IF YOU WANT A JOB AFTER THIS POSTDOC
You need a job search strategy
Not some vague “plan,” but a rock-solid strategy you can use for EVERY job application & interview. Can’t explain WHY they should hire YOU? Let’s answer that in a 1:1 Strategy Call.
YOU’RE A BRILLIANT POSTDOC WITH AN IMPRESSIVE PUBLICATION RECORD
But that's not enough
IN THIS COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL JOB MARKET
YOUR SCIENCE MUST BE STELLAR— BUT IF IT’S YOUR ONLY STRENGTH?
Your application is just like everyone else's
AND YOU SEEM HESITANT IN JOB INTERVIEWS
YOU NEED YOUR OWN SCIENTIFIC SIGNATURE
to stand out & sell yourself in this crowded field
AND YOU CAN’T GET THAT FROM YOUR POSTDOC ADVISOR
THE RIGHT JOB SEARCH STRATEGY WILL MAKE IT
faster & easier to get a job
under this time pressure, so you can move on with your life & get back to the lab— to the work that you love
BEING A SCIENTIST IS THE BEST JOB EVER, BUT—
Academia is a funnel
IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S STEM
21(±4)%
POSTDOCS GET TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS
17(±8)%
CAREER TRANSITION FELLOWSHIPS ARE FUNDED
85(±10)%
POSTDOCS ARE STRESSED ABOUT CAREER INSTABILITY
That's why you need to sell yourself.
BUT THEY DON’T TEACH THAT IN GRAD SCHOOL
THAT’S WHY I CREATED
A 1:1 career coaching session to determine your job search strategy & revise your application to match in t<60min
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
RECOMMENDED BY SCIENTISTS FROM TOP-TIER INSTITUTIONS
Harvard University |
Columbia University |
Stanford University |
Imperial College London |
Northeastern University |
Queen Mary University of London |
VU Amsterdam |
Leiden University |
University of Amsterdam |
Harvard University | Columbia University | Stanford University | Imperial College London | Northeastern University | Queen Mary University of London | VU Amsterdam | Leiden University | University of Amsterdam |
THIS IS THE EXACT JOB SEARCH STRATEGY I USED TO
get my dream job after my second postdoc
And it’s THE most important step of the scientific job search program I developed as a professional career coach— to help postdocs like you get your dream job too
IN t<60 MIN WE’LL DITCH YOUR “PLAN” FOR A STRATEGY YOU CAN USE TO
Get your dream job
SO YOU CAN SKIP THE STRESS & UNCERTAINTY— AND MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE
01. METHOD
Here's how we do it
01 \ STEP-BY-STEP PREP
Job Search Protocols
Schedule your session & get precise protocols to prepare for your Strategy Call. Start with Protocol 1, the Search Strategy Matrix, to determine your top 3 job search strategies. Then use Protocol 2, the Application Materials List, to prepare the corresponding application.
02 \ APPLICATION ANALYSIS
Scientific Record Review
Get your CV & your 3 job search strategies analyzed the day before your Strategy Call to determine whether your scientific skillset & professional qualifications match your search parameters.
03 \ PERSONAL PROTOCOL
Conducting Your Search
Get your custom step-by-step job search protocol, based on your CV & your search constraints, 24 hours before we meet so you know exactly what we’re gonna do together & we start the call ready to roll!
04 \ 60 MIN 1:1 SESSION
Strategy Call
In our first 30 min together, we’ll revise your 3 job search strategies in a shared Google Doc. Then we’ll select the 4-part strategy with the highest probability of success, in light of your expertise, experience, skills & priorities. In the second half of the call, we’ll revise your application to match your preferred strategy.
Schedule your strategy call on a first-come, first-served basis— so you don’t have to wait until Career Lab opens in September to get a job.
I spend an hour preparing for each session, deep in the details of your professional contributions to your scientific field, to make the most of our precious time together— schedule your session when you can too
05 \ VIDEO DOWNLOAD
Session Recording
You’ll get the recording within 24 hours of our session so you can give your all to our call. You don’t need to take notes— you’ll be free to focus on revising your search strategies & editing your job application with me.
Review the session, pause & replay as many times as you need, before you submit your application.
Download the video within 48 hours & reuse the method to refine your next search strategy & write that job application to match
06 \ PERSONAL PROTOCOL
Notes & Next Steps
I’ll send you a summary of the main points we covered in our session, including any protocols, references & resources I recommended, including:
A list of the resources we discussed
My notes, ideas & suggestions
Precise protocols for your next steps
That’s all you need & you’re off to the races— fully confident that you’re doing everything right!
