Is a Postdoc Your Next Stop?

After completing a doctoral degree, eight out of ten students decide to seek employment in their particular field of study, but the other two may decide to continue on the research path and opt to study for a postdoctoral degree. When considering studying for a postdoctoral degree, there are questions you need to ask yourself, goals you need to assess, and a path you need to decide on which you want to travel. If you are considering going the postdoc route, here are some questions you may need to ask yourself.

1. Have I considered an alternative path? When you decide to go the postdoc route, you are deciding to dedicate your life to research and academia. It is important for you to assess whether you want to do research as a career path, or you would want to delve out into the industry at some point in the future. There are a variety of other career paths that you can take if becoming a professor is not something you desire. The postdoctoral research fellowship is meant to be a link between graduate school and working independently in academia.

2. Am I Prepared to Face the Challenges? In pursuit of your postdoctoral degree can prove to be more difficult than pursuing a PhD. You will spend longer hours in the lab, and though you will be paid for your postdoc time, when you weight the time and magnitude of work, and the money that you are receiving, it may seem like it may not be worth it. It is in these moments that you will need to decide if you are passionate and dedicated enough to continue, or drop out.

3. How Competitive am I so far in the Job Market? If it is that you plan to work in academia after completing your postdoctoral degree, it is important to consider whether you have published enough papers to be deemed ‘credible’ or ‘an expert’ in your field to be able to compete for academic jobs among other candidates. While you would have published some papers while pursuing your PhD, studying for a postdoc degree can give you the opportunity to publish more papers to have a more competitive edge in the job market.

4. What happens if I don’t want to work in Academia after completing my Postdoctoral degree? The job market in academia is very competitive, and there is a possibility that you may not land a job in the field you study. The great thing is that based on the skills you would have gained while doing research, you can be able to put them to use in an industry profession after completing your studies. Be sure to measure up your competencies with the qualifications/requirements that are stated in the job descriptions posted.

All in all, you need to be cognizant of what your career goals are in order to know for sure whether you should pursue a postdoctoral degree or not. Take your time in making your decision, ensure that this is something you are passionate about, and then put your all out in striving to succeed.