Shock news! A recent survey shows that researchers don't do their research when looking for a research job!
Nature Magazine surveyed over 1100 research leaders (link in the comments below) and found that the greatest mistakes that researchers make when applying for jobs is a lack of knowledge about the research and submitting generic responses.
Not only is this a shocking result, it's also so unnecessary. Why would researchers not be able to apply their well-developed research skills to a job application? They read about research every day, prepare research protocols and are highly knowledgeable and intelligent people......
The Nature article offers some advice to applicants:
⏩ Don't rely on the research group website, which may be out of date - look up more recent papers to find out the latest findings;
⏩ Contact the research group before applying to find out more about the role and the wider context of their research.
I have a few more suggestions:
⏩ Follow the research group leader/members and/or company on social media. Find out what their latest news is, who they're connected with, who they employ, their mission/vision, how everything fits together, etc.
⏩ Examine their website and any personal web pages to get further insights. Who are their collaborators/competitors. What are their products/services/achievements?
⏩ Use AI to investigate the industry or research sector to find out more, e.g. what does this role typically involve? Which other companies operate in this sector? How does your CV (anonymised) fit with the job requirements?
⏩ Take advantage of networking opportunities, such as conferences, seminars, alumni events and career fairs.
⏩ Craft your application so that it matches as closely as possible the keywords from the job description and requirements. Prioritise your experience and skills according to those of the employer (to do this refer back to the research advice above!).
I have sometimes heard researchers wondering whether they should remove their PhD from their CV, that perhaps they're considered to be over-qualified when they apply for posts in industry. My advice is "No!". Instead, take the time to do your research, prepare and target your applications and you are more likely to get a positive response from the employer. It's all about quality, not quantity of applications.
I hope this has been helpful, and if you have other advice please add it to the comments below.
Happy job hunting 😊