02. TIME
Here's how long it takes
And how long it doesn't take
NOW YOU WON’T HAVE TO DO WHAT I DID— NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THRICE
03. RESULTS
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Peer Reviews
I’VE HELPED SCIENTISTS AT EVERY CAREER STAGE IN ACADEMIA & INDUSTRY GET A JOB THEY LOVE IN A CITY THEY LOVE— AND I’LL HELP YOU TOO
“I got my faculty position in London because of you.”
FEDERICA BEGALLI
LECTURER | QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
INSIDE THE LAB
Fede's Strategy Call
Watch this clip from her Strategy Call during her second postdoc in London if you don’t have a Plan B either
“You gave me the confidence to decline the offer & go for the faculty position I really wanted.”
DARIA CAPECE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | UNIVERSITY OF L’AQUILA
INSIDE THE LAB
Daria's Review
Watch this clip from her Scientific Record Review during her first postdoc at Imperial if you’re considering an offer you don’t really want
“I aced the interview & got the job! And the 150K I asked for, because you taught me to sell myself.”
SARAH
SENIOR SCIENTIST | BOSTON
INSIDE THE LAB
Sarah's Next Steps
See what Sarah did after her Strategy Call during her first postdoc at Stanford if you don’t feel well-prepared for industry job interviews
MY DOOR IS OPEN— COME ON IN
You're next
Let’s determine your search strategy & revise your job application to match in t<60 min.
04. MONEY
Here's how much it costs
€597 FOR ONE LASER FOCUS SESSION
You could take years to do it yourself
(or get help from university career coaches who’ve never done it themselves) & put your life on hold until you get through the stress & uncertainty— LIKE I DID
OR YOU COULD DO WHAT I WISH I COULD’VE DONE—
take the shortcut
THROUGH THE HARDEST CAREER TRANSITION YOU’LL EVER MAKE
FOR THE COST OF A CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE
The average starting salary of tenure-track faculty & senior research scientists is €90(±10)K [n>2000], so
€597 is 10% of your first month's salary
IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF TRIAL & ERROR
but you don't have money
for the step-by-step shortcut for every stage of your job search, all you REALLY need is the right search strategy— and a 1:1 Laser Focus Session could be just the thing for you
05. PROTOCOL
Here's how to start
01 / SCHEDULE
Schedule your strategy call
If this sounds like exactly what you need to get your dream job without the stress, choose a day & time that works for you & book your Strategy Call.
02 / PREPARE
Write your job search strategy
Accept my calendar invite & download your Job Search Protocols. Complete Protocol 1, the Search Strategy Matrix (t<20min).
Review Protocol 2, the Application Materials List (t<10min). We’ll write the relevant Methods & Materials section together on your 1:1 Strategy Call— you ONLY need to submit a draft of 1) your top search strategy & 2) the matching CV in Step 3.
1.5 \ PRE-PREPARE
Extra credit for the chronically over-prepared
Need a clear understanding of my Scientific Career Strategy Method before you schedule your Strategy Call— so you’ll know exactly how long you need to prepare properly?
If you’re in the networking stage of your job search (and if you’re a scientist, you’re always in the networking stage), complete Step 1 of my free Networking Protocol for Postdocs (page 6).
If you’re at the interview stage of your job search, complete Step 2 of my free Interview Preparation Checklist.
03 / SUBMIT
Submit your CV for reiew
Click the link my calendar invite to submit your CV for review. Make sure I’ve got it 48 hours before our call.
I USED TO SCHEDULE BACK-TO-BACK 1:1 SESSIONS WITH
30 postdocs & senior PhD students a week
BUT THAT WAS EXHAUSTING— SO NOW
I only schedule 4 coaching sessions a week
so I can’t always do Laser Focus Sessions— but I am doing them right now! So if you’re ready to nail your job search strategy & get your dream job, let’s schedule it now!
SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION TODAY
What you get
Search Strategy & Job Application Protocols
Scientific Record Review
Personal Step-by-Step Job Search Protocol
Priority Scheduling
60 min 1:1 Strategy Call
Session Recording & Resources
Notes & Next Steps
Today's Price: €597
I’VE GOT YOUR BACK [SO YOU CAN GET YOUR JOB]
The Quantum Leap Guarantee
The correct search strategy will get you a job you love faster & easier than the wrong one or (worse yet) none at all— and that’s worth 1-2 orders of magnitude more than the cost of your Laser Focus session.
At the end of our call, I'll ask you my signature question: did you get what you need & was it worth the cost? If the answer is no, then I haven’t done my job— and I’ll refund every penny. (The refund rate is r<0.01, but I know you’re an outlier…even for a physicist.)
