I'm considering a specific postdoc; should I do it?

Once you've decided that doing a postdoc makes sense for you (perhaps with help from our handy reflection guide!), you will also want to evaluate whether a specific position is right for you. OCPD is here to help with more reflection questions, and individualized and group support.

Postdoctoral positions vary as much as the people who do them! Use the drop-downs below to consider your specific goals and needs for a postdoc position.

Expand this list and reflect on what you need from your postdoc experience in terms of goals and outcomes:

There are different kinds of postdoc positions to meet different training needs. For example, a postdoc that prepares you for a research-intensive faculty career is different than a postdoc that enables you to explore different career paths. Start by asking if this is the right type of postdoc for the experience you need. Learn more about the types and reflect on what you know using the video and exercises in The Strategic Postdoc - Start at the End.

In addition, consider whether this postdoc position will:

  • Provide training to develop specific new skills you'll need for your next step?
  • Let you build additional experience in a new subject or cement your expertise in a particular subject matter?
  • Give you an opportunity to build valuable networking connections?
  • Give you a foot in the door at an institution you are interested in working at longer term?
  • Lead to valuable publication opportunities?
  • Provide protected time to apply for grants and fellowships or to prepare to apply for faculty positions and other jobs?
  • Have mentorship structures in place that work for you?
  • Allow you to build management experience?
  • Involve an appropriate balance of administrative work for your goals?
  • Provide time and resources for you to take courses, attend conferences, or complete other training?
  • Involve building valuable teaching experience?
  • Allow you to engage in service projects and with groups that are important to you?
Reflect on this list to consider whether the environment of a particular postdoc is a good fit for you:
  • What are the characteristics of the job environment you want?
  • If the postdoc were going to start tomorrow, how would you feel about it?
  • Do students and postdocs have a good experience? What makes it a good experience for them?
  • How do the responsibilities or work of postdocs differ from responsibilities or work of PhD students in the group?
  • What does the PI do to foster the team environment and collaboration?
  • How long do postdocs typically stay postdocs before transitioning?
  • Reflect on what you know about the mentorship, work styles, community, and other environmental supports that have worked best for you in your career so far. How are those present in this opportunity? 
  • For additional support in reflecting on your skills, interests, and values, try these tools: MyIDP / Imagine PhD.

You can often learn about the lab or research group from your prospective PI, current and former lab/research group members, and from your propective PI's current or former research collaborators. This can happen as part of a formal interview process or, less formally, through networking connections. Learn about a practice called informational interviewing that can help you get answers.

Keep in mind, any hiring process (formal or informal) is also an opportunity for you assess your potential supervisor and workplace. Read about Using the Interview to Avoid a Toxic Position from our Workplace Navigation series.

Are you considering multiple options?

Try out our Opportunity Comparisons Matrix! This tool can help you campare multiple postdoc positions, or compare doing a postdoc with pursuing a different opportunity as your next career step. Try using some of the prompts above as your criteria.

Let us help you assess your fit

We are also here to help you work through these questions for your specific situation. Join us at our next office hours to get your questions answered in a small group setting, or schedule a 1:1 consultation with a member of our team!

This resource was based on work developed by Sarah Gallalee, PhD during her internship at the Office of Career and Professional Development in 2023. These questions were developed during conversations with 25 faculty, staff, students and postdocs with the goal of helping social and population sciences students determine if a postdoc position would be a good next step.

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