Maybe some of us aren’t lucky enough to be an institution or employer’s first pick. Somehow, this past month I was.
I received my bachelors in psychology with a minor in neuro. I even had a research internship my senior year. For almost a year now I’ve been searching for a research position at a hospital or university for months. I’d say I’ve sent over 60 applications in the span of 8 months. Doesn’t seem like much, but when grad school requires some specialized training, you need to be choosy.
Searching for jobs was miserable. Not hearing back from anyone for months was demoralizing. Feeling the tiniest amount of happiness when I received a clear rejection was pathetic. Needless to say, it felt hopeless and like my skills were unwanted. Clinical research often seems only to value those who already have years and years of experience in niche populations or disciplines. There’s also the incredibly frustrating desire for applicants to hold degrees in public health or psychology while also miraculously having experience and skills in computer programming and coding. No one I’ve met from my program or the neuroscience program just has that kind of experience.
Finally I decided to go full steam ahead after realizing how much I hated my current job (regulatory aspect of clinical trials) and how badly I needed something new that I could be passionate about. That’s when I applied to positions all over the country, not unheard of for academia, but completely out of my comfort zone. Within a day or two I had three interviews, one of which eventually offered me a job.
I accepted the offer, which was fully remote, over a 26% pay increase, guaranteed publications and a division at one of the most prestigious universities in the US.
These positions have so much competition in terms of applicants. Somehow this PI saw my experience and decided she was interested. I’ll give credit to my undergrad GPA, my internship and my current job, but it isn’t lost on me that a lot of what got me this job was luck. Especially in times like this when everyone in vying for the same job in research as a stepping stone to grad school, the role of luck should never be forgotten.
After feeling like I would never break into this kind of research, research that I can be passionate about, research that will hopefully launch me into my career, it’s almost overwhelming to have someone see something in your skills. And if you’re trying to pursue a PhD or a job in research to get you there, don’t stop trying. I know how it feels to be overlooked and ignored, but if you keep going then maybe it’ll be your turn to be lucky too.
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