A postdoc position is a critical step in the classical academic career path, and an effective job search requires significant time. Ideally, you should start planning 12-18 months in advance, with the exact timeline depending on the funding situation. To increase your chances of landing your desired postdoc position, we encourage to be proactive:

• identify research areas that genuinely excite you, reflect on the supervision styles and lab environments that suit you, consider the skills you want to develop, and think about the locations where you would be happy living.
• search for labs that are a good fit and subscribe to any relevant job mailing lists for your research field.
• identify independent postdoctoral fellowships that you are eligible to apply for.
• decide on a timeline for reaching out to group leaders with unsolicited applications and for applying to advertised positions.

See below for our slides, handouts, and resources to plan your postdoc job search.

For group leader/principal investigator (PI) positions, it is helpful to understand how the academic track varies across different countries and come up with a tailored strategy before applying. Deciding when to start applying depends on several factors, including the status of your postdoc work, career stage, track record of research outputs, future research plans, and field. To facilitate your job search and the future application process, we encourage you to consider the following actions during your postdoc: 

• making a list of potential institutions where your research fits.
• building connections by attending conferences and joining scientific societies. 
• seeking advice from mentors and colleagues who have successfully navigated similar job searches.
• reaching out to group leaders at institutions or in countries of interest to learn about their work, potential job openings and the application process. 
• reflecting on how you want to be perceived in your scientific community and creating a personal website to communicate your scientific vision, research interests, and achievements. 
• considering social media presence to engage with scientific peers and enhance your visibility.

See below for our slides, handouts, and resources to learn how to increase your competitiveness to secure a group leader position.

An effective non-academic job search starts with a clear strategy. Begin by assessing how likely it is to find the positions you are interested in within your chosen geographic location. If opportunities are limited, consider whether you might widen your search, either now or at a later stage.

Different job search strategies have different advantages and may be more effective for certain types of roles. For example, applying to widely advertised positions is straightforward but often highly competitive. Engaging with recruiters, in contrast, can provide access to roles that require specialist or in-demand skills.

Build an action plan and consider which of the following actions you should prioritize:

• identifying potential companies or organisations, and searching for biotech clusters and  science parks to find less visible companies. 
• signing up for job vacancy mailing lists.
• sending speculative applications.
• leveraging networking opportunities and attending career fairs and local career events.
• updating and consolidating your social media presence.
• letting recruiters know of your job preferences.

See below for our slides, handouts, and resources to plan your non-academic job search.