A step-by-step guide to landing your next job in science
A road map to success based on Nature’s hiring-in-science survey, with advice for every stage from application to offer
Illustration: Tiago Galo
Nature’s 2024 hiring in science survey
This article is the fourth in a short series discussing the results of Nature’s 2024 global survey of hiring managers in science. The survey, created in partnership with Thinks Insights & Strategy, a research consultancy in London, launched in June and was advertised on nature.com, in Springer Nature digital products and through e-mail campaigns. It received 1,134 self-selecting respondents from 77 countries, based in academia, industry and other sectors, including industry responses provided in partnership with Walr, a market-research panel. The full survey data sets are available at go.nature.com/3bgpazn.
The e-mail arrives on a Friday afternoon. It’s a job alert. The research focus matches your expertise perfectly. The laboratory group has funding. The city works for your family. But then the familiar doubts surface. Your past four applications received no reply. How can you make this one succeed?
This question can keep scientists awake at night as they hunt for jobs in research. To find answers, Nature surveyed more than 1,100 hiring managers, ranging from lab heads to senior faculty members across academia, industry and other sectors. Their insights reveal surprising patterns about what makes candidates stand out — and what makes them stumble.
This guide translates their collective wisdom into clear, actionable steps. Whether you’re a postdoctoral researcher dreaming of independent research or a seasoned researcher plotting your next move, these tips will strengthen your candidacy. (This guide is for formally advertised jobs. Another effective way to find a new position is to directly e-mail lab leaders you want to work with. Nature’s Careers team will publish an article on how to nail these ‘cold applications’ in early 2025.)
Study the job description
Start by examining the role’s essential responsibilities. Hirers in our survey said that they look for evidence in applications that candidates have read the job description and tailored their application to it. This was by far the most common tip that hirers said they’d give to applicants.
Consider whether the project’s direction matches your specialism and your career ambitions, both in the short and the long term. Pay attention to the language used. Mirroring the posting’s text in your application by repeating keywords is a good way to signal that you understand the requirements.
Before applying, learn about the hiring group or company — study its web page, read some of its research and try to get a feel for whether its research trajectories match your own. Hirers said that it can be a good idea to contact the hiring team before you even start preparing an application. Sometimes, job adverts are written by human-resources personnel rather than the hiring scientist, and speaking directly to the latter can uncover the true demands of the job.
Make a note of the steps involved in the application. These often differ between jobs in academia and industry (see ‘Common elements of the job-application process’). For example, hirers in academia are more likely to check references or ask for letters of recommendation and evidence of previous research or publications than industry hirers are. If you don’t already have reference letters to hand, think about who in your network to approach for recommendations and reach out early to give them ample time to respond.
Remember that some job postings will be designed to target someone specific that the hirer has in mind. This is more common in industry, in which 46% of hirers say they ‘always’ or ‘very frequently’ do this, compared with just 25% of academics. A telltale sign of such postings is that they look for a weirdly specific list of skills, one hirer in academia told Nature.
Top tips. “Make sure you know about the lab you are applying to, read their latest publications and understand their research questions.” — Academic biology lab leader in Poland.
“Applying even though they don’t fully fit the role is the biggest mistake I see candidates make.” — Academic medical researcher in Malta.
Customize your CV to the role
Some 73% of the hirers Nature surveyed require applicants to provide a CV or résumé. In academia, this rises to 86%.
Don’t send out a one-size-fits-all CV or résumé. Instead, tailor it to the job, emphasizing the skills and experiences that the employer will find relevant for the post. For example, if a position calls for project management or leadership skills, make sure that your CV clearly spells out the evidence that you have them.
The hiring survey identified differences between academia and industry hiring priorities that are worth bearing in mind when crafting your CV. In academia, publication records and technical expertise hold more weight. Industry places more value on leadership experience. For example, 54% of hirers in academia place ‘primary importance’ on applicants’ publication records, compared with just 25% of industry hirers. By contrast, 31% of industry hirers place primary importance on leadership experience, either in candidates’ working or in their personal lives, compared with just 19% in academia. And teaching experience, ironically, pulls more weight in industry than in academia.
