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The Cons of Doing a Post-Doc

Many faculty positions require a post-doc, but actually doing one isn't feasible for everyone. There are a lot of reasons not to do a post-doc. Here's a few core ones.

It's Not Financially Feasible

Post-doc salaries aren't always great. The minimum salary is $45,000. For many people who have already sacrificed for many years to finish their PhD, it's not possible to continue the sacrifice. Full time employment that capitalizes on the PhD credential may be the only alternative.

It May Not Be Good for Career Progression, Depending on Your Age

Nurses and midwives complete doctoral degrees at many ages. Candidates need to ask themselves if spending two more years in a post-doc is the right career move. Academic nursing, in particular, can have many career forms and depending on your life stage and goals, going right into a faculty position is a perfectly viable option. Programs of research can still be developed with this pathway through both internal and external institutional support.

Candidates also need to consider their long term career goals. If you seek a leadership position in Academia long term, going right into a position where you will understand how the institutions work (and don't) is a better decision. Develop your credentials as an educator and/or administrator first and  make sure your scholarship sustains itself.

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