How to Prepare for a Research Job
Research jobs come in a variety of forms. There are jobs at all levels--research assistant, research technician, research lab tech, researcher for Google or computer researcher. You will also find research jobs in all different fields. There are research jobs in medicine, science, government and computers. The following will help you prepare for a research job.
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Instructions
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Get the proper education. Without education in the research field, you won't be able to get your foot in the door. Talk to your adviser to be sure you are getting the right courses to enter the research field of your choice.
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Work in the research field for one of your professors or get a work-study program that will aid you in finding a research position after you graduate. All experience will be helpful when you go to get a research position.
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Network to get recommendations from your professors and any one that you have worked with in the research field. You may also get recommendations from people in the companies that you are looking to get a research job.
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Try to find a job shadowing experience--learning about a job while you are not in the position. If you manage to job shadow someone who is doing the job you want to do, you may be able to use him as a reference later.
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Prepare your resume to let people know what you are capable of.
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Dress appropriately for all interviews and present yourself as the professional you are. First impressions are lasting. You may ask your professors to do a mock interview to prepare you for the real thing.
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Be prepared to work alone, or rethink your decision to prepare for a research job. Researching takes a lot of hard work and you need to be creative and to think out of the box. Make sure these are qualities that you possess before preparing for a research job.
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Tips & Warnings
Top-level research jobs are hard to find--starting at the bottom is sometimes not a bad thing.
