One of the most common questions I get from my PhD. Students and postdoctoral fellows are “When should I start looking for a job?” In most cases, they refer only to the application process – they ask when they should start actually applying for a job. While I usually recommend using it for three to four months before you can start it, the job search itself should start early. You need to collect a lot of information and data in advance so that you can well recognize that work is a suitable job and make informed decisions with confidence.
I see similarities between job search and the way you may promise a big purchase, like the way you are in a car or a home: the more research and preparation you do, the more confident and understand you will be when the right opportunity arises.
Like a house, work needs to be aligned with your values, interests and goals. However, compromise is inevitable. Just as home buyers have to balance their wish lists between budget constraints and market reality, job seekers must consider factors such as location, salary, job stability and growth potential. A strategic long-term approach ensures that you can recognize and act decisively when the ideal opportunity arises.
That said, it is important to realize that there are many variables we cannot control when it comes to job hunting and home buying. Many PhDs are understandable, and the students and postdoctoral students I talk to focus on them will take into account the uncertainty of the frozen job market for federal employees and college hiring. This is unfortunate, but long-term, careful planning is even more important.
Job search method
When I was a postdoctoral fellow, my husband and I wanted to buy our first home. Initially, I had a list of many essentials: a safe neighborhood close to work, hardwood floors, spacious updated kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, a deck, a two-car garage and a luxurious yard. We set our budget and started searching.
Over the course of six months, we took part in open houses and searched for online listings and raised our expectations in the process. We understand what features are common in our price range and which features are unrealistic. We adjusted our priorities and when we finally found the right home, even if that wasn’t what we envisioned first, we were confident in our decisions because we gained knowledge along the way.
Job search follows a similar process. The more job descriptions you analyze, the more people you talk to, the more satisfied you are with industry norms, skills required, and job value. This preparation allows you to apply and evaluate offers with confidence, just like experienced homebuyers will recognize a lot when they see it.
To make yourself successful, your job search should start long before submitting your application. This is the recommended timetable.
More than a year: Laying the foundation
- Determine your career interests: Before hunting, you need a vision that fits your ideal place to stay. Again, before applying for a job, you need to have a clear understanding of the career path you need. If you are unsure, conduct information interviews to learn from professionals in different fields. Ideally, these conversations will take place throughout your graduate and postdoctoral training. More information about information interviews can be found in live careers. Resources such as MyIDP (for science) and Imaginephd (for humanities and social sciences) can help you explore career choices. Vanderbilt University’s Beyond the Laboratory video and podcast interview series explores a variety of biomedical career paths, while Intersect Job Simulation offers job simulation exercises to help PhD-level scientists and humanists understand a variety of career options. at last, Promote career Podcasts are another resource I suggest that provides valuable insights into career exploration topics and the entire job search process.
- Build your professional: Just as no one starts hunting a home without pre-approval of financing and mortgage loans, you shouldn’t enter the job market either without prepared professional documents. A powerful polished application package is like a solid financial foundation – it ensures you take it seriously and move quickly when the right chances arise.
Prepare your resume or resume in advance and customize it to the role you are considering. The National Institutes of Health Office of Indoor Training and Education provides a great resource for these on its website. For work outside of academia, you will need a resume, which may take time to do it well. Seek feedback from colleagues and career consultants to perfect it. The latest and well-crafted resume can also be valuable when you conduct information interviews to share with the professionals you meet; they will have a better understanding of your background, can provide feedback, and may pass your documents to the hiring manager.
It is just as important to update your LinkedIn profile – it can serve as your online resume and web and research tool. Polished LinkedIn profiles can improve visibility and credibility in your target industry.
One year: Research the market
- Tracking Job Posting: The year before you plan to transition, start monitoring job postings, just like you start researching and viewing your home online and driving in your community. Save descriptions of characters you are interested in and analyze their common themes. This practice helps refine your job search keywords and informs you of the skills you should highlight on your resume.
- Determine the skill gap: By analyzing job descriptions early, you may find that skills are missing that are critical to your target role. By recognizing this upfront, you can take online courses, join an organization, or gain hands-on experience to strengthen your qualifications before applying.
- Prepare other requirements: Depending on the site, you may be asked to share a writing sample or a coding project. If you are preparing for it all year round, you won’t be caught off guard.
- Try AI help: AI tools like ChatGpt can help analyze job descriptions to identify key topics and skills. They can also provide feedback on your resume and help tailor the application material to specific roles.
- Have special opportunities: Sometimes, work releases may appear, which is a perfect fit – what I call “Cinderella’s slippers” job. Even before your planned schedule, consider applying or applying or reaching out with someone in your organization. Expressing interest may open doors for future opportunities.
Three to four months: Start application
- Start submitting your application: At this stage, it is time to actively apply for work while continuing to communicate. Information interviews are still valuable because many of the work has never been published publicly. Take the time to go back to contacts from the past year or so to let them know that you are in the market.
- Customize your application materials: Customize your resume and cover letter for each app and combine the language in the job description to highlight your suitability. If the app allows optional cover letters, be sure to include one – this may be the deciding factor between you and another equally qualified candidate.
- Use the Internet to gain hidden opportunities: Identify the organization of interest and connect with employees to learn more. This proactive approach often leads to learning to open up before being publicly listed. We have all heard stories of people expressing interest in the home (if not for sale) to the stories of homeowners, and hope that future owners may consider selling.
- Safety reference: Consider who can provide strong advice. Reach out in advance to confirm their willingness to serve as a reference and keep the latest information in your search.
- Keep the job search log: Maintain spreadsheets to track the application, including submission dates, job descriptions and tailored resume and cover letter versions. This record will be priceless when preparing for an interview and following up with the employer.
Conclusion: Find a dream job
Job search is a complex and important decision-making process, and it must also be flexible given the ever-changing market conditions and unique personal constraints. Just as home buyers don’t buy the first house they see, job seekers shouldn’t rush into the first opportunity that appears. Strategic job searches, such as planning a complete real estate journey, require research, patience and flexibility. By starting early, refining your standards and actively participating in your field, you will be fully prepared when the “Dream Home” (your “Dreamer”) in your professional world is available. With knowledge and preparation, you can confidently apply, interview and accept offers because you know you find this stage of your career that suits you.
