Reevaluating Your Science Career in 2015
Posted November 10th, 2014
When was the last time you sat down and really evaluated your career? This is an important aspect of professional development because it can help you prepare for change before it comes, seize opportunities as soon as they appear, and achieve your long-term professional goals faster. If it has been a while, use these tips to help you reevaluate your science career:
Research Compensation Trends
There are a variety of resources that make it easy for you to research what other professionals with similar jobs earn throughout the country. Don’t rely on your company to keep pace with industry trends. Do your own research and find out how competitive your compensation really is. If you are undervalued, consider looking of a new job or making a case for a raise. If you are overvalued, you might want to reconsider your job search.
Analyze Your Skills in Context
Imagine that it is 10 or 20 years in the future. Will your skills be more or less in demand? If you are working in a science career whose utility is on the decline, you might find yourself struggling to find work sooner than you would like. Make professional development a serious priority before your skills start to become irrelevant.
Look Past the Numbers
When reevaluating your career, it can be too easy to get caught up in the numbers. Look past your salary and consider how your job affects your overall happiness and the happiness of your family. Do you like the people you work with? Do you have the work-life balance you are looking for? Do you live in a part of the country you like? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it might be time to move on, no matter how much you make.
Identify Agents of Change
What factors will affect your career in coming years? Will a new technology change the way you work? Is your company likely to be sold, or at risk of going under? Are you in line for a promotion, or is this a distant hope? The sooner you identify these factors, and the closer you consider their implications, the better positioned you will be for whatever comes next.
Speak to Those in the Know
A career reevaluation doesn’t have to be a solitary process. Enlist the perspective of people that know you, know your company, and know your industry. They may be able to add valuable insights that you would never notice simply because you are too close to the situation. Just be sure to solicit perspectives intelligently. Going to your direct superior and questioning the future of the company can raise concerns about your loyalty and commitment.
If you have spent some time reevaluating your career and decided to make a change, partner with a team that can point you where you want to go. Contact a science-staffing specialist from Bayside Solutions at your earliest convenience.
