Looking for Your First Job Research Careers Development

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Looking for Your First Job Research Careers
Development

• Gail P. Taylor
• Spring 2006

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• Acknowledgements

• Beyond the Beakers SMART Advice for Entering
  Graduate Programs in the Sciences and
  Engineering. Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor
  College of Medicine/National Science Foundation.
  2005
• Survival Skills and Ethics Program
• Beth Fischer
• Michael Zigmond
• www.pitt.edu/survival
• Science Next Wave
• David Jensen
• Peter Fiske
• Robert Bolles
• What Color is Your Parachute
• Laurence Bolt
• Zen Art of Making Living
• and many others

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Transition to Job

• Postdoc is nearing completionnow its time for
  the real thing!

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Outline

• preparing a package
• interviewing
• additional issues
• negotiating
• what to do when time is running out

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Assembling Your Package
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Your package

• cover letter
• curriculum vitae or résumé
• statement of interests
• letters of recommendation
• additional supporting materials

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CV versus résumé

• CV
• academic and some research jobs
• comprehensive record
• Résumé
• most non-academic jobs
• 1-2 page summary
• tailored to job

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Similarities

• your may be one of hundreds
• will be scanned initially, not read
• make it clear and concise
• write it yourself
• avoid errors

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Curriculum vita

• Items of particular importance!
• Education (including post-docs)
• Appointments
• Awards
• Professional Societies
• Grants
• Teaching Experience
• Publications

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Résumés

• education
• experience
• skills, techniques
• research methods
• computer
• languages
• awards, honors

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Résumés

• chronological
• emphasize development
• may be best if continuing
• skills
• emphasize skills
• de-emphasize career disruptions
• may be best if changing

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Experience Highlight yourself
Biogen Corporation, New Wilmington, KY
Staff Scientist
Staff Scientist Biogen Corporation New
Wilmington, KY
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Experience Use action verbs
Responsible for supervising three technicians
Supervised three technicians
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Cover Letters
January 17, 1997 Dear Dr. Allen I am
writing in response to the advertisement for
neuro- scientist published in the January 14,
1997 issue of The Journal of
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Cover letter

• form
• very brief (1 page)
• write to a person
• List what opening you are responding to
• Summarize your qualifications
• use their words
• From advertisement
• Make sure to integrate what they asked for, with
  what you offer.
• enclosures
• plans for follow up

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Statement of Interests
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Statement of interests

• Form
• brief (1-4 pages)
• carefully written
• with section headings
• Will address goals and emphasize your research

• Contents
• introduction
• past history
• current activities
• future directions

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Letters of Recommendation
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Letters of recommendation

• from whom
• how to request
• what to provide

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Letters from whom?key variables

• how well they know you
• how enthusiastic they are
• how specific they are
• who they are

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How to request

• Can you provide a strong recommendation
• ...for this job
• ...by this date?

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What to provide letter writer

• job description
• CV or résumé
• statement of interest
• additional materials
• May come to talk to thembrief personal
  presentation.

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Additional materials

• reprints
• manuscripts
• fellowship application
• teaching portfolio

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Managing Your Job Search
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Managing your job search

• make it easy to find you
• maintain complete records
• prepare to be interviewed without warning
• be prepared to travel

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The Interview
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Outline

• Overview
• Getting the call
• Collecting critical information
• Influencing the schedule
• Preparing giving your presentations
• Additional issues regarding the visit

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The Interview

• The objective transfer of information

you
them
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What will they want to know?
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What will they want to know?

• can you do the job
• are you a good communicator
• can you work well with others
• do you have good social skills

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Rememberyou are one of a select few
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What will you want to know?
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What will you want to know?

• will I enjoy this job
• responsibilities
• colleagues
• atmosphere

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What will you want to know?

