You sent out some job applications already. Now you hope to hear back from them soon. Once you get an invitation to a job interview, your need to inform yourself about the company. This is easier said than done. Here are a few ideas how to boost your knowledge about your potential employer: The company’s homepage is the go-to source of information The company homepage is a great source of information. Normally, this is the obvious choice and the place…
Three human instincts to fight in your work life
Biologically speaking, humans are nothing but animals. The baser instincts that are an integral part of us kept us alive for many generations. However, in the modern work environment some of these human instincts do not serve us but hamper our performance. Being aware of those aspects is the first step towards a better workplace. Read about three of them and note whether you, like me, are guilty of following your baser instincts sometimes.Three human instincts to fight in your…
Find your way through the house of change when job hunting
Well, it is this time of the year again. Leaves are falling. The mood is turning gloomy. The wind is picking up. You are feeling chilly. It is time to apply for jobs. Oh and yea, it is autumn, too. While reflecting on my feelings about this particular time in my live, I came across the house of change. The house of change is a concept introduced by Claes Janssen used to describe any change process. I noticed that it…
Not all Postdocs are created equal
Your are thinking about doing a Postdoc? Great idea! But be aware that not all Postdoc positions are created equal. Thus, not every Postdoc will suit your particular needs or help you achieve your goals. Read this article to learn about the considerable differences between five common types of Postdocs. The academic Postdoc Doing a Postdoc in academia is the obvious choice especially if you want to pursue an academic career. Yet, be aware that not all academic Postdocs are…
Should I do another course after completing my PhD?
Upon completing a PhD, many PhD students decide to pursue a career in industry. Lots of them get a position in a company straight away. But many do find it hard to get a job offer in industry right after completion of their doctorate. Those might be facing the question whether to do an extra training course in preparation for an industry job. Why do another course after your PhD? You have already invested many years into your education. When…
Five writing mistakes to avoid in your thesis
Avoid these five mistakes when writing your bachelor, master, or doctoral thesis. From experience, students keep making these mistakes. They are not difficult to avoid. Staying clear of these common pitfalls will give your work a professional touch. So the reader is able focus on the scientific content. Skipping the acknowledgments Do not skip the acknowledgment section. Write at least one abstract. Better yet, write half a page of acknowledgements or more. No matter how fed up you are with…
The three most embarrassing mistakes I made in a job interview
No one likes to talk about their mistakes, especially if they are very embarrassing. Still, there is an emerging error culture, which you can experience for example in fuck-up nights. In this spirit, I share three of my most embarrassing mistakes in connection with job interviews. I am sure similar faux pas happen to many of us. If it happens to you and you embarrassed yourself so much that you wanted to vanish through a hole in the ground, know…
Seven overlooked employers for scientists
Most graduates are looking to continue their career in academia and work either at the university or at a research intuition. Or else they try to get a job in a well-known big company. However, it is worth it to consider some alternative career paths. As a jobseeker, you want to consider some often overlooked employers for scientist. Expand the scope of your job hunt, if some of these alternatives resonate with you. Staffing agencies are overlooked employers for scientists…
Three things academics don’t get about staffing agencies
You put yourself through a university education, possibly even through a doctorate. Most likely, you did not do this with the proclaimed goal to work for a staffing agency later on. This is why most academics do not learn about this particular employment opportunity, until it is imminent. If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of working for a staffing agency, read this blog post, too. Unfortunately, some academics make uninformed decisions when signing up with…
Why is pursuing a career in industry seen as turning to the dark side?
The world is full of scientists referring to a career in industry as turning to the dark side. Examples for this phrasing are found in alumni reports, blogs, and article in science magazines to name a few. Dubbing an industry job as working for the dark side has almost become an idiomatic phrase. But why is that? Why is working in industry branded as the dark side? I have some theories why this dreadful practice came to be. And I…