Choosing a research job right after a PhD is tricky business. There are so many factors to take into account.
1. Country: One might have to stay in one country out of necessity (family requirements/immigration requirements etc.) or one may have a preference for a specific country (comfort level, already adjusted, language ease etc.)
2. City: Even, within a country people tend to be specific about which city they want to work for example Edinburgh in the UK or New York in the USA.
3. Role: The job role is one of the most important criteria. One wants a role which is matches one’s ambitions and skills and helps to further one’s career.
4. Prestige of the research group: Reputations count for a lot so it is good to be in a place which open further doors for you.
5. Industry versus Academia: One needs to decide whether one is seeking a research job in the industry or the academia. The difference between them is not to hard and fast and nowadays there is substantial to and fro movement between the two.
6. Facilities: One should ensure that the place in question provides the facilities needed for research.
7. Group dynamics and support: The quality of the group and atmosphere in the research group is highly important. A supportive, enthusiastic and challenging environment can be really helpful. A good percentage of ambitious team players is sign for good collaboration.
8. Duration: One might prefer a longer contract in a great place to shorter contract in a slightly better place. This way, one can concentrate on the research and good results rather than worrying about the next job.
There can be other factors which come in to play. One thing, one should be aware of is that there may not be a perfect job which satisfies all the criteria. For example, one role which I was seeking was available in a few places including Singapore. The main thing is to know what one what wants to do in the long term and decide accordingly what the best option is. Sometimes, one may have to get out of the comfort zone and find slightly different role or relocate. This is all part of furthering your career.
