Biotechnology Career Services

Final Blog

2010-06-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

This blog will, alas, be the last for the Biotechnology Career Services. I encourage you to regularly view our biweekly online newsletter for updates and of course, stop by to visit and make use of the resources in our office.

I would like to refer you to a few other blog sites that you may find interesting.
One called "Is This Thing On?" covers all sorts of things in the biotech world. Derek Lowe's "In the Pipeline" talks about drug discovery and the pharma industry. Genomeweb offers hot topics in the world of genomics.
An entertaining blog, "Biology in Science Fiction" is worth a quick look.

I have enjoyed my brief stint at blogging and hope that my readers have enjoyed the postings and gleaned along the way a nugget of knowledge that was useful.

Spring: Getting in Gear

2010-04-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Spring is the wake up call for students looking to graduate in May or August. Now that they can see the light in the tunnel, they think of what is on the other side of graduation and start the job search. So what steps need to be taken to secure a job?

If you are not clear on your long term goals, you would be wise to take the time to sort that out. Given this weak economy, many students take a two-pronged approach. They look for a post doc and an industry position.

Hopefully the job candidate has developed a resume for industry or a C.V. for the academy. Many people use the term resume and C.V. interchangeably. Indeed, resume in Webster's Dictionary is described in the second given definition as "curriculum vitae." But in the Human Resources (HR) parlance, they are two different documents with two different goals. A resume includes information about one's interpersonal and leadership skills as well as technical expertise. An example is posted here. It does not include references and sometimes omits advisers' names. The C.V. on the other hand, focuses on technical skills, publications, associations, grants earned, awards, your "genealogy" of advisers, and references are included. The best way to distinguish what goes into which marketing piece is to think about the audience. Who is reading this?

Next task is to identify potential companies/universities/professors. For a good place to begin, go to our web site.

Networking is the next frontier and the topic of my next blog. Until then, if you have questions, please stop by our office.

The "Aha" Moment

2010-03-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

A few years back at a Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers ( MWACE) conference, I went to a workshop that incorporated Improv in order to help people be creative problem-solvers. In one of the exercises we were in groups of 8. We were to go clockwise around the circle and make suggestions to solve problem "A". The person to our left who was next, would say "But what about..." We did this for a few minutes and they stopped us and asked if we had gotten all the way around the circle. Many groups had not. The next exercise was similar except the next person would say "Yes, and...." They stopped us after a few minutes and asked if we had gotten completely around the circle with our suggestions to the problem. Not only had we completed the go-around but some people got to propose ideas twice. The energy was higher, there was excitement and many more ideas flowed as opposed to the "But what about.." session. The point was that we have to be open to ideas, possibilities, and opportunities when they come our way.

In his remarks at last year’s commencement, in May, The New York Times reported, University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan comments. “My first word of advice is this,” he told the graduates. “Say yes. In fact, say yes as often as you can. Saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow. Saying yes leads to new experiences, and new experiences will lead to knowledge and wisdom. Yes is for young people, and an attitude of yes is how you will be able to go forward in these uncertain times.”

One of my favorite writers, comedienne actresses is Tina Fey. In an interview she talks about saying "yes" to opportunities she thought maybe she wasn't yet prepared to do like "Saturday Night Live" and moving up to do the 'Weekend Update' on the show. She said, "Life is improvisation."

Thinking about the challenges that lie ahead in our lives, adapting a creative, improvisational approach may take us down to a very satisfying career path.

Dual Career Couples

2010-03-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

I often start my discussion with a student in our first meeting with a question. "How do you see yourself in your career in 5 years and in ten years. In parallel to that, what are your personal goals and how do your career goals support the personal goals?" I tell them they only need to answer for me the first question but to seriously consider the second for themselves.

When you have a spouse or a significant other, those decisions become more complicated especially if both of you look forward to careers in your respective fields.

Long ago before cell phones and the internet, a professor advised me to go into a different field than my husband who was working on a PhD in Plant Ecology. He said it was nearly impossible for a "trailing spouse" to get a position at the same university much less in the same department. We saw friends of ours experience that very same thing when the husband got a position at the University of New Hampshire and his wife, offering to work for a zero time appointment ( free), was refused even lab space.

Times have changed but the difficulties in figuring out how to balance careers and their demands present special challenges. Ellen Wang Althaus gave a wonderful presentation recently on the challenges of dual career couples. She pointed out things to consider such as individual and joint values, timing, location, family formation and personal impact. She discussed negotiable and non-negotiable values and prioritizing life and work values. A couple need to agree on where they would like to work and other issues such as commute time, urban, suburban or rural areas, and proximity to extended family. Althaus addressed the personal impact that one faces in terms of the social, financial and emotional ramifications. It is important to give these issues serious consideration.

