We offer hands-on support and strategic planning for academic job searches and preparation for promotion and tenure.

Today’s academic job market is rough. In most disciplines, there are hundreds of applicants for each tenure-track job. Covid-19 has caused schools to reassess staffing, budgets are tight, and enrollments are down.

If you’ve chosen a career in academia, you may be wondering some of the following:

“Will I be able to get a job in my field?”

“How do I stand out among hundreds of other applicants?”

“What are my options outside of academia?”

“I have an academic job – how do I advance my career?”

“I’m applying for tenure – how can I make sure I succeed?”

Whether you’re looking to land your first academic job or advance an established career, our expert coaches can help you reach your goals.

The Solution:

Academic Career Coaching

We offer expert, hands-on support and strategic planning for those pursuing academic careers. As veteran professors and administrators, we have decades of experience being hired, hiring others, and helping people plan their careers. We have helped countless clients achieve their goals in academia.

We can help you:

Make your portfolio stand out

Be prepared for interview questions

Receive vital, real-time guidance during your job search

Identify the path to getting the position you want

Begin your job search with strategic timing

Become irresistible to potential employers by demonstrating how you’ll solve their problems

Create an effective short- and long-term career plan

Decode job requirements to give potential employers what they’re really asking for

What Sets Us Apart

students helping each other with math charts

Experience

We’ve served on hiring committees, as department chairs, as peer reviewers, and as journal editors. Plus, we’ve had decades of experience in academia – from instructor positions to endowed chairs. We use all of this insider knowledge to help you stand out and reach your goals.

Time and Attention

We’re with you 100% throughout the entire process to help you reach your goals. We don’t limit our support to single, high-ticket coaching sessions. We work on a monthly basis with weekly calls, plus email support and document review (such as CVs and portfolio materials) in between calls.

Knowledge of the Academic Job Market

We stay up-to-date on current trends in academia so that we can offer you the most current knowledge and strategies to achieve success.

What Our Clients Say

I attribute my success in great part to his support and guidance.

There are few people we encounter in our lives that truly make a lasting difference and lifelong impact on who we are as people. Steve Tippins is one of them. His work is so impactful on his students and coachees because of his unique depth of experience coupled with true love for what he does and compassion for the people he works with. His ability to support and motivate people for who they truly are, with realistic expectations and considering outside influences, makes his coaching and partnership irreplaceable. I would be remiss if I did not attribute my success in great part to him and his support and guidance.


LeAnn Nowlin, PhD

I could not have achieved all of my post-doctoral accomplishments without his exceptional mentorship.

Dr. Tippins’ knowledge of both the academic and commercial domains ensures that once your doctoral journey is attained, you are kept grounded and focused on completing the next steps to be a sound contributor to positive social change. I could not have achieved all of my post-doctoral accomplishments without his exceptional mentorship.


Ian Briggs, PhD

I am grateful for his guidance.

Dr. Tippins is a remarkable mentor, taking an interest in his students’ research, and making sure to provide them with an organized structure to guide them through their dissertation process. I am grateful for his guidance and for having him as a mentor, teacher, and friend.


Dr. Enid Alvarez

I would still be lost without the coaching and support of Coach Steve.

I would still be lost without the coaching and support of Coach Steve. Not that I couldn’t figure it out myself, but as a distance learner and first-generation student, I needed someone skilled at working with my concerns. I had tons of imposter syndrome going on, but Coach Steve just simplified things, encouraged me, and advised until I got to the finish line of my dissertation. I am preparing to defend and feel so confident as Coach Steve has helped me find my voice during this process. I highly recommend Coach Steve to any doctoral candidate who needs that last bit of push to complete.


Loubert Senatus

The dissertation committee approved my work, mainly due to Dr. Steve Tippins.

A Doctorate of Business Administration program requires immense time and dedication. When I needed to develop a topic and research the gaps in the literature, I reached out to Dr. Steve Tippins. He mentored me through my 75-page dissertation proposal. As a result, my proposal successfully passed the University Research Reviewer (URR) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) examinations. After receiving my IRB approval number, Dr. Tippins held me accountable for the entire 175 pages of my work. The dissertation committee approved my work, and I successfully defended my dissertation on January 24th, 2022, mainly due to Dr. Steve Tippins. He is very easy to work with and always accessible; fees are very reasonable. I am Dr. Charlamaine Glover because of his mentoring system.


Dr. Charles Glover

His guidance helped me achieve both my goals.

As a coach, Dr. Tippins provided guidance on next steps I should take after graduating to achieve my goals. My primary goals were to complete an article that I could submit for publication and to become employed as an adjunct professor. His guidance helped me to achieve both in a short period of time.


Sam Long, Ph.D.

I am privileged to be associated with Dr. Tippins.

Dr. Tippins has provided post-graduate professional coaching and mentoring to support me (and several other doctoral colleagues) in navigating the professional world, business world, and academic world beyond graduation. His professional coaching and mentoring has helped to guide me and also has provided me with the wisdom and direction needed to make wise career-path decisions. I have benefitted from his guidance and give credit to his wisdom gained from his decades of experience. I am honored and privileged to be associated with Dr. Tippins.


Terrance S. Ransom, Ph.D.

With your support, I became a doctor.

With your support, I became a PhD. I highly recommend you to any student. Thank you!


Dr. Daniela Sankovic

Outstanding guidance during a critical time in my doctoral process.

Steve is an excellent communicator with a passion to help his clients succeed. He provided me with outstanding guidance during a critical time in my doctoral process. Not only was he able to evaluate my work and refer me to outstanding editorial sources, but he was invaluable in helping me to navigate the murky political waters that can exist in the doctoral journey. He gave me great advice and helped me to stay focused with my eye on the prize.


