by Ken » Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:22 am
As far as postdocs go, if you want to use your PhD to the fullest, you pretty much have to do a postdoc. I tried very hard to avoid it, but I ended up deciding on doing a postdoc (in industry, more on that later).
Is it a job? Sort of. It's still considered a training position, but you are paid (not terribly well, but more than a PhD student). It's certainly "full time"!
You can work in industry without a postdoc, but you will tend to be a "research associate" or similar position. You would initially make a bit more money than a postdoc, but in the long run, you are better off spending those years as a postdoc rather than an associate. After 3 years as an industry postdoc, you are qualified to be a scientist, as opposed to three years as an associate, after which you are generally a "senior associate".
Industry postdocs are just that. Similar positions, but at a company. Industry postdocs pay better, and tend to look better to companies for later industry positions, but there are drawbacks as well (choose an industry postdoc wisely).