Now that it’s been a month since our last “how can we help you?” thread, it’s time for a new one.

For those of you unfamiliar with this series, this is a chance for you to post openly or anonymously in the comments section below on anything you could use help with related to the profession. After you post your query in the comments, I will then post new threads for readers to discuss your query. 

As usual, feel free to ask questions on anything (within the Cocoon’s mission) that you could use help with. Ask away – we’re here to help! 

Finally, a quick reminder of the following RULE: Please do not submit replies to other comments in this thread. It makes these threads unwieldy and difficult for me to keep track of. If you’d like to respond to a comment in this thread, please wait until I dedicate a new post to the person’s query myself and comment in that thread instead! I have not been enforcing this rule consistently recently, but need to recommit to it as it has been hard to manage these threads. Thanks!

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One response to “How can we help you? (May 2026)”

  1. Anonymous

    Do conferences matter at all on the job market? I’m a grad student and I feel like I hear such a wide range of perspectives on this topic. Some people say they’re important, but only for practicing giving talks and networking, some people say it’s a red flag if an applicant has no conferences but not a “plus” if they do, and others seem to think that some of the fancier conferences are a boost. Part of the rationale for this question is that I’ve definitely been encouraged to put a lot of effort into applying for and attending conferences, and I’m wondering if this is a good use of one’s time as a grad student.

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