How to apply to a Postdoc Position?

How to apply for a Postdoc Position?

26 November 2020

Do you wonder how to apply for a postdoc position? If so, keep reading. Finding a suitable postdoc job is already a hassle, but the application can be trickier! On this page, we will provide you with all the necessary advice for preparing your application for a Postdoc job.

Introduction: What is a Postdoc Position?

A postdoctoral position is a type of employment that is typically offered to scientists and scholars who have recently completed their doctoral degrees.

A postdoc position is a job in which an individual may work with a group of people who are more senior than they are, on projects that are more advanced than they were able to complete during their graduate studies.

A postdoc position can also be used as a stepping stone toward becoming an independent scientist or scholar.

Necessary advice for preparing your application for a Postdoc job

The postdoc is a time-consuming process that requires extensive research and dedication, so it’s important to prepare yourself ahead of time. This article provides helpful tips, advice, and resources to make the process less stressful.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Like any other job, the first and the required document for application to any postdoc vacancy is a CV. But, the format of the CV, unlike an industrial job, does not generally have any page limit. That means you can list all the essential track records and achievements in your CV. In general, you are expected to include the list of your publications in your CV, but there are some cases when the employer asks to upload your list of publications as a separate file.

You can find some great advice on how to prepare a good CV in this post. However, we intend to advise you on what not to include in your CV. It is rather silly to include things such as your hobby (e.g. cycling, reading books etc.!) The employer is not interested in your personal hobbies. But make sure to include your awards, your tutorial activities, your co-supervision during your PhD, and your teaching activities.

The application letter (Cover Letter)

Apparently, the application letter is among the top parts of a job application where you express yourself and inform the employer about your intention for the application, your interest and your background. You can read some general advice about how to prepare a good application letter in our previous post.

To prepare your letter, you should carefully read the job description to make sure what is the expectation of the employer. Then, you should skim through the publication of the host professor and try to find one or two papers that fit your background and are related to the subject of the post. The difficult job is to assemble that information in a letter. You can start the letter with a short statement about yourself and your intention to apply to that post. For example:

I am writing to apply for the position of Postdoctoral vacancy (Ref. No. 345) in the school of Science at University of Auckland.

The next paragraph should be about your background. For example:

I have graduated from the University of Leeds (Engineering Department) in September 2019. My PhD was about the synthesis of 2D materials under the supervision of Prof John Mayer. The project was rather successful and resulted in 4 peer-review journal publications, 2 conference presentation/paper and one Poster awards. You can find the list of my publications in the attached CV. During my PhD, I gained valuable hands-on experience in working with CVD, characterisation tools such as SEM, TEM and electrical measurements.

Now is the time to explain how your background and expertise fit the job description.

Given the three years of experience in chemical vapour deposition, I believe that I can handle and manage quickly to be master of sputtering which is essential to the position. My experience with vacuum system can be a great asset in order to help your group in maintaining your vacuum based facilities. …..

Please note that the example above is very short and you can write much more than that and provide further details.

Postdoc Positions in Europe:

Postdoc Positions Beyond Europe:

Would you like to know the salary amount of PhD and postdoc positions in Europe? 

We will update all different types of academic positions (the latest ones) so you can find them on our home page, and also on the academic jobs page. Therefore, make sure to follow our Facebook page to not miss any new vacancies and also enjoy our tips and advice on academic jobs. But if you get bored reading text, watch our PhD and Postdoc-related videos on our YouTube Channel.