In the days that I have tons of work and study to do, I have this tendency to become crazy and put myself under more stress and pressure than usual! So, having said that I felt there is a need for me to attend a so called “Career Planning for Junior Scientists and Researchers” workshop! Somebody should have told me: am I close to graduate? No, I would reply! So, what is the point of attending!? Yeh!
The workshop outcome: I didn’t learn much! become depressed, learned that Switzerland is Saudi Arabia for women! Now I am afraid talking to women so my conversation may be interpreted as not supportive and consider equalities!!
My first intention was to compare European attitude in career planning compare to North Americans, specifically Canadians since I have already attended in such a workshop in Canada. I have to admit there are many differences between these two nations! I truly got surprised for such a big disparity.
The storey I wish to write here happened in the second day of the workshop.
After an hour of presentation of the instructor about how women are underestimated and underrated in scientific field in Switzerland and Germany! They are not given fair chances and how they were not offered the jobs they deserve, we started a group workshop to identify what people would suggest us in light of our observation and skills we contain. The group was supposed to be conducted as following:
we were given an A3 paper, we would draw a happy face in the middle and think of any career we ever wished to do and write it down and connect them to our picture by lines. After that we were asked to write on two series of colored papers each of three about the three skills and values we feel them most important to us in any job. At behest of instructor we made group of three to conduct the workshop. One would volunteer in the group and explain what s/he has written on those pages. The two others would ask him/her questions and then the person whose turn is will turn back and listen to what the two others would suggest about the career path may be suitable for him/her.
I wrote the following jobs for myself: A comedian, a write who writes about fun and how to have fun in doing anything (I wished), a biomechanicst in corporate world, a instructor and researcher!!
I will not get to mine, though I wish to write about a girl who seemed in her late 20s. She was in our group. She, biology major with wondering face, with anxious eyes! She started to explain she have never had tired another job except what she was describing and currently has! She can’t see herself working in any cooperation and no other institution than where she knows plus she hates teaching. When I asked why? “I have had given lectures to some first and second year students and they were like: why should be learning this!!, so, I was always feeling they are there because their parents insist to be there. Don’t have a happy memory!” She explained. Add to that she was going to get married to a boyfriend who lives in Koeln, Germany and who is a teacher. So, on top of that she wished to have a child some time soon! Her intention to be in this workshop. How to juggle between career and family! She felt girls should truly get married before latest 29!
So, After careful listening to her when she turned her back to us. I give her my 2-cent!
What I am going to tell you may not be so pleasant but I want you to think about it! I said:
You have not so much of experience except what you have in field of your study and you don't seem very satisfy from those experiences. You have only had tired your chances in one field of study. You yet to know if there are any jobs are available for you in corporate world. Top to that that you have never tried any other job so you would know if this is what you really wish to do!
So, forget about you boyfriend, don’t get married. You still have to gain experience. Forget what you are told about marriage in latest of late 20s and have children, soon! First try to see what you like and what you want then decide if these are what you really want to do! These are relationships in my opinion where in a few years after marriage you will see major disagreement appears in them.
Consider that the instructor in the workshop had explained a few minutes before that that in Europe if a girl is 26 and older and still single, people would assume there is something wrong when her. Same thing for boys over 30 was told!
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