How To Get Your First Research Assistant Role

Working as a research assistant can be the start of a long and successful career but as entry-level roles go the bar to entry is quite high. That said, just because it’s a challenge, that’s never a reason to give up on your dreams. All you need is someone to show you the way.

If you’re wondering how to get a research assistant job, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll be covering the basics of how to become a research assistant from choosing your area of study all the way up to nailing the interview process.

Finding Your Field

No matter your career path, it’s always important to find something you’re passionate about but when it comes to research, this is even more true. After all, your role as a research assistant will just be the start of a career in a specialised discipline. If you don’t love what you do, then you’re likely to spend years working in jobs that bring you little to no joy.

Furthermore, almost any academic path will have a tendency to affect your life far outside of the field you’re working in. You’ll likely have to move across the country to work for an institution that’s willing to fund your area of study. You’ll probably find yourself working plenty of overtime and even thinking and rethinking problems in your off-the-clock hours.

The reality is that if you’re looking to pursue a career in research then you need to be willing to dive in wholeheartedly. Yes it’s work, but for you it should also be play.

Gaining Qualifications

Before you can even send out your first applications, you’ll need to spend more than a few years working towards that dream job and that could even involve going back into education if you’re already in full time work.

Many people right this off as an option because going back into education can be time-consuming and expensive but it’s certainly not impossible. With correct planning and a willingness to invest your savings into your future, it’s perfectly possible to retrain and the results can be life-changing.

No matter where you are in life however, one thing is certainly true: if you want to pursue an academic career, then you’ll need to plan things out years in advance.

That’s not to say you need to set everything in stone. In fact, you’ll probably want to keep revisiting that plan as the career landscape shifts and changes over time. What’s important to understand, however, is that every action you take, every qualification you do, should all be in service of that future goal.

How to Find Research Assistant Jobs

Once you’ve gained the requisite qualifications – which will almost certainly mean going into higher education to study for an undergraduate, followed by a masters and possibly even a PhD – you’ll finally be ready to start applying for research positions.

Now, it’s worth noting that many research positions can be worked alongside or even as part of your higher education. This depends a lot on your institution, your exact course, and the positions you’re applying for.

That being said, most positions willing to consider students will be internships or work experience. While such roles can look great on your CV, they’re not always the best path, especially if your studies are already taking up much of your time. It’s very much a person by person and case by case decision.

In terms of applications, you are essentially doing everything you’d do for a standard qualification. You’ll need to:

• Put together a CV showing all of your qualifications and relevant work experience
• Write cover letters tailored the the roles you’re applying for that stress why you’re the perfect candidate for the role
• Apply for many positions and accept that it may take time to get the responses you’re hoping for
• Network within your field and build contacts

On top of all that however, you’ll also want to find ways to show that you are active and interested in the latest developments. This can be difficult the longer you’re out of education but it’s important so that when you go to interviews, it’s clear that you’re still passionate about the subject/job role.

Speaking of interviews, we could write a whole other article about how to tailor your interview etiquette to the job you’re applying for, but instead why not ask someone who’s done it before?

By working with a Career Navig8r, you could get mentorship from an experienced academic with years in their field. You could talk to someone who’s not only been a research assistant but who’s now involved in hiring research assistants. They can help you tailor your CV and nail your interview process so that you can become the perfect candidate.

Whether you’re just starting out on your journey towards becoming a research assistant or you’re looking for someone to help you cross the finish line, Career Navig8r can help make your dreams a reality.