corruption and Indian science often feels like a joke. Pursuing this passion may not lead anywhere. Consider switching to another field or even moving abroad.

[Ishaan]

It really hinges on your research profile.

If you have a strong research record, you can target IIT/NIT Level‑10 or Level‑11 Assistant Professor posts.

If your profile is above average, look at central universities and their affiliated colleges.

If your profile is modest but you're a good teacher, try state‑level AP exams such as HPSC, HPPSC, BPSC, UPPSC, RPSC, etc.

You can also apply to private universities or take guest‑lecturer roles to build experience.

Another option is a post‑doc or a scientist post in organisations like BARC, DRDO, CSIR, etc.

It may take a while to land a permanent AP seat, but keep pushing. All the best!

[Arif]

The difficulty varies a lot by subject. In STEM fields you have better chances, especially if you have several international papers – candidates with three or more high‑impact papers usually beat those with fewer. Private universities often hire through connections, so networking helps. If you have a PhD in physics, chemistry, biology or maths, going abroad can open up good university jobs. In commerce or management you can find corporate research roles, but college positions are scarce. Humanities face the toughest job market – even with a good NET score, permanent posts are very limited. One practical route is teacher‑training programmes, which can get you a teaching job more easily than a professor post.

[Shekar]

You're not overthinking – you're asking the right question at the right time. Clearing NET and being near the end of your PhD already puts you ahead of most candidates. The issue isn't your ability; it's the structure of the academic job market in India.

Reality (no sugarcoating):
- Private colleges (Tier 2/3) typically pay 20‑35k per month.
- Ad‑hoc or contractual roles are unstable and involve long waiting periods.
- Permanent government posts (Assistant Professor) are few and highly competitive.

So your worry about a "struggling career" is valid.

Is there a silver lining? Yes, but it's narrow and needs a clear strategy.

The good academic path looks like:
- Clear NET/JRF (you've done this ✅)
- Secure an Assistant Professor post in a government college or university
- Or move abroad for a postdoc or teaching role

The key question isn't "Is academia good or bad?" but:
If YES → continue with a clear plan
If NO → switching now is a smart move, not a failure

[Deepika]

Is the PhD in a STEM field or in humanities/social sciences?