30 November 2009
By Matt Hardy
Hello readers. Now, as this is my first blog ever, I am considering you all to be first time readers so welcome. Why would I suddenly decide to start writing a blog? Well, there are lots of reasons, but one of them is because in about 8 months I need to have found another job and I figured that anyone reading this may be interested to see how I go about this and indeed whether I am successful in maintaining a post in research.
Academic researchers such as me frequently find ourselves working in temporary contracts. Previously, I have found this to be a boon; I could be committed to a profession whilst still having the opportunity to travel and live in new places. Whilst I still like those things about my chosen profession, it is no longer quite so easy. For one thing, I am in a serious relationship. No longer do I just have to think about moving myself from one place to the next but also about my better half. Of course this can have impacts on her career as well (for those with children I have no idea how much more complicated this must be). Another thing is that I have already seen positions that I would like to apply for, but this requires ending my contract prematurely. I like my current boss so would I really want to let him down like that; after all, he worked really hard to get the funding from which I am employed.
So that is my predicament. It isn’t an unusual one for a postdoc so any advice that you can give me along the way would be much appreciated just as I hope that you may garner some valuable insights from my experiences. Bye for now.
Alistair Muir30 November 2009 at 03:57 PM
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Hey Matt. I am in a similar position myself, after my PhD I moved from Southampton with my wife and kids to take a post-doc in here Bath and now I find myself with less than a year 'till the end of my contract and the kids well settled in school ( number 4 for our eldest who is only 8 ) and my wife wanting to start a degree herself. I need stability but there seems little chance of that in academia. I fear it may all end in some bland management type job. We'll see. I'll be interested to see what happens with you.
Tennie Videler02 December 2009 at 11:59 AM
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Hi Matt and Alistair, I was a member of research staff on short term contracts for years. I managed not to have to move geographically after my second postdoc (for the sake of my family) because there are a lot of research opportunities in Cambridge. Now I have chosen a 'management type job'- which is in no way, shape or form bland. Different- yes, the culture and challenges are far removed from what I was used to in academia. And it is very rewarding and varied. But bland, no. Now, you can't have my job (and you may not want it), but you could have an open-minded look around. Talk to a careers advisor, maybe taking your values, what you find important in your current post, as a starting point. don't write off the world outside academia! Good luck....
Matt Hardy09 December 2009 at 02:45 PM
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Hi Alistair and Tennie, Thanks for you responses; it's nice to know that people have read what I have posted. Following on from the theme of my blog I actually have an interview coming up (I may even put a blog up about it next week). It is for another postdoc but would mean cutting my current contract short which would hardly be ideal but we shall see. Talking of management-type jobs I have never really written them off, but I have to confess that a lot of what attracts me to the lab work is the random bits of equipment that I get to set-up, take apart and fix etc. (and the research of course!). Unfortunately most management-type jobs remove that aspect and for me it is something that I really think that I would miss. Saying that, I know a number of researchers, one in particular, who would be extremely happy to put that side of research to one side. I guess that what I am saying is that whilst I haven't written management positions off (and indeed may even consider them in the future) right now I am still happy in the lab and don't want to give it up. Anyway, wish me luck in the interview and take care...
Elizabeth Dodson09 December 2009 at 03:36 PM
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Good luck with the interview :-)
Tennie Videler09 December 2009 at 08:54 PM
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Hi Matt, definitely good luck with the interview. Remember that luck favours the prepared.... have you had a chance to have a practice? I once had myself filmed in a mock interview to get a chance to see how I came across (and realised I needed to gesticulate less madly...). check out our advice on: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1660/Academic%20job%20interviews.html Is this position geographically close to where you are now? all the best, Tennie
Sarah Davies09 December 2009 at 09:00 PM
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Good luck for the interview, Matt! Do let us know how you get on. And make sure you tell us any nasty questions so we can say how unfair they were / prepare for them ourselves...