With the growth and evolution of the higher education sector in recent decades, universities
have drawn on more diverse sources from which to recruit academic staff. One such
route is for universities to recruit professionals from non-academic backgrounds to
teach and research. The transition of career professionals becoming second-career
academics is a growing phenomenon, but one that is under-researched in the literature.
This paper summarises the findings in the literature on this topic from the last twenty-five
years, drawing on forty-four academic articles. Common themes are discussed and presented
in a chronological format from the decision-making process prior to transitioning,
through the challenges and opportunities commonly experienced by second-career academics
making the transition, concluding with a summary of the recommendations presented
in the research. In the discussion section that follows, the author draws on their
own experience as a second-career academic to summarise pertinent points and offer
an additional perspective on the recommendations offered in the literature. The purpose
of this article is to offer a summary of what is currently understood in the literature
with a view to supporting further research into the transition of second-career academics
as an important skills development issue for the higher education sector. The review
finds that several recommendations are common in the literature (mentoring schemes,
development of academic skills and agency, introduction of reference materials and
cultural change) and the viability of these is discussed before recommendations are
made for individuals considering transitioning to a career in academia.
