#4 Of nicknames and (successful!) job searches

[metlay <metlay () phyast pitt edu>]

I would like to add my voice to the growing number of YSN members who
think that assigning ourselves a nickname is a pointless exercise and
detracts from our credibility. Trekkies prefer the name "Trekker" but
everyone CALLS them Trekkies; we are lucky to be referred to by the
media in tones of respect up until now, and it would be dangerous to
give them a cute diminuitive with which to dismiss us.

On another note, this will be my last message to the YSN for a few
months, until I complete a move and get settled into my new job. For
those who are compiling statistics of such things, my job search in
industry consisted of six carefully crafted resumes, aimed and fired
with care, leading to one interview and no offers. On the other hand,
my job search in academia consisted of one resume, which led straight
to an interview, which led straight to a very nice offer, which I
accepted. My formula for success? Simple. An opening popped up in my
subsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubsubspecialty.

I now get to postpone the gut-churning state of unemployability for
one or two more years, but I'm hoping in the meantime to learn to
enjoy doing science again, a feeling thoroughly squelched by my time
in grad school. While I am enjoying the feeling of nailing a good job,
I am not letting myself forget that I just plain got lucky this time
around, and I know that I've only gotten myself a short reprieve.

I'll be back on the YSN looking at the job situation soon enough,
believe me. For scientists of our generation, the fear never
completely goes away....

- -- 
dr. mike metlay
physics and astronomy
university of pittsburgh
metlay () minerva phyast pitt edu

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