CV & cover letter workshop

1. CV & cover letter workshop BEyond MIT workshop Spring 2014

2. CVs are longer than resumes; they include speaking engagements and publications. RESUME • No publications • Typically 1-2 pages • Dynamic • Content and structure change to match each position CV • Publications & talks • Typically 3-5+ pages • Dynamic • Content and structure change to match each position

3. The CV’s goal: to get an interview. CV: are you qualified? Cover letter: is there is a match?  Think of your documents as a portfolio.

4. The application process CV cover letter phone screen interview qualified paper match personal match

5. Best strategy: small is beautiful Invest a lot of energy into a few applications

6. Your quest is to show a match. Use your CV and cover letter to make the case. Organization You Mission Position Culture Projects Goals Skills Personality Values Goals Match

7. Every organization has a song; listen carefully. Weave the “melody” into your CV and cover letter.

8. If you learn nothing else from today…Do your research! • Mission/vision/strategic plan • Financial statements • Hiring manager • Key staff • Position • Current projects • Competition

9. curriculum vitae

10. The CV’s goal is to be skimmed from top to bottom and left to right. Format • Have clear headers • Use white space • Stick to one font • Bold and italicize sparingly • Use bullet points • ID each page as yours Content • Show, don’t tell • Quantify your impact • Use action verbs • Make every word count • ID “transferrable” skills • Add your personality

11. Quantify your impact • Performed research for 5 years for PhD. • Worked out weekly with the team, increased club membership, made relationships with new sponsors. • Grew organization to >350 members. • Invented novel assay for detection of 20 new proteins. • Managed 3 undergraduate students over 5 years. • Expanded club from 5 to 35 members in the first year. • Recruited $10k in new sponsorship. • Organized and led 10 practices per week. • Grew organization from 3 to 354 members. * Slide adapted from C.Birch & S. Spencer

12. Some CV examples:

13. Let’s work on your CV. • Headers • Organization of information • Big picture format issues • Action verbs • Quantify your impact • Wordsmith • What is missing?

14. cover letters

15. The cover letter formula • I am writing to express interest in XX position… • I am interested in the position because… • This may be a great match for me because… 4. I look forward to speaking with you further about this opportunity… Use just enough scientific jargon for them to see your expertise

16. Formal letter format Interest in position Understand the organization culture and position Explain why you’re a great match Close & Next Steps

17. To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express interest in the Epigenetic Research Scientist position (1284) at the Broad Institute. I have devoted my scientific career to confronting difficult biomedical challenges. Whether I have been working at Amgen as a Senior Scientist in the Oncology Research Department or at Abbvie (Abbott) Laboratories as Senior Scientist in Global Biologics, I have been committed to collaborating with diverse groups of individuals to imagine and envision new approaches to tackling human health problems. While studying vitamin D metabolism and receptor signaling at the University of Wisconsin in pursuit of my PhD in Biochemistry, I learned to develop biochemical and cellular assays to evaluate activation of nuclear receptors (VDR, RXR, RAR, PPAR). Over the last ten years while I have worked in industry, I have applied and expanded my cell biology and assay skills to meet the growing challenges of drug discovery and target validation for medical chemistry and large molecule projects. The Epigenetics Research position is particularly intriguing to me because I believe that future of oncology therapeutics is in personalized medicine. The Broad’s hybrid industrial-academic environment may be the ideal place for me to apply my background and interest in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to make a real difference through drug discovery. I would also welcome the opportunity to rejoin my former Amgen colleague, Craig Strathdee, on his team of exceptional research scientists to work with Broad’s partner institutions to characterize and validate newly identified epigenetic targets. I believe that the Broad’s “experimental” approach to doing science is empowering researchers to solve some of the world’s most daunting medical challenges. I want to share my expertise as part of this revolutionary model to transform what we learn about epigenetic changes and how they influence health and disease. I look forward to speaking with you further about this exciting position. Sincerely, Jon Goldstein

18. To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express interest in the Epigenetic Research Scientist position (1284) at the Broad Institute. I have devoted my scientific career to confronting difficult biomedical challenges. Whether I have been working at Amgen as a Senior Scientist in the Oncology Research Department or at Abbvie (Abbott) Laboratories as Senior Scientist in Global Biologics, I have been committed to collaborating with diverse groups of individuals to imagine and envision new approaches to tackling human health problems. While studying vitamin D metabolism and receptor signaling at the University of Wisconsin in pursuit of my PhD in Biochemistry, I learned to develop biochemical and cellular assays to evaluate activation of nuclear receptors (VDR, RXR, RAR, PPAR). Over the last ten years while I have worked in industry, I have applied and expanded my cell biology and assay skills to meet the growing challenges of drug discovery and target validation for medical chemistry and large molecule projects. The Epigenetics Research position is particularly intriguing to me because I believe that future of oncology therapeutics is in personalized medicine. The Broad’s hybrid industrial-academic environment may be the ideal place for me to apply my background and interest in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to make a real difference through drug discovery. I would also welcome the opportunity to rejoin my former Amgen colleague, Craig Strathdee, on his team of exceptional research scientists to work with Broad’s partner institutions to characterize and validate newly identified epigenetic targets. I believe that the Broad’s “experimental” approach to doing science is empowering researchers to solve some of the world’s most daunting medical challenges. I want to share my expertise as part of this revolutionary model to transform what we learn about epigenetic changes and how they influence health and disease. I look forward to speaking with you further about this exciting position. Sincerely, Jon Goldstein

19. Let’s apply for a job (or at least start):

20. Linkedin • You MUST have a profile • Get a “professional” picture • Consider your site as a hook • Feel free to link to your full CV or website

21. Your application is just the start! • Update your Linkedin profile (& online presence) • Activate your network! • Write formal email correspondence • Be thoughtful with prompt “thank you” notes