There are a lot of articles on the web addressing the two-body problem. David Jensen offers tips for interviewing:
Recommendations for Dual Science Career Couples

" 1. When interviewing, it is not a good idea to present your situation as a "package deal." The more emphasis you put on your partner's options, the less likely that you will receive an offer.
2. Certain topics in an interview are taboo for legal reasons. Know what these are in advance, and try to avoid getting caught up in them during your interview. Many of these inappropriate questions involve the effects of going to work on your personal life.
3. In the employer's eyes, your ability to accept a job offer and start employment should be in no way related to another person's career. But if the reality is different, develop a strategy in advance and know how to answer questions about your possible relocation.
4. Find other two-career couples in the location you are considering and learn how they pulled off the move. It is likely that you will learn a lot about the process by talking with people who have been through it themselves."

A few other good resources:

Meers, Sharon and Strober, Joanna. "Getting to 50/50: how couples can have it all by sharing it all: and why it's great for your marriage, your career, your kids, and you." New York: Bantam Press, 2009.

Q & A about Dual Career issues

Lessons of a Dual Hire

Thinking about these issues now will help you make good choices in the future.

Create Your Own Job

2010-03-07T15:10:00.000-08:00

On February 25th, Lee Todd,Jr.,President of the University of Kentucky, came to campus and gave a presentation entitled "Entrepreneurial Thinking in Graduate Education: A National Need?" He was promoting the idea of more entrepreneurial training in graduate programs and in how universities are run.

In our knowledge-based economy, innovation is key. After the crash of our stock markets, the loss of jobs and the global recession, the challenge to our rising generation is what jobs are there? What are the new growing areas? What am I gonna do??

Out of the rubble the phoenix rises. The answer seems to be in the creativity, innovation and initiation of new enterprises. In other words, people are starting businesses of their own or are employing themselves. A graduate in FAA started her own freelance photography and web design business. Another started a web-based retail business. Where is a service niche that you can exploit?

On campus there are opportunities to expand your knowledge base in business areas. There is the Certificate for Business Administration for non business majors that is offered in the spring. The Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management is designed for science graduate students. Illinois Business Consulting offers students the opportunity to work on projects for Fortune 500, mid-sized, new venture and non-profit clients. The teams are a mix of MBA, engineering and science students. It is a wonderful way to expand your knowledge and experience in problem-solving in a business environment.

There are several on campus organizations that encourage innovative business activities. For example, the Illini Entrepreneurship Center,the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Office of Technology Management.

Survival in this economic climate requires flexibility and resourcefulness. So start dreaming. Get those creative juices flowing. You may be the next Google.

Some great articles

2010-02-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the most difficult thing about blogging is coming up with a good topic. So today I am just going to share a couple of excellent articles that may interest you.

David Jensen writes about the dilemma of a science PhD student who might be interested in business development or perhaps regulatory affairs and doesn't know how to get there. His article "Tooling Up: The Applications Scientist Career Track" suggests a possible transitional path to jobs away from the bench. It is worth reading.

Another article in The Atlantic entitled "How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America" is a thoughtful look at the effects of the current recession.

After that you will need some comic relief. Anyone got any funny YouTube links?

Nonverbal Communication: What's a body to do?

2010-02-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read an article by Charles Montoya reflecting upon the Super Bowl. The byline read, "Peyton’s misfire attributed to an acute case of Malus-Nonverbalis-Communicatis!" The article was a blog supported by Education Career Services and went on the relate the importance of body language in an interview.

Bodies don't lie and a careful observer can tell a lot about you by your body language. Sherlock Holmes read clues this way. The TV program "Lie to Me" is all about watching people's reactions to glean the truth or other information. Dr. Paul Ekman has researched facial expression and body movement since 1954. His research of nonverbal behavior has been used in numerous ways including national security and law enforcement.He has an online training program that can be used for interviewers.

In an interview it is vital that you are aware of the recruiter's body language as well as your own. If you are nervous, how is your body revealing that? Is the recruiter listening intently; is s/he leaning toward you to indicate her/his interest? Jill Bremer, an image consultant, says, "Within thirty seconds, people judge your economic level, your educational level, your social position, your level of sophistication and your level of success.Within four minutes, they’ve made decisions about your trustworthiness,compassion, reliability, intelligence, capability, humility, friendliness and confidence." It is worth paying close attention to make a good first impression with a potential employer.

Offer a good firm handshake (not a wet rag, please), stand tall, do not cross your arms across your chest ( seen as a defensive position) and try not to wiggle in an interview. I see students bouncing their leg up and down or playing with their pens or hair while talking to me. Talking too fast or mumbling will tank your interview. Observe people who are professional, self confident, and friendly in order to imitate that body language. Give positive nonverbal feedback to the recruiter by nodding your head in agreement at appropriate times. Positive body language will help you succeed in the interview process.

