Naoimh O’Connor recommends a three-step process to laying the foundations for the next five years of your research career.

Guest contributor Naoimh O’Connor

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It is becoming more and more apparent that having a doctorate and being an expert in your field does not automatically set you on a fixed career path. In fact, devising a focused career strategy is now becoming part of the job of successful researchers.

Many postdocs I work with find that, because of the need to focus on day-to-day activities, there is little time or mental energy to consider the future. So, when it comes to completing the Career Development section of a fellowship application or answering the ‘where do you see yourself in five years?’ question at an interview, they feel unprepared and uninspired.

One of the workshops I facilitate is called ‘Creating a Job-seeking Strategy for Researchers’. In it I recommend a three-step process for beginning to structure your career-plan. It’s not so different to a research project in that it involves your imagination, collecting and analyzing facts, and then creating a timeline with short and long-term goals. The earlier you start, the more comfortable the process will be for you, but even if you only have a few months left, this model helps put you more in control. Continue reading →