need guidance to find new job - dunno what to do - (Mar/06/2014 )
I have a PhD in Molecular biology / Cancer but I feel troubled by my pos-doc work and I want to quit research because of all that reasons you already know: science is too ambivalent, bad supervision, exhausting hours, not enough reward, metal health is compromised, ...
I am very hard working and before I get completely crazy, I would like to find another job.
I have always worked in science and I feel I cannot do anything else.
Can someone point me to alternatives to science related jobs? let me know about your experience.
Any help would be appretiated,
Cheers 
The obvious alternative is teaching, not necessarily at a university, but maybe high-school. Most countries are actively looking out for science teachers (and male teachers too, if you happen to be male).
You could work at a museum if you have any interest in botany, zoology, natural history sort of things.
Science communication is an up and coming field - journalism, writing PR material for companies, making videos and blogs for anyone interested in science but who don't know how to tell the story, that sort of thing.
Technician jobs are often quite good too, if you wanted to remain in science, they are often the sort of job where you can put your pipettes down at the end of the day and not have to worry. The pay isn't too bad, but it probably won't be as much as you would get for your post-docs.
Have you thought about changing your field? - if you have any interest in programming or bio-informatics, there is a big and growing demand for these sorts of people.
Hey bob1,
I actually thought of science communication, possibly in combination with programing and bio-informatics. I fact I think my skills in computers are quite good.
I am not sure where I can find such jobs. Are there websites with these job opportunities? (europe wide)
Thanks once more.
Sorry, not much idea - try the Europa careers website? They used to have a science jobs webpage there.
two possibilities:
Using google you can find lots of jobs/career websites more or less specialised...
If I ever knew what phd and research actually are, I would never ever studied molecular biology. I hate all this "graduate school marketing" fraud, like our graduate school will open doors for you in schience.
I have spent almost 4 years in phd programm in europe and cannot find any Job anywhere. Nobody wants to hire me because I am from third-world country, I cannot become even science editor or writer, because English is non my native language. There is no job for me anywhere. I was asking for career advices for 2 years and nobody was able to give me any meaningful advice.
Everybody knows that there is no science in developing countries, yet they continue to take people like me in phd schools just to abuse as cheap labor in sweat-shop.
I am working now in horrible job that is no better that Amazon warehouse or Foxxconn sweatshop. I have no life, no money, just work 12 hours per day.
This is where european academic science brought me.
goggi, you sound pretty bitter about your experiences.
you say you are in your fourth year of a phd program, have you completed your phd?
if so, have you explored a post-doctoral position? they can make you more marketable.
i have seen many "third world" phds who have had successful careers in science. your problem may be more of a timing issue. many phds in the life sciences are "molecular biologists". the competition for (few) positions is fierce. even in academia, tenure track positions are few and far between, adjuncts are the preferred hire.
you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. if you haven't, finish your phd and find a (hopefully prominent) post doctoral position (there is also a lot of competition for them so brush up on your interview skills, also, think world wide, don't lock yourself in to any specific geographic area). publish some good work. then you may be able to find a more permanent position.
I have finsihed and get a phd degree which is absolutely useless. I do not have a paper.
I was sending CV s for 1 year. 99,99% even did not acnowledge that they receive my application.
The most I was able to find were technician positions.
Now I got some temporary post-doc position. I did not want to do a post-doc because I knew that it will be ugly.
I work for salary which is 30% less than local postdocs receive. I cannot afford to buy coffee or meal in cafe.
Moreover, I have worked 60 hours per week since the beginning of this year and started to develope some physical sickness. I am not thinking how to publish good work; I am thinking what I will do if I need to go to dentist. Is it much different from nazi labour camp !?
If nodoby wants to hire me for stupid post-doc job, who will hire me for bio-industry where salaries and conditions are better than in academia? How publishing 2 or 3 papers make me more employable for any normal medium-income job ?
You know, if I was told - you work certain hours for 3-4 years without any benefits, you will be unemployable, your experience will be totally useless, your health will be compromised, nobody cares about you, your life and career. Than I would have at least clear picture about what I am egaging in. You get what you pay for.
If I am accepting job in MacDonalds, I know what sort of job it is.
But these guys make very "sweet" marketing of "graduate school".
****
did I study for 10 years just to get a stupid technician job? Today you need a phd in order to become technician ? What sort of career choice is molecular biology? This is worst career you can imagine.
reread what you wrote.
your whole attitude towards progression in the scientific world is negative. that attitude shows up in interviews and cover letters with applications.
why did you go into science? most scientists don't get rich, even in industry.
post docs are supposed to be temporary. they are for learning, experience, gaining prominence and making connections. they are not "stupid". even though not required for industry, they do make one more attractive to industry.
why didn't you publish from your thesis work?
many experienced technicians earn more (and are worth more) than post docs. try not to antagonize them, it could come back to bite you.
but, it's obvious that my words won't have any effect on your attitude so i wish you more success in your future. good luck.
Goggi on Thu Mar 27 03:35:20 2014 said:
I have finsihed and get a phd degree which is absolutely useless. I do not have a paper.
I was sending CV s for 1 year. 99,99% even did not acnowledge that they receive my application.
The most I was able to find were technician positions.
Now I got some temporary post-doc position. I did not want to do a post-doc because I knew that it will be ugly.
I work for salary which is 30% less than local postdocs receive. I cannot afford to buy coffee or meal in cafe.
Moreover, I have worked 60 hours per week since the beginning of this year and started to develope some physical sickness. I am not thinking how to publish good work; I am thinking what I will do if I need to go to dentist. Is it much different from nazi labour camp !?
If nodoby wants to hire me for stupid post-doc job, who will hire me for bio-industry where salaries and conditions are better than in academia? How publishing 2 or 3 papers make me more employable for any normal medium-income job ?
You know, if I was told - you work certain hours for 3-4 years without any benefits, you will be unemployable, your experience will be totally useless, your health will be compromised, nobody cares about you, your life and career. Than I would have at least clear picture about what I am egaging in. You get what you pay for.
If I am accepting job in MacDonalds, I know what sort of job it is.
But these guys make very "sweet" marketing of "graduate school".
****
did I study for 10 years just to get a stupid technician job? Today you need a phd in order to become technician ? What sort of career choice is molecular biology? This is worst career you can imagine.
Where do you work? What country?
Also: you have a post doc position... so I don't really understand it... you complain about not finding a (good) job, but you do have a post doc... I wonder; where is it that you work, what country? post docs are normally paid pretty well....
And as mdfenko already said: "stupid" technician job? I would trade pretty much 50% of the PhD students here, the lab where I am, with lab techs....
(and here lab tech get paid badly compared to (some) lazy PhD students that think they know it all while they know pretty much nothing and refuse to listen (to the lab techs that know more about the practical stuff)