<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: All Graduate Students Should Own this Book
Review: A large number of students (and postdocs?) within the sciences are not overly happy with research as a career, but say wistfully; "What else could I do?"Well, there are TWENTY THREE 'alternative' careers in here, written by people who have made the transition. Each job is described in terms of information about how to make the transition, what a typical day is like, and honest assessments of positives and negatives of each career. There's also recommendations for how to position yourself for the transition. You may not find your 'dream job' in here, but even then you will learn about the wide possibilites which are available to you. You may decide not to switch careers, in which case you'll have learned enough to be more sure in your decision.
Rating: 
Summary: All in all, a good reference
Review: All in all, this book is a valuable reference for those pursuing biology and NOT intending to get an MD or to slave away for minimal pay at an academic lab bench. The 23 stories presented in this book are clear, concise, and candid. It's very refreshing to know that there really is an answer to the question, "If you're not pre-med, what are you going to do with a biology degree?" My only complaint is that all of the people who discuss their careers in the book already have advanced degrees (such as PhDs or MDs). I am still pursuing my undergraduate biology degree and have no desire to obtain advanced degrees that I won't really need! If the book were perfect, it would offer more direction to undergraduates on how to go about getting into these "alternative" career fields.
Rating:
Summary: All in all, a good reference
Review: All in all, this book is a valuable reference for those pursuing biology and NOT intending to get an MD or to slave away for minimal pay at an academic lab bench. The 23 stories presented in this book are clear, concise, and candid. It's very refreshing to know that there really is an answer to the question, "If you're not pre-med, what are you going to do with a biology degree?" My only complaint is that all of the people who discuss their careers in the book already have advanced degrees (such as PhDs or MDs). I am still pursuing my undergraduate biology degree and have no desire to obtain advanced degrees that I won't really need! If the book were perfect, it would offer more direction to undergraduates on how to go about getting into these "alternative" career fields.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my working life for the better.
Review: As a recent Biology Ph.D. graduate, I am fortunate to have found this book about 1 year before graduation. I have always enjoyed biology, but my heart was just not in research, poring over the same project and data, day in and day out, 50 hours a week. Biology Ph.D.'s are, unfortunately, trained with tunnel vision in terms of career development. You are lead down a research path, and graduation represents a fork in the road: You can choose a life of academia following your mandatory postdocs, or you can immediately enter industry, following your mandatory postdocs.
For those who don't know, a postdoc is a type of internship following your graduation. You are the personal Igor for the head of the lab (usually a professor at a university or medical school). Hours are typically 6 days a week, 60 hours minimum, and earns about $35,000. You work on at lest 2-3 projects for the lab, and are expected to assist in training the new graduate students as well. In addition, you are expected to find your own grant money.
After the extreme stress of graduate work had been completed, call me crazy, but I decided an increase in stress was not what I wanted. Don't get me wrong; for those who love research, this is heaven, but not for me.
A year prior to graduation, I found this book. In my multiple years of study, no one had ever mentioned a sentence about any of the career options mentioned here, ALL of which were accessible to a Ph.D. student. About two dozen career options are mentioned here, from clinical research, to broadcast journalism, to sales...lots. Every career is discussed in detail from a personal account of someone who actually works in the field. Everything is discussed, from salary, hours, a typical day, to extra training and advancement opportunities.
This book did nothing short of change my career outlook from a pessimistic view of my science career to a wonderful new career in medical writing...earning twice as much as the postdoc I quit after one week. (If this doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of other choices in this book.)
The book does not discuss EVERY option. The job I have now was not mentioned initially in the book. However, it opened my eyes, and got me started in this path. Spend the cash and buy it. Consider it a cheaper version of going to a great career counselor....or a psychiatrist.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my working life for the better.
Review: As a recent Biology Ph.D. graduate, I am fortunate to have found this book about 1 year before graduation. I have always enjoyed biology, but my heart was just not in research, poring over the same project and data, day in and day out, 50 hours a week. Biology Ph.D.'s are, unfortunately, trained with tunnel vision in terms of career development. You are lead down a research path, and graduation represents a fork in the road: You can choose a life of academia following your mandatory postdocs, or you can immediately enter industry, following your mandatory postdocs.
For those who don't know, a postdoc is a type of internship following your graduation. You are the personal Igor for the head of the lab (usually a professor at a university or medical school). Hours are typically 6 days a week, 60 hours minimum, and earns about $35,000. You work on at lest 2-3 projects for the lab, and are expected to assist in training the new graduate students as well. In addition, you are expected to find your own grant money.
After the extreme stress of graduate work had been completed, call me crazy, but I decided an increase in stress was not what I wanted. Don't get me wrong; for those who love research, this is heaven, but not for me.
A year prior to graduation, I found this book. In my multiple years of study, no one had ever mentioned a sentence about any of the career options mentioned here, ALL of which were accessible to a Ph.D. student. About two dozen career options are mentioned here, from clinical research, to broadcast journalism, to sales...lots. Every career is discussed in detail from a personal account of someone who actually works in the field. Everything is discussed, from salary, hours, a typical day, to extra training and advancement opportunities.
This book did nothing short of change my career outlook from a pessimistic view of my science career to a wonderful new career in medical writing...earning twice as much as the postdoc I quit after one week. (If this doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of other choices in this book.)
The book does not discuss EVERY option. The job I have now was not mentioned initially in the book. However, it opened my eyes, and got me started in this path. Spend the cash and buy it. Consider it a cheaper version of going to a great career counselor....or a psychiatrist.
Rating:
Summary: All Graduate Students Should Own this Book
Review: This book offers ideas and support for the professional tired of their present career, no matter how successful. It was a real boost in my "ego-arm" to read this book. Sometimes it is lonely when making big changes and it helps to talk to someone who has been there.
<< 1 >>
|
