Looking for Your First Job – Research Careers Development

1. Looking for Your First Job – Research Careers Development Gail P. Taylor Spring 2006 08/2006

2. 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 Acknowledgements:

3. Transition to Job • Postdoc is nearing completion…now it’s 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. 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 Statement of interests

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 them…brief 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. Remember:you 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. Arrival at airport Dinner Overnight at hotel Breakfast Meetings Job Talk Discussions with department head Influencing the schedule

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. their list some faculty or staff scientists some administrators search committee your list specific faculty or staff scientists interests status trainees* permanent techs* Influencing the schedule * 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. preparation of talk outline write out revise outline practice revise again anticipate your audience knowledgeable peers more knowledgeable less knowledgeable Preparing your presentations: The “job talk”

48. Preparing your presentations: The “job talk” • anticipate your purpose: to educate • the field (broad and narrow) • yourcontribution to research • your future directions • your communication/social skills

49. state hypotheses avoid appearance of “fishing” test, don’t 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 Talking about your research

50. Possible questions • research • experience • education • goals • strengths • weaknesses