Blog
Handy bits of advice and thoughts on careers
But I’ve worked so hard. The sunk cost fallacy
I've studied all this time. I've racked up student loans. My family have supported me during my studies. I always wanted to be a scientist. Sunk costs. All phrases I have heard during one to one sessions and on development courses. Often spoken by people who start the...
How do I create a career plan?
Time for Plan Z! Career Plan, anyone? When I was a postdoc (as dinosaurs roamed the Earth and 3 Tesla body scanners were rare) the standing joke was that a career plan was simple. Do what you do now or Plan Z - leave and have a baby. Well baby nerdling is now a...
How many postdocs shall I do?
Along with "when shall I start a family?" this is the top question I get asked when working in universities. Beware anyone who gives you a magic answer to this! We are in the same territory as "how long is a piece of string?". But don't despair The Nerd Coach has some...
Do you dress for success?
Jeans. T-shirt. 80s style power suit with shoulder pads. Super hero cloak. Clothes - we all need them. Unless you work in naturist setting. But working with technical and scientific people it can often be a bit of a mine field for my clients. Don't get me wrong I love...
5 Top Tips for LinkedIn
I HATE SOCIAL MEDIA! I hear this cry often in my one to ones with technical folk. But a digital presence is required to move our careers forward. LinkedIn is currently a great way of doing that. it appears in search engine results, it's designed to be a professional,...
Be shameless
Be shameless. Be like Cersei Lannister in Games of Thrones. Both pieces of advice from a new lecturer. He was speaking on my course for researchers thinking about applying for fellowships. Be like an evil queen who is determined to get her way! Shocking advice from...