Say yes & I'll email you the Google doc, recording, resources, notes, & next steps— and you’ll be ready to roll!
06. INTRODUCTION
welcome
I'm Kathy Chaurasiya
PHYSICIST & CAREER COACH FOR SCIENTISTS
I help scientists create a career & a life that you love
I’ve got a PhD in physics & I spent 13 years in the lab. I know what it takes to get your PhD, to move yet again for your international postdocs, to spend years interviewing for a job you love in a city you love…because that’s what I did.
When I got my dream job, I combined my scientific expertise & professional coach training to create a complete, step-by-step
Scientific job search program
TO HELP YOU GET YOURS TOO
01 / STRENGTHS
What do you do that no one else does?
02 / SEARCH
What jobs require that skillset?
03 / STRATEGY
How can you get those jobs?
04 / APPLICATION
Can you show that in writing?
05 / NETWORK
Can you explain that in meetings?
06 / INTERVIEW
Can you prove that in job interviews?
I’VE USED MY PROGRAM TO HELP SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD GET THEIR DREAM JOB
>50
POSTDOCS & PHD STUDENTS
5
DISCIPLINES & DEPARTMENTS
7
CAREER TRANSITIONS
And I'll help you too— because that's my dream job.
AND I’M READY TO DO THE JOB I LOVE. ARE YOU?
EVERY SCIENTIFIC JOB SEARCH REQUIRES ALL 6 STEPS, BUT
your search strategy is the rate-limiting step
AND MOST POSTDOCS & PHD STUDENTS
Get everything they need for a successful job search
JUST BY TAKING THAT ONE STEP
THAT’S GREAT FOR THEM—
But will it work for you?
LASER FOCUS WILL WORK FOR YOU IF
You’re starting your faculty search & there’s so few positions in the field that you need to get your application right the first time
Your Plan B is transitioning to industry but you have no strategy & no network
You’re spending too much time writing your applications & you need detailed feedback & real-time revisions
You’re ready to submit— you just need an unbiased peer review to show you the holes & help you fill them
You’ve got a job interview coming up & you need to explain why they should hire you
You left your postdoc early because of discrimination or harassment so you get questions about the gap in your publication record
You’re not getting the offers you want at the salary you need & you don’t know why
LASER FOCUS IS NOT FOR YOU IF
You’re NOT a research scientist
You’ll get your PhD in >3 years (+/- never)
You’re a postdoc in a soft-money position for >10 years (+/- forever)
You’re happy with your successful scientific career that fits your life perfectly
Your job search is exactly on track & you have the quantitative results to prove it
You have 1) plenty of time to search the Internet for free advice on how to get a job & 2) the job search skills & self-discipline to do the work on your own without personalized expert feedback
You’re so busy that you can’t commit to attending the session & revising your application
You don’t have the skills to accept & implement feedback & improve your application to the level required for a successful scientific job hunt
07. DISCUSSION
Here's when it will work for you
(AND WHEN IT WON’T WORK & WHAT TO DO INSTEAD)
FROM THE STRESSED POSTDOC WHOSE CONTRACT IS ENDING
“I can't spend money because I won't have a job in 3 months.”
I understand— because I made the same mistake. Postdocs often start career coaching after their contract ends because Plan A (getting a faculty position) requires so much effort that we don’t have the energy to even consider Plan B— much less calculate 3 smart search strategies. If that sounds like you, Step 1 is free— use my Networking Protocol for Postdocs to formulate your strategy & start your search. I also have a weekly seminar series on YouTube— tune in for free guidance on additional topics with detailed examples.
FROM THE POOR POSTDOC WHOSE HARVARD SALARY DOESN’T EVEN COVER BOSTON RENT
“I can't afford it.”
I get it— my postage-stamp apartments in Boston, London & Amsterdam cost more than a house in Seattle. I recommend getting a second postdoc because 1) you can’t network in the 2 weeks before your contract ends, and 2) applying for jobs when you can’t pay the bills is not only stressful— it also doesn’t work that well. It’s like making your parachute 2 min before jumping out of the plane.
I recommend this from both personal & professional experience— I started my own job search too late & I’ve been a career coach for postdocs who made the same mistakes I did. I know how fear kills your confidence, destroys your motivation, hurts your interviews & harms your negotiations. You’re welcome to schedule a session anyway, but our first step is to cover your living expenses so fear isn’t flying the plane.
FROM THE SELF-HELPIAN POSTDOC COLLECTING CAREER COURSES [OR IS THAT JUST ME?]
“How is this different than what I get for free from the university?”
I LOVE university career development courses— I took them ALL as a PhD student & postdoc! But I still didn’t get a job before the end of my contract. (Thrice.)
