Looking for Your First Job

1
Looking for Your First Job Research Careers
Development

• Gail P. Taylor
• Spring 2006

08/2006
2

• 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

3
Transition to Job

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

4
Outline

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

5
Assembling Your Package
6
Your package

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

7
CV versus résumé

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

8
Similarities

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

9
Curriculum vita

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

10
Résumés

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

11
Résumés

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

12
Experience Highlight yourself
Biogen Corporation, New Wilmington, KY
Staff Scientist
Staff Scientist Biogen Corporation New
Wilmington, KY
13
Experience Use action verbs
Responsible for supervising three technicians
Supervised three technicians
14
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
15
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

16
Statement of Interests
17
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

18
Letters of Recommendation
19
Letters of recommendation

• from whom
• how to request
• what to provide

20
Letters from whom?key variables

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

21
How to request

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

22
What to provide letter writer

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

23
Additional materials

• reprints
• manuscripts
• fellowship application
• teaching portfolio

24
Managing Your Job Search
25
Managing your job search

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

26
The Interview
27
Outline

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

28
The Interview

• The objective transfer of information

you
them
29
What will they want to know?
30
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

31
Rememberyou are one of a select few
32
What will you want to know?
33
What will you want to know?

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

34
What will you want to know?

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

success
35
Outline

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

36
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

37
Outline

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

38
Collecting critical information

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

39
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

40
Outline

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

41
Influencing the schedule

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

42
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

43
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
44
Outline

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

45
Preparing your presentations

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

46
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
47
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

48
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

49
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

50
Possible questions

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

51
What can you offer?

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

52
Self assessment

• strengths
• weaknesses
• needs
• potential contributions

53
Answering questions

• be honest
• and positive

54
Private vs Public Consumption
55
Answering questions

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

56
Preparing your presentations Classroom lecture

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

57
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

58
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

59
After the visit
60
After the visit

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

61
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

62
Looking for your next positionwhen time is
running out
63
When time is running out

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

64
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