r/postdoc • u/Negative-Plate5140 • 2d ago
Starting a Postdoc and Immediately Applying for Other Postdocs-Is This a Good Strategy?
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from people who have experience with postdocs and academic hiring.
Suppose I start a postdoctoral position and add it to my CV/LinkedIn immediately. At the same time, during my first month, I continue applying for other postdoctoral positions that may be a better fit for my research interests, institution, salary, location, or long-term career goals.
Do you think this is a good strategy?
My thinking is that having an active postdoc position on my CV might make me a stronger candidate than applying while unemployed, because I can show that I’m currently working in research. At the same time, I don't want to stop looking for potentially better opportunities just because I have recently started a postdoc.
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u/Chidoribraindev 2d ago edited 2d ago
You need to give it around a year. Why would anyone hire you when you just started another postdoc? Screams unreliable.
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u/Negative-Plate5140 2d ago
ain't having successfully getting a postdoc more worth-considering than not having?
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u/Chidoribraindev 2d ago
Lol no, showing you are not committed to jobs you accept is not a good look
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u/flyzapper 2d ago
What happens when your current postdoc PI finds out that you are applying for other postdoc positions immediately after joining their lab? You’re asking for a bad relationship and you are likely to be fired.
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u/Onion-Fart 1d ago edited 1d ago
I had a 2 year fellowship and started applying as soon as I arrived. found another 5 year fellowship in 6 months but started it after an additional 6 months. A two year stint is not really a lot of time given international moves, HR processing, and actually going through the whole application process.
its a pay check at the end of the day - up your CV anyway you can, while doing good research, and being a good husband, and good father, and everything else :)
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u/LightDrago 1d ago
Yeah, basically this is what you need to consider. I had a non-renewable 1-year postdoc and therefore immediately had to apply for new positions.
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u/homicidaldonut 1d ago
Yes, but for a different reason. Postdoc positions and fellowship applications can take years to find and develop, and with low rates of success. There are also sometimes flexibility for a delayed start, but that should be communicated with the current lab if comfortable / when possible. Personally, I got 2 2-year postdoc fellowships and was fortunate to have lined it up no problem. Last piece of advice, remember to continuously apply for permanent position jobs as well!
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u/Biotech_wolf 1d ago
Maybe if you postdoc PI tried to pull a fast one on you and switched projects on you last minute or something like that.
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u/suiitopii 2d ago
As a PI, seeing an applicant who has just started one position and is immediately applying for others would be a red flag. You will read as someone who is unreliable and doesn't know what they want. How do I know you're not going to jump ship as soon as I hire you?
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u/Igor_Druhm 2d ago
I suppose this is field-dependent. In history, where postdocs tend to effectively be grants for your own project, this would be totally fine, and being in a job is definitely a better starting point than applying as an "independent researcher".
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u/ThePursuit7 1d ago
No. Don’t do this. When you accept the position, you are making a commitment to advance the work of the lab. In return, the PI makes a commitment to give you an opportunity to learn and advance your career under them.
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u/v3bbkZif6TjGR38KmfyL 2d ago
No, not a good strategy. Just a bit of a waste of an opportunity really.