My current lab is a great place to work. The people here are very proficient in their fields, and everyone is friendly, open and helpful – which means that I enjoy the time during (and after) work. People were also very open at a lab where I worked some years ago, but I didn't enjoy its competitive environment and the responsibility that imposed.

I believe that a working environment that matches my character makes a big difference to my performance in the long run. I think that when you are considering starting a project in a lab you have not been to before, you should imagine spending a much longer time there. How would you feel after a few years there?

But how can you get a feel for whether you would enjoy working somewhere? One simple strategy is to talk to as many people as you can when you visit for an interview. And maybe you have a friend of a friend who knows someone who works there who will be able to give you an inside view.

The working climate and culture are just as important if you are choosing a job in industry. I actually consider it to be as important as the salary, even though most people give this the most attention after spending time in academia.