The survey findings reflect industry hirers, preferring more-rounded candidates with a range of skills over those with the narrow expertise sought in an academic position, says Adriana Bankston, a former academic and research-policy specialist who is now working in the US Congress in Washington DC. For industry, she says, leadership skills are important because often you must take a project that you aren’t specialized in and run with it. Soft skills such as leadership and teaching could therefore be more sought after, she notes. “For industry, teaching is another soft skill in a sense. You might have to teach other people about your subject matter,” she says. It’s also a way to show communication skills, which are valued more in industry than in academia, she adds.
Whereas the content of your CV is crucial, the presentation also matters. A clear, polished layout demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism. Although spelling and grammar errors are not a major source of concern for hirers in Nature’s survey (only 23% of hirers identified this as a common mistake, compared with 31% who were irked by poor formatting), they should still be avoided to present a first-rate application.
Top tips. “Ask a friend or colleague to read and give feedback on the first draft of your CV.” — Academic biology group leader in Ethiopia.
“Make any figures in the CV yourself. It shows dedication, talent and potential for good publication figures. Even something simple such as contact information with a little telephone made out of a mathematical function.” — Government physical-sciences group leader in Estonia.
“Prepare a different CV for every application.” — Academic Earth- and ocean-science group head in Italy.
Write a short, personal cover letter
Only half of the hirers surveyed by Nature said that they require candidates to write cover letters. However, it might be good to write one anyway, even if you just paste it into the application e-mail.
As with your CV, it’s crucial to tailor the cover letter to the position offered. A lack of knowledge about the hiring team’s research and generic applications are the two most common mistakes that applicants make, according to our survey, and poorly customized letters quickly end up in the bin.
Credit: Getty
You should provide evidence of your motivation and qualifications rather than including generic phrases such as “I’m interested in this role”. A more effective approach is to explain why you’re interested in the position and how your background makes you the right fit.
That said, hirers appreciate when applicants keep their cover letter short — and suggest it be just a few paragraphs, and certainly no longer than a page. Brevity signals to the recruiter that you respect their time as well as showing off your ability to write clearly and effectively.
A warning on artificial intelligence (AI): hirers said that they don’t like it when they can tell that AI has been used in applications, and that AI-written content can sound bland or lack authenticity. Some said that they prefer a cover letter with spelling errors to one that was obviously written by a chatbot.
Although AI tools such as ChatGPT can help you to finesse your cover letter, take care in how you use them. Remember that such tools often won’t know about your personal motivations for applying and might suggest watered-down statements that sound generic.
Top tips. “Avoid broad statements such as ‘I am a team player’ or ‘I am an excellent researcher’.” — Academic medical-research leader in the United States.
“You must come across as someone who wants *this* job rather than any job.” – Government Earth and ocean scientist in Germany.
Prepare thoroughly for interviews
If you make it past the initial screening, chances are you’ll be called in for an interview. Sometimes there will be several, although only 34% of the hirers in our survey use screening interviews conducted by human-resources representatives to gauge the suitability and fit of the candidate to the role — in industry, this rose to 47%.
Interviews are considered the most influential element in hiring decisions (see ‘Which parts of the hiring process affect the outcome the most?’), particularly in academia. Industry hirers place slightly less emphasis on the formal interview, but still consider it crucial. Prepare well for any tasks you are assigned as part of the application process, such as presentations. Like interviews, these are among the top-five elements that influence hiring decisions, according to our survey. In presentations, use these storytelling tips for scientists to get your message across (see go.nature.com/495xghb).
Preparing poorly for interview questions is one of the most common mistakes candidates make when applying for jobs, according to our survey, so it’s worth making the effort. Prepare to explain why you are a good fit for the position. Academic hirers said that this often involves showing how your research interests and achievements align with the employer’s goals. Industry hirers responded that honesty, openness and sincerity are highly regarded, so be transparent about your experiences and motivations.
All types of hirer in our survey love to ask questions that probe your technical knowledge, your interest in the research team and field, your ambitions and goals and how you deal with challenges and conflicts. Prepare specific stories or examples, and practise telling them. Mock interviews with a friend or trusted colleague are an excellent way to rehearse and ensure your that answers sound natural and confident.
