I really dislike this completely empty advice: "publish, publish, publish". In almost any conversation about career issues, someone is bound to say it or something similar. Isn't publishing critical for success for almost any research career?
Publish, publish, publish? Oh, so that's the key to solving my two-body problem? If only I had known sooner. You mean that's all I have to do to be competitive for funding and jobs? No problem! I'll get right on it.
While I'm at it, I think I'll eat less and move more. Oh, and I can buy low and sell high, too. Life is so simple!
16 comments:
LOL - Love the post.
How about "network, network, network"?
yeah... life is exactly that simple! ^^
(where I am right now there is an abundance of "if you just had a positivt outlook on life, all will be good".
And of course, "just accept that you just want to stay home and be a supportive wife then there is no two-body problem" huh. simple, yes, you got it.)
I thought the solution to the two-body problem was "location, location, location." ;)
Yes! totally agree!
I've been to lots of "how to get a job in science" seminars where the advice comes down to "publish lots in high impact places". Absolutely useless advice - no one in grad school plans to publish very few papers in low-impact journals (or thought that would be a great career move)
Oh I hate it too. My advisor, generally a nice guy, is pretty obsessed by publishing a Nature paper. I could not care less about Nature. Or about writing up stupid data sets just "so the data is out".
I think the best career advice is "be lucky". Good luck with that.
Nina> haha, that's priceless.
That reminds me, last career seminar I went to one of the speakers said "the most important thing for you career women is to find a good partner who won't mind you aren't taking care of the house" . . .
(i agree that it probably is a good thing to have a partner who understands things like sharing household chores etc but 'most important thing' and 'picking partners'... ehh...)
The advice is annoying, but I do think publications impacts a two body problem at some level? More pubs = more flexibility in the job search ('cause you're more in demand?) That was always my attitude when I had a two body problem but I could have just been avoiding addressing my real relationship problems ;)
Oh Gee. I wish someone had told me about this a while ago. I mean, I figured that if I kept all my data a secret it would become more valuable over time. Like wine. Or scotch. It's good that I can now recognize the error of my ways. Sigh.
GMP- thanks!
hgg - true. And perhaps not as much easier said than done as "publish, publish, publish"
Chall - of course! you just need to be happier, and then you'll be happier. duh.
DBH- true as well!
Anon - exactly!
Nina- "be lucky" is about as meaningful. Love it!
PG - of course lots of pubs helps a two body problem. But lots of pubs help just about everything in a research career, right? It's not that I disagree at all that it's important to publish, just that the advice is not specific enough to be useful. BTW, I'm having so much trouble with your RSS feed. boo!
Amanda - LOL! If data are like fine wine, then most of my results should be getting pretty tasty by now. :)
You forgot the "just get grant money" part.
But Nina really nailed, I think: just be lucky.
LOL =)
LOL! This is hilarious!
And I have a bridge to sell you, too!
I find it really hard not to be a smart ass in these situations and reply with "Oooohhhh, I didn't know publishing papers was important. I thought my winning smile was all I would need to make it in academia."
I've been told to "get a good mate" -- and initially understood "maid", which was confusing as the previous part of the conversation was about that...
Bean-mom - good point! I'll just go ahead and get some funding and then I'll be all set. :)
Thanks Caroline!
JF, I'll take it.
MXX, it's tough nice to be a smart ass sometimes. That's why I'm glad I have a blog.
Amelie, that is hysterical! You raise a good point - this kind of useless advice gets preached in all types of situations. Lame!
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