JR Carlisle

Dr. Tippins is gifted with the foresight, patience, and knowledge to help doctoral students navigate the many pitfalls encountered during the dissertation process.

There are few people who have the skill to holistically and intuitively guide people toward the achievement of their life’s goals. Dr. Tippins is one such person. He is gifted with the foresight, patience, and knowledge to help doctoral students navigate the many pitfalls encountered during the dissertation process.


Ian Briggs, PhD

With just one month of coaching from the Beyond PhD Coaching program, I was able to make significant progress.

I struggled for over two years in my Ph.D. program and was barely making any progress. With just one month of coaching from the Beyond PhD Coaching program, I was able to make significant progress. The rates are extremely affordable, and the information and coaching are invaluable. I highly recommend Beyond PhD Coaching to anyone who is working on their dissertation.


Kris Mudd, LPCC

I don’t know where I’d be without you.

I want to thank you so sincerely for all your help in getting me to this point. It was quite a ride. I am beyond grateful for your wisdom, guidance, and encouragement… Don’t know where I’d be without you.


Lindsay

I was able to successfully complete, defend, and graduate this year.

Thank you for your help and support in my dissertation. I was able to successfully complete, defend, and graduate this year. I also was able to submit a journal article, which has been accepted and published.


Joe Smith

Steve cares for people, and he goes the extra mile to help them achieve their post-doctoral goals.

Steve cares for people, and he goes the extra mile to help them achieve their post-doctoral goals, whether these are academic, research, or commercial in nature. I am grateful for his guidance and for having him as a mentor, teacher, and friend.


Dr. Enid Alvarez

Dr. Tippins is a remarkable mentor.

Dr. Tippins is a remarkable mentor, taking an interest in his students’ research, and making sure to provide them with an organized structure to guide them through their dissertation process. I am grateful for his guidance and for having him as a mentor, teacher, and friend.


Dr. Enid Alvarez

I highly recommend Steve to any student on their Ph.D. journey.

During the course of our lives, we meet some people who have a profound impact on us. Dr. Steve Tippins is one such person. I had the good fortune to have Steve as my Ph.D. coach. Steve provided feedback, ideas, support, and, most importantly, motivation for me to complete my dissertation and Ph.D. in a timely fashion. His guidance through the Ph.D. journey and his passion for caring support would benefit any Ph.D. student looking for a coach. I am grateful to have Steve as my coach, and I highly recommend Steve to any student on their Ph.D. journey.


Robert L. Ramirez

Without Steve’s coaching, I would still be looking for work.

After retiring from full-time work, I wanted to teach at a university but had no academic experience. Steve gave me lots of small tips about applying for academic jobs that collectively made a huge difference. I reached out to eleven universities and was pleasantly surprised to get five interviews – a much higher success rate than I expected. I have no doubt that if it had not been for Steve’s coaching, I would still be looking.


Bill W.

I successfully defended my dissertation.

The dissertation committee approved my work, and I successfully defended my dissertation, mainly due to the support of coach Steve.


Dr. Charles Glover

How It Works

Coaching includes weekly, hour-long calls, with document review and email support between calls. 

Here are the steps you will take with us:

Free consultation with the coach of your choice (optional)

Kickoff session: Review of your goals & where you are now, then creating a plan to reach your goals

Weekly calls to support you with each of the steps along the way, with email support and document review in between calls. We also respond to whatever issues are most relevant to you.

You achieve your goal!

What happens during coaching sessions?

Each coaching session is tailored to your needs. Here are some examples of what we offer clients:

  • Help getting published in academic journalsTurn your dissertation into publishable articles
  • Create a short- and long-term career plan
  • Evaluate materials such as CV, teaching statement, research statement, diversity and inclusion statement, and cover letter to optimize for the university you’re applying to
  • Explore job opportunities and evaluate options
  • Prepare for short- and long-form interviews
  • Support negotiating offers
  • Prepare materials and documents for promotion and tenure
  • Support developing a research agenda

Weekly, hour-long calls

Document Review

Email support in-between calls

Our Results

We offer more than just motivation – we offer results. Here are some of the goals we’ve helped clients achieve:

  • Getting the academic job of their choice
  • Getting tenure
  • Getting promoted
  • Getting a non-academic job of their choice
  • Publishing articles in academic journals
  • Publishing books in their field

Weekly, hour-long calls

Document Review

Email support in-between calls

Meet Your Coaches

Dr. Steve Tippins

Qualitative, Quantitative, Post-Degree Support

Dr. Courtney Watson

Dr. Courtney Watson

Writing Expert & Dissertation Specialist

Dr. David Banner

Dr. David Banner

Coach

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do we meet?

We meet weekly.

Can I start and then take a break and come back?

Yes! We work on a month-to-month basis.

Do I have to sign a long term contract?

No, we work on a month-to-month basis with clients.

How am I billed?

You pay on the site and then manage your subscription through your account. You can cancel at any time.

How long will it take to reach my goals?

The time it takes for clients to reach their goals varies based on client objectives. On average, our clients reach their goals within two months. Many clients choose to continue working with us after meeting their initial goal.

Do you just provide motivation and accountability?

No. We do provide that, but that’s just the beginning. In addition to that, we provide technical expertise and support in the academic job market. As insiders in academia, we know the ins-and-outs of how the job application process, publishing process, and promotion and tenure process work. We provide realistic analysis of the market and a clear map for you to reach your goals.

What are your qualifications?

Each of our coaches has different qualifications. Members of our coaching cadre have been promoted multiple times, achieved tenure multiple times, served on search committees, held academic administrative roles, and run academic consulting businesses. For details on specific coaches, see the “coaches” section of this page.

Weekly, hour-long calls

Document Review

Email support in-between calls