By: Yaa Haber
It is that time, you are nearing the end of your thesis research or your post doc appointment is ending, and you are looking for your next adventure. How do you search for your next job? Where should you go to start your job search? When is a good time to start? Does your bench research work qualify you for any jobs? Who is hiring? These are legitimate questions and if you are looking for answers, keep reading for more information.
Do Review and Revise Your Resume/ CV.
Go ahead and dust off your resume or curriculum vitae (CV). For those of you who don’t know the difference, a resume provides a summary of your job qualifications and is typically a brief overview of your experiences; a CV is a more in-depth view of your previous accomplishments and work history. Make sure to know which one the job requires! It is not a good idea to send a CV when the employer requests a resume. Most universities have a career center that will help you craft a polished resume and/or CV. Your resume or CV is the first impression an employer gets from you, so make it a good one. For more information see http://careers.rutgers.edu/.
- Do Network with any and every one.
When you are in the trenches of your job search, if it is a stressful time, it may be hard to keep your spirits up. Keep in mind that anyone you talk to about your journey may be the key to landing the job of your dreams. It is important to be friendly to people along the way. Whenever you meet anyone with similar interests, find a way to connect with them in the future, whether it is exchanging contact information or even becoming LinkedIn connections.
- Do Plan Ahead. The best time to look for job opportunities is when the stakes are low. When you and your committee have decided that the wrapping up of your dissertation is near, that is the time when you should be looking for a job. I realize this is difficult to do, especially since the end of your thesis is a busy time. Trust me on this, it will pay off and will alleviate some of the anxiety associated with not knowing what you will do after getting your degree. One thing that has worked for me is to take 30 minutes every week to dedicate to professional development. This is a small chunk of time that I dedicate to follow up on any job leads from people I have met at networking events. I also use this time to make any updates to my CV or resume. Sometimes I use this time as an opportunity to search for jobs on websites such as, glassdoor.com, www.indeed.com, or even our school’s career center website.
- Do an Internship/ Volunteer. I know this seems counterintuitive. When does a full time PhD student have time to work for free? Consider this; doing an internship or volunteering is a small investment into your future that will pay off with high dividends. Employers are attracted to committed workers. Nothing says committed more than working for free. Who knows? Your internship may lead to more connections and expand your network. If you do well at your internship, it may even turn into a job offer. Many people end up working at places they volunteer simply because both they and the employer get a trial without a high level of commitment.
- Do evaluate your qualifications. Self-evaluation cannot hurt. It is ok to take a good look at your qualifications and see how you stack up against the competition. Do not be afraid to ask for advice from people knowledgeable in the professional field you plan to enter. When you talk to these professionals, find out what qualifications are needed and what sets candidates apart. This will be a good way to benchmark and assess yourself.
- Do follow up in a timely manner. Whenever you meet anyone that is a good fit for your career network, make sure to exchange contact information and follow up within 48 hours. In your follow up mention anything from your conversation that will remind them of who you are and the kind of conversation you had. Stay in touch and check in a regular basis, some people do this every 2 weeks. (DON’T BE A STALKER). Maintain healthy boundaries but make sure you follow through with any promises you made in the conversation, e.g. “I will send you my CV/Resume” if that is what you said, or “I will connect with you on LinkedIn.”
- Do your homework before the interview. You have worked really hard to get an interview. Most people do not make it this far. Getting an interview means
that the company is serious enough about you as a potential employee. They have set aside time away from projects and other things to meet and talk with you. Do take this opportunity seriously. Take advantage of a creative google search to know whom you are interviewing with and what the company is all about. If you are not sure how to do this, contact the career services department for your institution. This is a free service that is available even to alumni depending on the institution, make the most of it. Once you have prepared for the interview, you have increased your odds of acing the interview. Go ahead now and do your best!
Useful sites