I'm in a quandry about my future career, do I stay in academia, or transfer to another profession through further training? To give a little background, I did my undergrad degree in genetics, worked in genetic testing for a year (felt frustrated by being a tech and not a researcher), started a phd in genetic research, but always wondered about science communication or a genetically related caring profession. I've decided that full time media probably isn't for me, that I don't want to be a clinical scientist or routine lab worker. I'm contemplating the more clinical/caring role, but it requires a 2 year masters away from my family and with the obvious financial losses. I am enjoying the research just now but I don't see myself giving over my life to academia with all of it's hard work for little job security. I don't feel I'll ever be really "good" at research, but that could just be the old imposter syndrome kicking in. I've been interested in the clinical/caring role for years but wonder if I'm just seeing it as a soft option where the grass looks greener from afar. I'm rambling, can you tell I'm stuck?

This is hopelessly vague and I know no one can make this decision for me, but any insights would be so welcome. Has anyone started post-docing and found they love/hate it relative to the phd? Did you work in a different role and find academia better for any reason? Are you studying away from partner or family and finding it a struggle? Are there any obvious career options I'm being blind to (all I can see is a routine industry job, endless postdocs, or fighting tooth and nail for a lecturing post which I don't feel bright enough for)?

General debate / me toos / stop whining comments all welcome! (mince)

Is there any way you could do an internship or temporary job (even for no money) in the the clinical / caring setting? It might give you some idea of whether that route is really for you or just a grass-is-greener thing. When you really know what's involved you'll know better whether it's worth going down the extra masters road. They may even allow some kind of jump-in or catch-up on the masters course given your phd (unless they're completely unrelated). Like they do for graduate medicine for people with science degrees.

I have a similar decision ahead of me at some point but i'm putting my head in the sand for now :) I have the researcher/school teacher/caring practitioner/industry problem

======= Date Modified 03 Feb 2010 10:12:07 =======
Thanks mathkitty. I've already done some work experience with a team, but it was just odd hours here and there. It's as much as I can get given how busy they are, and while I enjoyed it, I don't feel it's given me a realistic impression of what the daily grind is like in that field.

I really did enjoy it though...

The course may reject me without a year out doing full-on care work anyway, but I'd though of applying this year because I just want to get on with things. Another year with more thinking time, experience, and just abreak from studying intensively may be wise. Sadly though there are no concessions unless your prior experience is actually working properly in a relevant caring role, with two years minimum to train I'm just so impatient to get going! Hope your own dilemma isn't driving you too mad ;-)

I think it depends on how much ££ you have. In know I really can't afford not to get a job come october, so I will probably take ANYTHING including checkout work - not an academic term, I mean at the supermarket.

My sup just told me that there will be no opportunities at my current uni at all, so start searching. My location is fixed because of my hubby's work, so I think I have just had to say goodbye to my academic career for the next year or so :-(

I'm not so up on genetics etc but could you not do charity work, or work for a huge industrial place like pfizer?

======= Date Modified 03 Feb 2010 11:37:20 =======
My phd is funded by a charity and that's been great, getting a role within a genetics charity itself though would be challenging without a media related Msc or a lot of voluntary work first.

My location (due to hubby's work and his daughter) is one of the reasons I'd struggle to get research work, so I could be looking at living away even if I stay in academia. I'm lucky that my sup has asked me to stay on after the phd, but he can only promise me 6 months part time, after that we're all dependent on grant results and I could easily end up looking at checkout work myself. I'm very fortunate that the husband is the main breadwinner and is willing to support my Msc idea, but it will cost us in both monetary and relationship terms.

hmm, yes, we can just afford to live on his salary, JUST but realistically I need a job, very depressing! I live quite close to pfizer if you need somewhere to crash!

I can't stand being unemployed, not working always sounds lovely but within a week I start to feel my self- esteem eroding. I think I'm just trying to weigh up too many Ifs and Buts. Thanks for the offer of a Pfizer crash pad btw (snowman)

Hi,
Vitae run a (free) course on careers in Academia in Manchester on the 30th of March, which gives great insight into what is actually involved and what gives you the best chance. http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/188181-188921/Careers-in-focus-Careers-in-academia-.html.
For inspiration of other options, have a look at the Vitae careers website: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1245/Developing-your-career.html or search the database of careers:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1341/Career-stories.html

good luck!
Tennie

Thanks Tennie
Funnily enough my uni sent me an email about that just last week. Unfortunately I can't really afford the time or travel - Manchester is quite a slog from where I am.