At this stage, also think about what you want to know from the employer regarding salary, benefits offered and work culture. If there is a screening interview with human resources, they will usually want to know about your salary expectation to make sure it’s inside their budget.
Top tips. “Have a trial interview with colleagues to receive feedback.” — Psychology professor in Norway.
“Brush up on any skills that are required prior to the interview and stay attentive, converse and smile.” — Government researcher in the United States.
In interviews, be honest and listen
These days, most organizations use a combination of online and in-person interviews, with in-person being more common near the end of the screening process. That brings fresh challenges. Some 25% of industry hirers in our survey said that they found it difficult to assess candidates in virtual interviews, a proportion that was higher in academia (36%).
The survey did not probe why virtual meetings are tricky. But a frequent problem with them is struggling to connect on a personal level, says Jim Harrington, a talent-acquisition manager at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a non-profit organization in New York City, who has interviewed hundreds of candidates for science jobs. “People like to hire people that they like and feel a connection to,” he says. For virtual interviews, practise your job ‘pitch’ virtually with a friend or trusted colleague to develop a style that fits you and your way of communicating, he says.
For online interviews, try to find a quiet location and a stable Internet connection. Most hirers will be understanding if technical problems arise, especially if you are in a geographical region with unreliable connectivity. Still, do your best to test your equipment beforehand and create a calm, focused environment.
In any interview, it’s important to listen to the questions properly and to answer honestly and concisely. Several hirers told Nature that they prefer candidates to be themselves and to admit when they don’t know answers to questions, rather than to answer poorly or dishonestly.
“Sometimes people speak too much about the actual job description, when really what we want to see are examples of your critical-thinking, learning, agility and problem-solving skills,” says Harrington. Also, remember to ask questions, he adds. “It’s a red flag if a candidate didn’t ask any questions.”
You might be asked about why you left your previous jobs. Although honesty is the best policy, it’s best to avoid sounding off about frustrations or negative experiences in earlier roles. Although only 16% of hirers view this as a major issue, it’s still best to keep your tone positive and constructive, even when describing conflicts or challenges.
Top tips. “Don’t be shy to ask questions. It demonstrates engagement and interest.” — Academic biology group leader in the United States.
“Be a good listener. Don’t provide overly lengthy answers.” — Biotechnology non-profit company scientist in Israel.
Negotiating and accepting an offer
If you followed the previous steps, you should by now have a good idea of the offer that will come your way. Don’t wait for the offer before you negotiate. Rather, be clear throughout the hiring process about what you are looking for in terms of salary and benefits, such as flexible working hours or training opportunities.
Industry candidates are more than twice as likely to negotiate their pay package and contract length, according to our survey, and nearly three times as likely to discuss benefits, compared with candidates in academia. Academics often struggle to put a figure on the skills they bring to a job, especially when moving into industry positions. Still, even for an academic role, remember that negotiation is still possible, particularly in terms of non-monetary benefits such as conference attendance or extra resources for research (see ‘Frequently negotiated elements of the job offer’).
Hirers said that the lack of a competitive salary is one of the top reasons they lose out on candidates, especially in academia. Examine the standard salaries and benefits for similar positions in your field and see how the position you are being considered for compares. If you are worried about relocation expenses, bring this up, because some employers might be able to offer support.
Survey respondents said that it’s a good idea to frame your requests in terms of mutual benefit. For example, if you’re negotiating for conference attendance, explain how this will help you to develop skills and networks that will benefit the organization in the long run. Candidates who are well prepared and can demonstrate the value they bring to the role will be in a stronger position to negotiate.
Harrington offers a couple of top tips for the last steps in the process. If the employer is unable to meet all of your requests, be prepared to prioritize what matters most. It’s OK to go back one time to ask for more money once you have received the offer, he says. But asking more times is unlikely to change the outcome, he adds, and might give the hiring team the impression that you are difficult to work with.
In the end, if the job offer doesn’t meet your needs, it’s OK to walk away. However, you should remain professional and courteous throughout the process to maintain positive relationships — you never know what future opportunities might make your paths cross again.
Nature 636, 259-262 (2024)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-03926-w
This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Linda Nordling
