Creativity versus Stability

That choice wasn’t anything that I thought about when leaving academia for government research.  Perhaps because my first government post, with the US Army, actually involved a whole lot of creativity.  Probably even more than I got to use during my dissertation work.

I think I must have assumed that all scientific positions involve creativity.  That must be why I again failed to contemplate this choice when I left that first position for another spot in government, this time as a contractor.  Thus far, this experience has been completely different, and often frustrating.  In this position, creativity is not valued.  At all.  Bottom line.  It took me a while to even put my finger on what was wrong, but there you have it.  Now I have to fix it.

So, if you are considering a position outside of academia, let this be a lesson.  Find out what level of creativity will be expected from you and make sure it’s compatible with your own philosophy of work.  (Hint: don’t ask the boss, ask your would be colleagues).