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

Curtis on Sat Jan 29 07:19:16 2011 said:

Hi Curtis,

Advanced congratulations then . And what is a “terribly low” salary anyhow? A 40k USD may put you at poverty level in LA or Boston but would probably be enough in some Midwest cities. And besides, legally, most institutions would have pay scales adjusted to the cost of living but of course, if you’re looking for good salaries, you may have to gain more experience first. Not to sound pessimistic here but the economic slowdown and the severe cuts on research budgets translate to fewer jobs created or available. It is especially more difficult for international applicants bec you’re competing with natives or residents. And some PIs would not want to wait or wade through all the bureaucratic red tape of getting someone from abroad when there are many who are just around the corner so to speak. But that doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities, you just have to be more patient. And I think in the US, they have a quota for the working visas they issue so if it’s already filled, you wait again for the next round.

And I guess most of us also know that getting a job doesn’t solely depend on our CV or how qualified we are…a lot depends on luck and connections. I have heard some PIs say that they don’t even open unsolicited e-mails from people they don’t know (they get a lot of those all the time). So it’s always a good strategy to do some networking …i.e., when attending congresses/meetings- introduce yourself, your work etc bec many of the attendees are potential employers or try to start collaborations with labs doing something related etc. So when you’re done with your degree, you already know people who can probably help you out in one way or another.

And for your job search, you’ve to continue going thru the usual channels eg recruiters, websites, science magazine ads etc. or if you’ve enough patience, I’d suggest checking out the big funding agencies grant decisions. Here in Canada- we have the CIHR and the NSERC (the US –NIH perhaps?) or the equivalent in other countries and here, the awards are given twice a year...you’ll find a list of the successful labs and PIs and their research topic. So you’d know whose labs have money and are most probably hiring. Or check too those labs which are up for renewal (end of their funding period)....they have a better chance of getting fresh funding. Anyways, the important thing is never to give up.....it can be hard, challenging even frustrating for many, it doesn't matter which field and finding THE perfect job is a myth of course...good luck...

Hi, long time no see Casandra,

very good suggestion, I'll do that. Hope I can find it on NIH website

guys I think I got the post-doc position already, we had some verbal agreements with my own supervisor. So it's done...the news came out of nowhere just now. my hands are shaking of happiness, couldn't accept the fact of being a jobless-old-PhD-holder-who-cannot-feed-his-wife

Hang in there Curtis! I am sure you'll find a job soon

As for your age - I don't think you're too old at all.

I know a woman who did a PhD in her 50's (Immunology) and now has an awesome job in an awesome institute!

Clare

50's? she must get Nobel prize

gt_ameya on Thu Jan 27 06:31:06 2011 said:

Ireland got hit pretty badly by global economic crisis from what I have heard, but I'll check it out.

The most of vacancies I see are from the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland - but I think it's because other are more likely to post jobs in their own respective languages and I only read English (as second language that is).

The problem is not in finding vacancy, but in getting a reply, though... If a recruiter has 50 applications from which 49 are "local" and 50th is a person with funny sounding name from the other side of Europe - guess who's not getting invitation for an interview?...



Curtis,
I don't know about age requirements for a PhD, but for a post-doc there are no regulations for age of an applicant - and there are rules against discrimination based on age (in addition to other kinds).

as for links - try those:
www.jobs.ac.uk
www.academictransfer.com
ec.europa.eu/eures
www.eurosciencejobs.com

You should also try some networking eg. if you got your MSc in the UK - e-mail your advisor, professors, colleagues etc.

Curtis on Sun Jan 30 07:09:36 2011 said:

Another congratulations then. Has it really been that long, Curtis? It seems like only yesterday when we were teasing you here about your sleeping and showering in the lab and your uncombed hair....now you already have a PhD and even managed to finally find a victim...erm....a fiancée, I mean. We're happy for you dude and good luck with your new job.

Curtis on Sun Jan 30 07:09:36 2011 said:

Hey Curtis,

Congratulations!!!!!

So when you getting married.... now that you have a job!!

K.B. on Sun Jan 30 12:47:43 2011 said:

Thanks KB. No offense to the Brits in here, but UK is the last place I would want to go, I really had a tough time there. specially Colchester was really a dead town, after 5 pm everything was shut down. I don't understand the logic behind closing your shops after 5 pm when it is technically the time people are free to go shopping after office hours !!! besides, I really got issue with English accent, not to mention the Irish accent. No offense but I find it difficult being somewhere I can't understand a word. Being in a non-English speaking country was better for me, as for some reason it's easier to communicate with people who are not native English speakers.

I will stay in Malaysia for some more time, publish some more papers and then try to go back to Zurich, Switzerland where I grew up.

casandra on Mon Jan 31 03:25:38 2011 said:

gt_ameya on Mon Jan 31 06:43:30 2011 said:

thanks guys, we are applying to grant now.