Collect data on yourself before choosing a career.
Contributor Thi Nguyen
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In working with graduate students and postdocs who are choosing between two possible career paths, one ironic challenge we discuss is how their rigorous training has prepared them to perform well in a wide range of fields. PhDs problem solve, think critically, synthesize and present information, analyze data, write technically and creatively, and work independently and in teams. But I remind them using a baseball analogy, that just because they can throw and catch a ball doesn’t mean that they will be as happy, or skilled at, playing the team’s pitcher as they would be playing second base.
To choose the career path that’s a better fit, it’s essential to spend time making an informed decision. They often need to reframe their “I could do anything” attitude, and ask themselves what they want to do. Continue reading
