First published 13th of July for WomenAreBoring. See the original article here.
Aaaaaaand…SEND.
When you have worked your arse off, gotten three degrees and work experience; sending (begging) emails to make people aware you are looking (desperately) for a job can hurt an already Imposter Syndrome riddled ego. Oh, and let’s not forget my Twitter CV post frenzy either…ahem.
I love where I work at the University of Stirling. Five months before I finished my PhD, I had secured a postdoc position with another group in the same department. This was something I never thought I could achieve. I worked furiously trying to finish the PhD whilst setting up the experimental design for my postdoc research. I handed in my thesis and went straight into my postdoc field- and lab-work for the next year. Once my data were collected, I had 6 months left and instead of smashing through the analyses and churning out a paper or two, I knew I had to start job hunting. Being in the position of not earning a salary was financially and mentally not an option for me.
I knew I wanted to stay in Scotland, preferably Stirling. So I wrote fellowship applications, grant applications, postdoc and lectureship applications – you name it. I also applied for a job outside of academia, as well as postdoc positions abroad. However, I didn’t want to move. I have recently gotten married and my now husband, who was previously supportive of a nomadic life, now says; ‘No, I am not moving unless you get a contract longer than a couple of years’. He has fallen in love with Scotland and has a job which enables him to support his daughter. But I can’t shift all the blame on him. I don’t want to move either. I enjoy where I am too.
So herein lies the academic conundrums:
- Don’t settle down, it will kill your academic career as it reduces your options.
- To be a good scientist you must move institution.
- Two bodies are more difficult to move than one.
- This list could go on… (For example, I am not even going into to the whole ‘I am getting older what about having a kid’ situation).
This is how I am dealing with the academic conundrums occurring at this stage of my career:
- ‘Don’t settle down, it will kill your academic career as it reduces your options.’
We want to stay here for now, so we are. A sacrifice which means accepting a non-academic position.
- ‘To be a good scientist you must move institution.’
To be a good scientist is to gain various perspectives on your work and collaborate. So this is what I am doing. By collaborating and writing grant applications with current mentors and new ones at different institutions.
- ‘Two bodies are more difficult to move than one.’
For now he keeps his job, we buy a house and focus on the present (like me trying to clear my years of study debt).
- ‘This list could go on… (For example, I am not even going into the whole “I am getting older what about having a kid” situation).’
This is not my focus, but definitely on my mind.
Never underestimate how time consuming and draining the process of job hunting is. It became my full time job. This ultimately meant falling behind on my current postdoc work and triggered all-consuming guilt. However, I am lucky to have a supportive mentoring team. They looked at my applications, listened to my practice presentations for interviews and gave me the freedom to develop and chase my career.
I did not manage, as yet, to secure a long term academic post. I have accepted a post outside of academia, as well as being recently successful with two grant applications. Which is in itself another conundrum:
- Give up a full time job for a short term postdoc contract?
Not possible for me in my current situation, but I am attempting to solve this another way. Wish me luck!
zarahsinthefield 