I keep getting rejected for post-doc - WTH? (Jan/26/2011 )

I feel terrible. I never imagined finding a job would be so difficult after getting a 'precious' PhD degree. I keep getting rejected, but my CV is quite OK.
Damn it...
Does anyone know a good website? Nature and New scientists jobs are very competitive. I think that's the same for all big magazines

I think you might have already checked it, but you may try postdocjobs.com or higher-education chronicle (http://chronicle.com/section/Jobs/61/).

Curtis, I understand your pain..

I am looking for a post-doc for 6 months (ie. before I got my PhD), and for a job - 3 months now (from the next day after I got PhD).

Where do you live and/or in which countries are you interested in?

From what I know CV is secondary to cover letter / application letter. If you have bunch of people on similar level of education and skills, what matters most is how they present themselves and first thing recruiter sees is your cover letter. In feedback I got I was told to highlight how my experience fits with the job that is being advertised and "sell" myself in my application. It is also good to get in touch with the department and ask about the work, project, what they are after so it would look you're very interested. I was also told always to ask to see the labs.

I have an offer, but the salary is terribly low.

I live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and I am interested in a US job. But I keep getting rejected. It is true that it is hard for a foreigner to land a job in the US, but I see many of my friends going there, and later come back with a good CV and find a top job here.

I applied for University of Colorado, and also MUSC in Charleston.

I can't really help you with the US jobs or post-docs. I'm from Europe and looking only for those EU-based - if you're interested I can give you few links. Similarly to you I have no luck in applying abroad.

Curtis on Wed Jan 26 19:23:32 2011 said:

Curtis,

I know how you must be feeling when friends get jobs in foreign countries. But I would suggest taking a job where you would learn more, get to do more, rather than the place where you are working. The good thing is that your long term aim is to get a top job in your own country. Probably, you could take a job with a low salary, gain experience and then work abroad and with the added experience of having worked abroad and in your own country come back again to the top most job (there is always the route to work up the ladder in your own country).

Salary is always an issue. When I joined my place of work, I thought I was not being rewarded for the work I would put in. But soon, I realized that others were being paid much lower and in comparison to them, my contributions are well rewarded. Its all relative. Please do not compare salaries in the US, UK to those at home. And keep your spirits high, you will soon get a good job.


KB: Still looking for job??? A couple of my friends from the EU got jobs in Ireland. Have you tried there????

Thanks guys,

The problem is that when you get older you are more unlikely to find a post-doc abroad. I am 33 now.

I did my MSc in UK, University of Essex, and I remember when I wanted to start my PhD there I was considered old. I was just 26 at the time and the maximum age for a PhD applicant was 27 in top places. I got rejected from Cancer Research UK 2 times because of my age.

I have many friends who hold PhD degrees when they just turn 25. ...it is insane, the world is becoming more competitive every minute.

People used to get university jobs with just a PhD degree, now for some places they need to have at least two post-docs. Somebody kill me

K.B. on Wed Jan 26 20:00:47 2011 said:

yes please shoot, thanks

Curtis on Thu Jan 27 06:58:02 2011 said:

Your post has started scaring me now. I am 25 now and was thinking that I should take another year or so, before I take up my PhD. I thought age did not matter, if you had some experience and could think in a logical/scientific manner.

Curtis on Thu Jan 27 06:58:02 2011 said:

PhD at 25 is insane. A lab-mate at my uni had taken a PhD just because he wanted to do science and not take a job. I am not sure how will he keep himself motivated as his PhD progresses. But at this rate, in probably ten years time, we will have unemployed PhD holders...

Dont worry Curtis, you will get a job

the problem is that I'm getting married soon