So, I’ve been stuck for years in a postdoctoral position and struggling to move towards the next level in my career: A tenure-track assistant professorship at a highly ranked engineering institution. After years giving it my all and then some, followed by rejection and poor work/life circumstances, I was ready to give up for good. For some reason, I gave it another shot this year while investigating other options.
Am I masochistic and not letting go, or not giving up for a dream I believe in?
I’ve thought about this quite a bit as I’ve searched for alternate career routes, but I think the idealism and my intrinsic motivation for philosophical/research endeavors and progress keeps me turning back to Research as my real passion. I’ve got nothing to lose in going all in and giving it one last shot, I’m finished up with my current postdoc and floating along in a pretty decent unemployment system through Switzerland until I end up somewhere. Due to finances and the wife, artistic and start-up endeavors are out at the moment. I don’t want a soul-killing corporate job either and not knowing German has definitely limited my options. So here we go, one more time at this. Let’s do it right this time.
So, what was wrong the previous times. Simple, I never believed I would have any position. There was always something that would have made me gaining any position unbelievable so far, in a way that it just wasn’t fitting. But this time I see at least one of my positions as a perfect fit where I would feel the world righted itself and all my hard work paid off if I wind up there. So, I’m going to be positive about it every day and attract the opportunity. I’m going to take care of my self and over prepare. Updates to come.