• will I enjoy this job
• responsibilities
• colleagues
• atmosphere
• will I succeed

success
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Outline

• Overview
• Getting the call
• Collecting critical information
• Influencing the schedule
• Preparing giving your presentations
• Additional issues regarding the visit

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Getting the call

• you need
• your files
• quiet
• calm
• if necessary, postpone conversation
• I am not able to talk right now. Can I call you
  back at _____?
• take (and file) good notes

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Outline

• Overview
• Getting the call
• Collecting critical information
• Influencing the schedule
• Preparing giving your presentations
• Additional issues regarding the visit

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Collecting critical information

• your needs
• type of responsibilities
• space, equipment, other resources
• start-up funds start date

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Collecting critical information

• Your Needs
• type of responsibilities
• space, equipment, other resources
• start-up funds start date
• the Institution
• mission
• key personnel
• type of person being recruited
• your communications with them
• The Environment
• Professional
• Personal

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Outline

• Overview
• Getting the call
• Collecting critical information
• Influencing the schedule
• Preparing giving your presentations
• Additional issues regarding the visit

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Influencing the schedule

• Arrival at airport
• Dinner
• Overnight at hotel
• Breakfast
• Meetings
• Job Talk
• Discussions with department head

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Influencing the schedule

• date of visit
• avoid back-to-back interviews
• time to yourself
• early morning
• sleep
• review notes
• personal care
• jet lag?
• Before talk
• Review notes
• Get centered
• Use restroom
• After talk
• Decompress
• Meetings
• Their list or your list?

• Arrival at airport
• Dinner
• Overnight at hotel
• Breakfast
• Meetings
• Job Talk
• Discussions with department head

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Influencing the schedule

• their list
• some faculty or staff scientists
• some administrators
• search committee

• your list
• specific faculty or staff scientists
• interests
• status
• trainees
• permanent techs

as relevant
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Outline

• Overview
• Getting the call
• Collecting critical information
• Influencing the schedule
• Preparing giving your presentations
• Additional issues regarding the visit

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Preparing your presentations

• formal presentations
• job talk
• lecture to students
• informal presentations
• peers
• administration
• trainees

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Preparing your presentations The job talk

• general organization
• introduction 5 min
• your research
• rationale
• methods
• results
• implications
• summary future directions 5 min
• question period

30 min
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Preparing your presentations The job talk

• preparation of talk
• outline
• write out
• revise outline
• practice
• revise again

• anticipate your audience
• knowledgeable peers
• more knowledgeable
• less knowledgeable

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Preparing your presentations The job talk

• anticipate your purpose to educate
• the field (broad and narrow)
• your contribution to research
• your future directions
• your communication/social skills

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Talking about your research

• state hypotheses
• avoid appearance of fishing
• test, dont prove hypotheses
• make their importance clear
• know the background
• original authors, approx dates
• how prior work lead to thesis
• be prepared to discuss specifics
• methods
• data (have figures tables)

• have explanations
• results
• contradictions
• future directions
• fit answers to circumstances
• duration
• language

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Possible questions

• research
• experience
• education
• goals
• strengths
• weaknesses

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What can you offer?

• knowledge
• skills
• experience
• perspective
• creativity
• enthusiasm

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Self assessment

• strengths
• weaknesses
• needs
• potential contributions

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Answering questions

• be honest
• and positive

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Private vs Public Consumption
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Answering questions

• be honest
• and positive
• be specific
• provide examples
• let them ask for more

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Preparing your presentations Classroom lecture

• know well in advance
• audience
• course objectives
• duration
• resources
• practice

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Things to bring with you

• luggage
• changes of clothes
• presentation materials
• copies of reprints
• CV or résumé
• notes on individuals
• list of needs
• equipment
• services
• space
• startup

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When does the Interview Start?

• interview may start when you arrive
• how dressed?
• ready to talk?
• Be
• Polite
• Honest
• Enthusiastic
• Knowledgeable
• expect problems
• plane delayed
• checked bags lost
• no one meets you
• cab driver clueless

• indicate special needs
• physical
• dietary
• allergies

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After the visit
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After the visit

• contact host
• say thank you
• express continuing interest
• send promised materials
• addl info about research
• details of your needs

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Negotiating

• know the going rate
• identify critical issues
• for you
• for them
• negotiate a package
• discuss multiple issues simultaneously
• trade off when possible
• aim for a win-win situation

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Looking for your next positionwhen time is
running out
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When time is running out

• options
• reduce constraints
• accept temp position
• remain where you are
• change of status
• change of responsibilities

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When time is running out

• options
• reduce constraints
• accept temp position
• remain where you are
• not an option
• panic or thoughtless action
• being without position
• giving up