Starting a scientific career later in life can benefit from the added stability in people’s lives.

Contributor Cathy Winterton

The build up to career change is possibly the hardest bit. Like the build up to any big decision. The self-questioning, the self-doubt, the wondering how and if you can pull it off, can fill the wakeful hours of the night for some time.

My most recent change (from Communications officer to PhD student) is not my first. In fact it’s not even my second, yet in spite of plenty of practice, I have repeatedly made the same mistake: I don’t talk to folk; I don’t ask people what they know or what they think and I get too rooted in trying to work things out on my own, fearful perhaps that another person might rubbish my ideas or hopes, or try to dissuade me.

There is a lot of information, help and even funding/financial support available if you look hard enough, or find the right person to show you. I do now have a couple of professional mentors, people I trust to talk things over with, but I still find myself worrying about bothering them. Continue reading →