Assembling Your Employment Package

1. Assembling Your Employment Package

2. Your package • cover letter • curriculum vitae or résumé • statement of interests • letters of recommendation • additional materials

3. Job Search Web Sites 1) Academic Careers Online http://www.academiccareers.com/ 2) ScienceCareers.org http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/ 3) Yahoo HotJobs http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/ 4) Biospace http://www.biospace.com/ 5) Monster.com http://jobsearch.monster.com/ 6) NatureJobs http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/index.html 7) Science Careers http://resumegenie.com/jobs.asp?job=scientific%20career 8) Chronicle of Higher Education http://chronicle.com/jobs/ 9) New Scientist http://www.sciencejobs.com/search.action 10) Abbott, Langer and Associates http://www.abbott-langer.com/biosumm.html?po01 11) Biotech Career Center http://www.biotechcareercenter.com/index.html 12) Academic Keys for the Sciences http://sciences.academickeys.com/index.php

4. CVs and Résumés

5. CV versus résumé • CV • academic and some research jobs • comprehensive record • resume • most non-academic jobs • 1-2 page summary • tailored to job

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

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

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

9. Experience: Highlight yourself Biogen Corporation, New Wilmington, KY Staff Scientist

10. Experience: Highlight yourself Biogen Corporation, New Wilmington, KY Staff Scientist Staff Scientist Biogen Corporation New Wilmington, KY

11. Experience: Use action verbs Responsible for supervising three technicians

12. Experience: Use action verbs Responsible for supervising three technicians Supervised three technicians

13. Résumés: “Chronological” versus “skills” • chronological: career progression • skills: talents

14. RésumésScience Next Wave16 July 1999 • paper version • scannable version • electronic version

15. Scannable Résumés Peter FiskeScience Next Wave16 July 1999

16. Formatting scannable resumes • use 8.5” x 11” white paper • do not fold, staple • send original (laser printed) • use standard typefaces, dark type • don’t condense spacing • use all caps for section headings • avoid embellishments Peter Fiske

17. Scannable resumes: Maximizing “hits” • use common headings • include specifics (name software, etc.) • describe interpersonal traits • use >1 page if necessary

18. Academic curriculum vitae:sections • Education • Appointments • Awards • Professional Societies • Grants • Teaching Experience • Publications

19. Publications: key variables • no. of peer-reviewed, research articles • quality of journals • length of paper • number of related papers • number of authors • your place in the list of authors

20. Publications • separate types of articles • research articles • review articles • abstracts

21. Publications • separate types of articles • make sure citation is accurate • authors (names, order) • journal • pages, volume, year

22. Publications • separate types of articles • make sure authorship accurate • use accurate designations for status • published • in press • under revision • submitted

24. 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

25. Cover letter • form • very brief (1 page) • write to a person • use their words

26. Cover letter • form • very brief (1 page) • write to a person • use their words • contents • what responding to • your qualifications • enclosures • plans for follow up

27. Statement of Interests

28. Statement of interests: Form • introduction • past history • current activities • future directions

29. Statement of interests: General • brief (1-4 pages) • carefully written • use headers

30. Letters of Recommendation

31. Letters of recommendation • from whom • how to request • what to provide

32. Letters from whom?key variables • how well they know you • how enthusiastic they are • how specific they are • who they are

33. How to request “Can you provide a strong recommendation…

34. How to request “Can you provide a strong recommendation… ...for this job…

35. How to request “Can you provide a strong recommendation… ...for this job… ...by this date?

36. What to provide • job description • CV or résumé • statement of interest • additional materials

37. What to provide • job description • CV or résumé • statement of interest • additional materials • brief personal presentation

38. Additional Materials

39. Additional materials • reprints • manuscripts • fellowship application • teaching portfolio

40. Managing Your Job Search

41. Managing your job search • make it easy to find you

42. Managing your job search • make it easy to find you • maintain complete records

43. Managing your job search • make it easy to find you • maintain complete records • prepare to be interviewed without warning

44. Managing your job search • make it easy to find you • maintain complete records • prepare to be interviewed without warning • be prepared to travel

45. Job Interviews

46. Job interviews • formal discussions • informal discussions • questions: answering and asking • delivering a “job talk”

47. “Job talks” • standard 1-hr research seminar • introduction (5-10 min) • internal sections (25-35 min) • closing (5-10 min) • questions (10 min)

48. “Job talks” • standard 1-hr research seminar • specifics: • emphasize your role • acknowledge others • discuss future directions

49. Summary • consider a wide range of options • get lots of info on self and careers • assemble dynamite package • prepare to visit • answering questions • asking questions