That’s not just the competitive scientific job market & my search constraints— it’s also because the programs were too general to cover my industry job search. I was well-prepared for my faculty search, but no one knew what my expertise was worth outside academia— and that left me 1) scared of not getting the job at faculty interviews & 2) hesitant & unable to sell myself at industry interviews.
I wanted a career coach with 1) a PhD in my field who’d done it herself & knew the job market enough to correct my job applications, and 2) the professional coach training required to give feedback on industry interviews. I never got what I wanted— so I made it myself. And that’s what this is.
FROM THE SMART POSTDOC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE ACADEMIC SYSTEM
“Can I get my career coaching session reimbursed?”
Most universities support postdoc professional development & have a budget to help you find your next job, which you can use to get reimbursed.
In the US, this is called a Professional Transition Scholarship & funded by your department.
In the UK, this is called a Redundancy Payment & funded by your research institute (and it is only available to postdocs who finish their contract).
In NL, this is called a Transition Payment (transitievergoeding in Dutch) & funded by your faculty. The amount is determined by your salary & the length of your contract, and there is a calculator (only in Dutch) on the government’s website.
FROM THE PRACTICAL POSTDOC SPENDING MONEY ON EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES
“Is this worth my time & money?”
Like most postdocs, I need to justify spending time & money on myself. But career coaching is not like buying a new car. It’s like buying a new house— it costs money now but saves money later & makes WAY more money as a function of time.
My threshold for hiring a career coach is: “If I follow the program & get the result I came for, will I save or make 1-2 orders of magnitude more money than the cost of the sessions?” By this metric, getting your next job faster because of our 1:1 Laser Focus session will save you >€6,000 in the short term & earn you >€60,000 over the long term.
FOR THE MULTITASKING POSTDOC WRITING GRANTS & RUNNING THE LAB
“How long does it take? I don't have time.”
Agreed. You’ll always make more money— but time is unidirectional. Schedule 3 hours in your calendar for your Laser Focus Session. Here’s why you need 3 hours:
It will take you 15 min to schedule your session, 30 min to write your top 3 search strategies (10 min/strategy) & 15 min to submit your CV for review.
The day before our Strategy Call, you will receive your Scientific Record Review to assess whether your qualifications match your search parameters. It will take you 30 min to review my feedback & prepare your questions.
This allows us to spend every second of our 60 min together working on your search strategy & application materials.
Schedule 30 min after the call to review the recording & adjust your job search methods to be consistent with your job search strategy.
FROM THE PLANNER POSTDOC WHO NEVER PROCRASTINATES
“How long before I start do I need to schedule this?”
To be blunt, clients who solidify their job search strategy a year before their postdoc ends are typically more successful than “my contract ends tomorrow” & “I need a job yesterday” types (you know the ones— for example, me). The better-late-than-never approach to career coaching worked for me…but I recommend do-as-I-say NOT do-as-I-did, if that option is still available to you.
FROM THE SENIOR POSTDOC WHO SHOULD HAVE STARTED YESTERDAY
“I'm on my second postdoc. How long will this take & when can we start?”
The rate-limiting step is time. You can’t microwave your search strategy, so it’s unlikely you’ll get your dream job in a week. I recommend starting your scientific job search 1 year before your contract ends because 1) there are so few positions available where you want to live, 2) you’re in a highly competitive job market & 3) you can’t build a robust professional network overnight.
If you’re under time pressure, a Laser Focus Session is the fastest & most efficient option because your meeting is scheduled first-come first-served based on my calendar. Career Lab, my step-by-step scientific job search course for postdocs, only runs once a year from September to November. If you need to start networking & applying now, Single Scientist Career Lab, my tailored 1:1 career coaching program, takes only 6 weeks to complete.
FROM THE PERFECTIONIST POSTDOC WHOSE PHD TOOK 7 YEARS [JUST ME AGAIN?]
“What if my CV isn't done yet?”
That’s great news! I’d much rather have an imperfect application using the correct job search strategy than a perfect application completed with the wrong search strategy! Submit what you have so far & we’ll get it done.
Your first priority is to send me any advertised positions you’re considering, along with a draft of your CV & cover letter. Your research proposal, teaching statement or LinkedIn profile comes second.
Professional Tip: Use the structured templates from Career Lab or LinkedIn Lab (email me if the right course for your search strategy is unclear) to write your job search materials & I promise you’ll have everything you need to apply by the end of our call!
FROM THE OVERACHIEVER POSTDOC ARMED WITH PLAN A, B, C, D & E
“My top strategy is correct with p>0.8. I want to work on something else.”
