Should I do a postdoc, or just get a job?

Post date: 2020-02-12 08:52:19

I'm wrapping up my PhD this summer (woohoo!) and need to figure out my next steps. I don't want to stay in academia - I've realized I need more separation from my work and a better work-life balance than academia can offer. However, I just won a fairly prestigious postdoc fellowship award. Should I do it?

I don't expect anyone here to have the "right" answer, but I could use some outside input. Here's some additional context:

- I would be moving back to my previous (high cost of living) city in Canada, where I worked in my field (environmental engineering) and have a fairly large network.
- I could get a job in consulting easily, which would pay more than a postdoc position. However, I don't particularly want to work in consulting, either (I've done this before and don't love it)
- What I really would prefer to do is to work within the municipal government in an engineering policy capacity, or continue to do research at one of the ministries (Health or Environment). It's hard to get into these jobs, though, and I'm not sure if I can secure one before my expected move.
- My partner is switching careers as well, so we'll likely have low income for a while.
- The postdoc pay will be bad (around $45K/year). We could make this work for a year but it will suck, especially because we're thinking of trying for a kid sometime soon?
- Speaking of which, I am a kinda old PhD grad (will be done at 34) and I don't know if I should be delaying my "grownup" job again by another year at this point.
- I need to confirm my acceptance of the fellowship within a week (I have already ignored it for a week and a half)
- I have two professors at the local university who have confirmed they would take me on if I got the fellowship. I really like them both, and I'll get to do some interesting work with them; learning new skills and using a bunch of things I picked up in my PhD. I haven't told them I got the fellowship yet. I don't want to reneg after letting them know I'll be on board, but I also think this might kind of come with the territory of postdocs?

My main reasons for accepting would be: it's better to have a job confirmed than no job, and that I think the postdoc might give me a better foot-in-the-door to my preferred career than just going back to my old consulting job. However, I'm nervous about accepting and then either a better opportunity, or my "dream job, becomes available.

Any advice, AskMe?

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