Now that you have a post-doctoral degree under your belt, what’s next? The first step should be considering what path you’d like your scientific career to follow. Would you like to work in a governmental research laboratory? How about as an investigator in a pharmaceutical or chemical company? Maybe you’d prefer a faculty position within a university? The choice you make will depend on both your immediate and long-term goals. Before you read on further, however, take a moment to consider how much serious effort will be required to get a position. If you’re willing to put in the necessary amount of time, then you’ll be rewarded with several offers to select from. If not, then you’re likely to struggle.

What kind of position do you want?

Before you start your job search, it’s useful to spend some time getting a clear idea of what you want from any future position. For example, you can start by carefully considering the following questions:

• Would you enjoy the fast pace of work associated with a top-ranking institution
• Wouldn’t you rather work in a slower environment?
• Would you prefer to focus only on research, or would you like to teach as well?
• Where would you like to work? In a rural, suburban or urban location?

It might also be a good idea to think about it together with your family, as the choice you’ll make will probably affect the future of your entire family.

Ask yourself questions as:

• Do I want to live near my parents, family and friends?
• Where does my partner work? Would he/she able to find a job anywhere else?
• Is there a language barrier that impedes me from going anywhere I’d like?
• Are they specific work related issued, such work visas, that I would need to get to work in some countries?

What positions are available?

It’s always useful to keep as many options as possible, so look for positions wherever you can. Formal sources of information include:

• Your current university/university department
• Major scientific journals and publications related to your field
• Job bulletin sections released by professional associations
• Major companies
• Job search websites
• Etc…

Informal sources are also valuable, however. Work out a list of everyone that you know with a connection to your field, and tell them what kind of job you’re searching for. You’ll often find that these contacts can point you in the right direction themselves – but even when they can’t, many will have acquaintances who can. Don’t be afraid to ask. People are usually happy to help! But make sure to send everyone thank you notes to show them how much you appreciate the effort…

Bear in mind that most positions are likely to start around August / September, so you might want to start applying in late spring.

Combining what you want with what’s available

Once you’ve established both what you’d like from a position and what positions are available, you’ll need to establish which positions to apply for, because applying to all available positions is not efficient and probably won’t get you any good results. Each job application should be unique and personalized and requires time and commitment. Combine all information available, rule out jobs that don’t match with your preferences and select your preferred ones. You should consider how you feel about other aspects of potential jobs:

• Could you work with the institution’s quality, values and political and social climate?
• Are you interested in the specific department’s mission and research activities
• Are you sufficiently qualified to help further the research activities?
• How do you feel about the parameters and expectations of the position?
• What are the faculty’s policies regarding parental leave?
• Do you know anyone who worked there before?

Spending time on this step will give you an extremely detailed view of what you want versus what’s realistic. This is invaluable experience in its own right, but will more significantly help you to work out what’s truly important for you in a job.

Hopefully, from here, you’ll no longer waste time putting together great applications for the wrong jobs – and prospective employers won’t have to read those wasted applications, either…

Don’t hesitate to ask us if you need help finding a position!