Well done! Submit your job search strategy & your CV, and we’ll move on to your next step! Here’s the list of job search stages I’ll ask you to choose from so I can provide the scientific expertise & structured support required to solve the right problem in 60 min:
Your Strengths & Skillset
Scientific Job Market Review
Job Application: CV, Cover Letter, Research Proposal, Teaching Statement & Online Presence (LinkedIn Profile, Website, Social Media & Search)
Networking & Applying
Interviewing & Negotiating
Indian Food, Portuguese Wine & Italian Opera
Training & Transition Strategy
FROM THE SELF-RELIANT SKEPTIC/PHYSICIST WHO DOESN’T NEED HELP
“What if I hate it & it doesn't work— and I've paid money for it?”
The correct search strategy will get you a job you love faster & easier than the wrong one or (worse yet) none at all— and that’s worth 1-2 orders of magnitude more than the cost of the call.
That’s my Quantum Leap Guarantee. At the end of 60 min, I'll ask you my signature question: did you get what you need & was it worth the cost?
If the answer is no, then I haven’t done my job— and I’ll refund every penny. (The refund rate is r<0.01, but I know you’re an outlier…even for a physicist.)
Say yes & I'll email you the Google doc, recording, resources, notes, & next steps— and you’ll be ready to roll!
FROM THE UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVER WHO WANTS TO BE A TOUR GUIDE ON PLUTO
“I'm a [highly specialized field no one's ever heard of] scientist & I want a job in [middle of nowhere, population 12 + 2 cows & 1 gas station].”
My programs are designed specifically for scientists in my own fields of research (physics, biology & chemistry) looking for positions in job markets I know like the back of my hand (US, UK & Europe). This is because evaluating your career strategy & revising your application materials accordingly requires BOTH kinds of expertise.
However, nearly half of my 1:1 clients are non-scientists who have been referred by their colleagues because my scientific approach is also highly effective for high-achieving professionals such as entrepreneurs, CEOs & CMOs at the top of their respective fields. If this sounds like you, you are welcome to schedule a Laser Focus Session to develop an effective strategy to navigate your career transition.
FROM THE ACCOMPLISHED POSTDOC COLLECTING SCIENCE & NATURE PAPERS
“I'm writing a career transition fellowship to get a tenure-track faculty position. Is this for me?”
If you’ve nailed your job search strategy and decided your job search method requires writing a fellowship or starting grant to fund your independent research group at a host institution that will offer you a proleptic appointment— congratulations! A proposal strategy is your next priority, and a Time Warp Session may be a better fit at this stage in your faculty search.
FROM THE AMBITIOUS NEW PHD STUDENT STILL CONSIDERING A POSTDOC
“I'm a new PhD student. Will this help me?”
Congratulations— I’m impressed that you’re thinking so far ahead! I wish I had considered my career strategy as a new PhD student! I created Laser Focus specifically for postdocs or senior PhD students who have the well-established research skills required for a scientific job hunt, but—
you’re welcome to schedule a session, especially if you’re planning to transition to industry after your PhD. If you’re planning to do a postdoc, the next step in your scientific career does NOT require the advanced level of search, networking & interviewing skills that we cover in this strategy call.
FROM THE TRAVELING POSTDOC LIVING & WORKING AROUND THE WORLD
“I can't find a time that fits my schedule.”
If none of the times in my calendar suit your schedule or your time zone, schedule a quick Questions Call with me below, or email me at kathy@kathy.science with your request, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your job interview schedule.
FROM THE CURIOUS POSTDOC WHO KNOWS A SCIENTIST’S JOB IS TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
“I have a different question.”
I’m happy to answer ALL your scientific questions— just schedule a quick Questions Call with me below or email me kathy@kathy.science.
For administrative questions, please email my executive assistant at ashwini@kathy.science.
08. CONCLUSIONS
I’M NO MATHEMATICIAN— BUT I’VE DONE ENOUGH POSTDOCS & COACHED ENOUGH POSTDOCS TO KNOW
the numbers don't lie
LET’S NAIL YOUR SEARCH STRATEGY SO YOU CAN
Get your dream job— without the stress
SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION TODAY
What you get
Search Strategy & Job Application Protocols
Scientific Record Review
Personal Step-by-Step Job Search Protocol
Priority Scheduling
60 min 1:1 Strategy Call
Session Recording & Resources
Notes & Next Steps
Today's Price: €597
© 2023 KATHY CHAURASIYA CAREER LAB & YOGA SHALA | KONINGINNEWEG 157, 1075 CN Amsterdam | KVK 87168391 | BTW NL004368243B83 | PRIVACY & TERMS