to wxc20: let me tell you my story

Let me tell you my story. May be it will give you a different perspective.

Both my hu*****and and I are physics phds. Tough to find jobs and even tougher to find jobs in the same city. He graduated 1 year earlier than I did and got a postdoc in midwest. He was in theoretical physics and wanted to be a prof. He was good and had all the potential, according to everybody who knew him. I was in experimental physics. After phd, I got a industry job. We made a deal, if he could get a tenure position in 4years (2 term postdoc). I will drop everything and follow him. Otherwise, he will follow me. His second postdoc was with MIT. Still after that, no good tenure position for him. In theoretical physics, 3-4 postdoc before tenure is not uncommom. So he decided to look for industry jobs.

But what can a phd in theoretical physics do in industry? He loves his field and didn't want to be yet another programmer for the rest of his life. So I suggested DSP, and he was like "what is that". After a week of reading a book on DSP from a local library, he felt that was a perfect direction for him. Because the techiques used in DSP is exactly what he used in theoretical physics everyday, even though the terminologies are completely different. I helped him to change his CV to a resume. In a month, he got 3 offers in the city where I was. So after 3 and half years of seperation, we finally solved our 2 body problem.

So it can be done. You need to believe in yourself, and you need to open your mind. You don't have to give up your interest and strength to be just another programer or accountant. Good luck!

所有跟帖： 

• Thanks for sharing your experience. -wxc020- ♀ (508 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 18:56:39

• 回复：to wxc20: let me tell you my story -cyg- ♀ (238 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 18:58:42

• 我有一对朋友，也是这种情况。等后来终于 -baydad- ♂ (72 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 19:21:12

• 回复：to wxc20: let me tell you my story -月色融融- ♀ (99 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 19:21:41

• 回复：回复：to wxc20: let me tell you my story -cyg- ♀ (515 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 00:31:21

• excellent example -陈年酒- ♂ (52 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 21:27:49

• You guys are lucky. -JasmineT- ♀ (529 bytes) () 02/24/2006 postreply 22:49:02

• 回复：You guys are lucky. -cyg- ♀ (442 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 00:26:23

• A good phd should have that quality. My phd research -handyman- ♂ (72 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 01:03:11

• He may need to change his attitude towards his work -handyman- ♂ (53 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 01:15:09

• to wxc20: Is there a top university where you wife lives? -NDMom- ♀ (257 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 06:49:58

• 你应该去追自己的梦，但是请跟你太太离婚，放她一条生路。 -wxc225- ♀ (351 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 07:59:07

• Excellent story. 适者生存. 不能改变环境可以改变自己 -雨滴- ♀ (121 bytes) () 02/25/2006 postreply 11:43:30