Need to decide on next step for my career

I need some advice; I’ve played this over in my head a million ways and need some new perspectives. I got my PhD in 2009. I do not want to work in academia, I have no desire to teach or run an academic lab. I want to move into a pharmaceutical or biotech company and continue to do research. I spent 6 months in 2009 looking for a job after I graduated and when nothing came along I caved and took a postdoc position in academia (in NYC). My boss has since moved the lab to Michigan, and the 2-year term for my position is up on June 29th. I have been looking for industry jobs since Oct and while I have had some phone interviews nothing has panned out. I feel like if I was going to have a job come the end of June things would already be in the works, so this is basically what I have left to choose from.

A-Stay on with my current boss. Same title, same pay, but I could work from home saving me $6k in commuting costs. However I won’t be learning any new skills and this is temporary (he mentioned only having funding through Dec). It would give me 4 hours per day (time I spend commuting now) to look for jobs. But if Dec comes and I don’t have something lined up I could be unemployed.

B-I was offered another postdoc position in NYC. Same title, same if not less pay, same commute. I would learn new skills, but they are in an area that is a very new technology, so I can’t even see if there are jobs in this area at the moment. However, I would have to make a 2 year commitment to the position, meaning I couldn’t continue looking for jobs. After the 2 years there isn’t another role I could move into. I’d be looking for jobs again.

DH and I really want to start “our life”. We currently live in an apt we rent from my parents. We know we can't think about buying a house until I am in more of a permanent (ie non-postdoc non-termed position) because we don’t know where my first real job will be. We also know we can’t really think about buying if I am unemployed; we’d be OK financially where we are, but wouldn’t have the money to get into a house.

I feel like taking another postdoc is leading me down a path I don’t want to be on. Plus the salary of a postdoc is peanuts. I am leaning towards staying with my current boss, however, come Dec if I don’t have something else lined up I am gonna feel like a schmuck that I didn’t take the other job. What would you do? Any advice?

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Personally, without having any understanding of your field and the inner workings of it, I would stay put. I would want the ability to keep looking for a new job, not having to commute and to not have a committment of 2 years to a job that could potentially get me nowhere. Two years is not a long time but other opportunities may present themselves and I wouldn't want to miss out.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Staying put sounds like a good option, but I'm always for learning new skills because it makes you more marketable.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Without knowing the details, I'd stay put. Even though it's not guaranteed you'll have a position past December, you get to work from home and still continue to look for jobs. I'm all for learning new skills, but going into the other job may be counterproductive.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

You know my situation. I left academia and I've been unemployed since. It totally sucks, and I completely understand wanting to start your life. If I were you, I would stay with the current boss but seriously start applying to any and every job that you see outside academia. I think it's much easier to find a job when you are already employed. A gap in employment doesn't look good. I would use your current postdoc as just that: a way that you stay employed while looking in the area you want. I've seen way too many people take the path of least resistance and they end up unhappy because they stayed in academia way too long.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

what industry are you in?

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Thank you all for your responses. My gut is really telling me to stay with my current boss and keep looking. However the logical/responsible side of me is saying take the new job as it's a job and you won't be unemployed. I have to make a decision soon and still don't know what to do.

Message edited 4/13/2012 11:58:23 AM.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

From reading your post, it sounds like it boils down to balancing the need for financial security with the need to be able to seek work that makes you happy.

There really is no right or wrong answer here. It depends on a lot of things, including your aversion to risk. Some people would be very stressed knowing that the high possibility of unemployment exists in the near future, and others would be so thrilled that they are almost done with a job they don't really want that they would take the precarious job situation in stride.

Only you know where you would land on that spectrum.

When your contract ends, you should be eligible for unemployment. (BTDT with a similar situation.)

What does your husband think?

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

I think the new job will open up your skills on knowledge set and also allow you to network. Does DH have a stable job and income? Good luck with your decision.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

I would stay with your current boss. That will give you 6 months of employment, no commuting costs, and the opportunity to look for something else. Taking another 2 yr post-doc means that you are basically stuck working for less money for 2 years while still commuting and you don't know where you will stand after those 2 years. You'd learn new skills but is it something you are interested it? You'd be taking a gamble since you don't know if this will lead to new job opportunities 2 yrs later.

I'd personally take my chances and contine looking for a job (vs post-doc) while having the security of a post-doc for 6 months. 2 years is a long time to be locked into something you really don't want.

Re: Need to decide on next step for my career

Have you looked at places like BARC or Icon Labs? Or a CRO? Both of those have links to the pharma industry and perhaps could open some doors for you.