Looking for Your First Job –
Research Careers
Development
Gail P. Taylor
Spring 2006
08/2006
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
Transition to Job
► Postdoc
is nearing completion…now it’s time
for the “real” thing!
Outline
► preparing
a “package”
► interviewing
► additional issues
 negotiating
 what to do when time is running out
Assembling Your Package
Your package
► cover
letter
► curriculum vitae or résumé
► statement of interests
► letters of recommendation
► additional supporting materials
CV versus résumé
► CV
 academic and some research jobs
 comprehensive record
► Résumé
 most non-academic jobs
 1-2 page summary
 tailored to job
Similarities
► your
may be one of hundreds
► will be scanned initially, not read
► make it clear and concise
► write it yourself
► avoid errors
Curriculum vita
► Items







of particular importance!
Education (including post-docs)
Appointments
Awards
Professional Societies
Grants
Teaching Experience
Publications
Résumés
► education
► experience
► skills,
techniques
 research methods
 computer
 languages
► awards,
honors
Résumés
► chronological
 emphasize development
 may be best if continuing
► skills
 emphasize skills
 de-emphasize career disruptions
 may be best if changing
Experience: Highlight yourself
Biogen Corporation,
New Wilmington, KY
Staff Scientist
Staff Scientist
Biogen Corporation
New Wilmington, KY
Experience: Use action verbs
Responsible for supervising
three technicians
Supervised three technicians
Cover Letters
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
Statement of Interests
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
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation
► from
whom
► how to request
► what to provide
Letters from whom?
key variables
► how
well they know you
► how enthusiastic they are
► how specific they are
► who they are
How to request
“Can you provide a strong
recommendation…
...for this job…
...by this date?
What to provide letter writer
► job
description
► CV or résumé
► statement of interest
► additional materials
► May come to talk to them…brief personal
presentation.
Additional materials
► reprints
► manuscripts
► fellowship
application
► teaching portfolio
Managing Your Job Search
Managing your job search
► make
it easy to find you
► maintain complete records
► prepare to be interviewed without warning
► be prepared to travel
The Interview
Outline
► Overview
► Getting
the call
► Collecting critical information
► Influencing the schedule
► Preparing & giving your presentations
► Additional issues regarding the visit
The Interview
The objective: transfer of information
you
them
What will they want to know?
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
Remember:
you are one of a select few
What will you want to know?
What will you want to know?
► will
I enjoy this job
 responsibilities
 colleagues
 atmosphere
What will you want to know?
► will
I enjoy this job
 responsibilities
 colleagues
 atmosphere
► will
I succeed
success
Outline
► Overview
► Getting
the call
► Collecting critical information
► Influencing the schedule
► Preparing & giving your presentations
► Additional issues regarding the visit
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
Outline
► Overview
► Getting
the call
► Collecting critical information
► Influencing the schedule
► Preparing & giving your presentations
► Additional issues regarding the visit
Collecting critical information
► your
needs
 type of responsibilities
 space, equipment, other resources
 start-up funds; start date
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
Outline
► Overview
► Getting
the call
► Collecting critical information
► Influencing the schedule
► Preparing & giving your presentations
► Additional issues regarding the visit
Influencing the schedule
► Arrival
at airport
► Dinner
► Overnight
at hotel
► Breakfast
► Meetings
► Job
Talk
► Discussions with
department head
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
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
* as relevant
techs*
Outline
► Overview
► Getting
the call
► Collecting critical information
► Influencing the schedule
► Preparing & giving your
presentations
► Additional issues regarding the visit
Preparing your presentations
► formal
presentations
 “job talk”
 lecture to students
► informal
presentations
 peers
 administration
 trainees
Preparing your presentations:
The “job talk”
► general
organization
 introduction
 your research
5 min
►rationale
►methods
30 min
►results
►implications
 summary & future directions
 question period
5 min
Preparing your presentations:
The “job talk”
► preparation





of talk
outline
write out
revise outline
practice
revise again
► anticipate
audience
your
 knowledgeable peers
 more knowledgeable
 less knowledgeable
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
Talking about your research
►
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
Possible questions
► research
► experience
► education
► goals
► strengths
► weaknesses
What can you offer?
► knowledge
► skills
► experience
► perspective
► creativity
► enthusiasm
Self assessment
► strengths
► weaknesses
► needs
► potential
contributions
Answering questions
► be
honest
► and positive
Private vs Public Consumption
Answering questions
► be
honest
► and positive
► be specific
► provide examples
► let them ask for more
Preparing your presentations:
Classroom lecture
► know




well in advance
audience
course objectives
duration
resources
► practice
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 $
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
After the visit
After the visit
► contact
host
 say thank you
 express continuing interest
► send
promised materials
 add’l info about research
 details of your needs
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
Looking for your next position
when time is running out
When time is running out
►options
 reduce constraints
 accept temp position
 remain where you are
►change
of status
►change of responsibilities
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