Finding a regular job. The adviser is usually the person best situated to help the postdoc move to the next position. The quality of that position reflects not only on the postdoc's personal abilities, but also the quality of the program and the mentoring ability of the adviser. Traditionally, advisers in universities have expected their postdocs to move to the kinds of academic research positions that they themselves held. Today, informed advisers know that many more post- docs than formerly will move to the private sector or government, where employers may require a slightly different set of skills in particular, a variety of personal skills, such as abilities in teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Departure is a difficult time for many advisers and postdocs.
No adviser wants to lose a productive, well-qualified lab member. Nonetheless, advisers must remember that their goal as mentors is to help their postdocs to advance. Transitions may be eased if terms are specified by contract. Within these terms, the adviser can help to judge when the apprentice is ready to move to the next step. Even after a postdoc leaves, the adviser's role is not finished.