I have no idea where I will be in two years
They always ask in job interviews, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I hear the same reply again and again… “I don’t even know where I see myself in 2 years.”
What can you do to get more clarity?
Career or Contribution – what is more important?
Everybody struggles with the same dilemma. Do I focus on my career or on my scientific contributions? If I concentrate on my advancement, I am seen as selfish. Yet, if I focus on my contributions, I will be outperformed by the career guys. How can you combine your career aspirations and your scientific contributions?
PA vs MD salary – are the differences relevant?
The salary differences between Physician Assistants (PAs) and Medical Doctors (MDs) in the US and Europe are significant, reflecting the disparities in years of medical school, residency programs, advanced degrees, and the scope of medical practice responsibilities. To decide which career to choose not only based on salary, it is necessary to understand both job profiles in depth.
Which scientific meetings should I attend?
Attending a scientific meeting can be very inspiring. It may broaden your network and help you to make yourself and your research visible to a broad audience. Nevertheless, it is also often time-consuming and expensive. How do you choose the right meetings to attend?
Am I good enough for a career in science?
Are you one of the many people who wonder, “Am I good enough for a career in science?” Every young scientist suffers from these negative thoughts. You’ve worked hard to contribute to the scientific community… and then you get the feeling that you are not good enough. This sense of doubt makes you feel you aren’t good enough for a career in academia.
Should I become a long-term postdoc?
Becoming a long-term postdoc – isn’t this attractive? When discussing career paths in life sciences with postdocs, we hear on a regular basis the wish to escape from the “rat race of the professors” by accepting a kind of long-term senior postdoc position in academia. The idea is to obtain a permanent position (and thus a safe job in economic turbulent times), which encompasses at the same time an intellectually stimulating and creative profession with some (but not too many) responsibilities. Is this what you want?
Is teaching expertise really necessary for an academic career?
Young scientists often get contradictory advice about whether they need teaching expertise to become a professors. Every university will confirm that teaching is the core expertise of a professor; however, successful researchers may see teaching as a waste of time and unimportant in getting a position.
Should I become a professor? Success rate 3% !
When organizing career events for PhD students and postdocs, we realize that most young researchers envision an academic career. They are shocked when we confront them that only 3-5% of them will actually end up as academic staff.
Assistant Professor vs Associate Professor: What’s the Difference
Knowing which types of academic positions are available in the academic market is helpful for making good career decisions. There are multiple types of professor jobs in many different disciplines, including tenure-track or tenured positions such as assistant professor, associate professor, and full-time professor. For a successful career in science, it is essential to understand what tenure and tenure track mean.
Free PhD programs versus fully funded PhD programs
What is a free PhD program? What does fully funded mean in the context of a PhD? Is a PhD program an education or a job? Do you get paid, or are you paying for it? The designs of PhD programs differ substantially between countries. What is important to know for your career?