Back to the Super Bowl, Tracy Porter read Peyton Manning's body language and capitalized upon it leading the Saints to victory. 55% of communication is nonverbal. Be aware of the messages you give.

Sway

2010-02-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Recently I read a book called Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori and Rom Brafman. The book was written following the Malcolm Gladwell formula. It is an easy, read full of interesting examples and supporting scientific data. What grabbed my attention started on page 75 and discussed diagnosis bias as it pertains to the job interview.

Professor Allen Huffcutt of Bradley University has studied the job interview process. Many companies use a "first date" approach where the manager chats with the job candidate in an unstructured interview to see if they get along with the candidate. The theory behind that is the manager is going to spend a lot of time with the employee and s/he better like them. Huffcutt and his colleagues have, over the years, analyzed various job selection criteria and their relevance to actual job performance. They found that the "first date" method doesn't work well because first impressions can be totally wrong. Huffcutt looked at typical questions such as "Why should I hire you?" or "What do you see yourself doing in five years?" and found them to be useless because candidates will respond with nice-sounding answers and the recruiter still doesn't know much about the real person.

Huffcutt discusses diagnosis bias, where we make assessments based on irrelevant reasons. He said, "We often base the image of the ideal candidate on ourselves. Somebody comes in who's similar to us, and we are going to click; we're probably going to want to hire them."

So what works best? A straight facts-based interview that delves into relevant expertise. This has been dubbed the "Joe Friday" interview and through meta-analysis has been found to be six times more effective than the "first date" approach.

Okay, so what has all this got to you with you as a job candidate? Many companies still use the "first date" approach. As a job seeker, it is up to you to figure out what approach the interviewer is going to take. The first few minutes will clue you to the tact of the recruiter. Be adaptable and follow the recruiter's lead. If it is going to be a casual conversation to get to know you, then be sure to do your part and listen carefully to what they say and how they say it. You want to mirror their behavior to make them feel comfortable with you. Be observant and able to make small talk. If you are in their office, observe the surroundings and ask about a picture or a desk trophy to make conversation. Some recruiters/managers are not well-trained in the hiring process and will welcome the conversation or help with breaking the ice. Know how to sell your skills and abilities. Have canned answers to the most common questions asked in interviews. (We have handouts on those types of questions, you are welcome to stop by and pick them up.)Here is a link to an interesting article on how to handle an unskilled interviewer.

A "Joe Friday" type interview will require you to be able to discuss your technical skills, problem-solve case study questions ( like trouble-shooting an analytical problem) and/or giving an example in story format ( S.T.A.R technique)of your response ( past behavior or experience)in a certain area of competency.

It is up to the job seeker to adapt to the interview setting and recruiter. Do your homework, prepare and practice. This will increase the odds that you get the job.

Workplace Success

2010-02-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

Recently I had two former students contact me about their industry jobs. Things were not going well. One person "A" had a negative performance evaluation that she didn't expect. The other person "B" discovered after only a few months of working in his new position that the company culture was exceedingly stressful and that the company may not be financially sound. What do you do when the transition from academia to workplace becomes a nightmare?

In general, it is best to stay in one position for a minimum of two preferably three years so that you are viewed as a stable worker. Person "A" had been in her job less than two years and had made a few mistakes. She was essentially put on probation but not yet fired though the writing was on the wall. The best strategy for her was to address the issues and work vigorously on improvement(impressing her boss) while intensely searching for a new position. Other companies will not call your current employer while you are working there. She could use other favorable references and not have to provide a current employer reference.

Person "B" had only been in his position for less than six months. Some drastic changes in the customer base had put the company in a wobbly financial position. Further stress involved positive time reporting. How do you bill or account for your time when a major project has been canceled? Person "B" will start looking for a new job immediately and face the question of "why are you leaving so soon?" from recruiters. In his case, simply stating the lack of opportunity and concerns for the company's financial outlook would be sufficient reason. However, he must avoid the pitfall of complaining about the company policies that he finds detrimental. Always remain positive in an interview regardless of how they ask the question.

The first year on the job is critical. Here are a few tips on making the successful transition to the workplace environment.

* Your new boss is exceptionally important in your first year. Learn about your boss; is s/he a micro-manager, a "hands off" boss or frequently absent boss? is s/he a "I want to be your friend" boss, an under or over-qualified boss or one that is insecure and feels threatened? Think about how to best work with those types of personalities. If there are conflicts it is best to pick your battles. Be transparent and be sure to keep a journal or record of your work ( save those emails). Be in control of your emotions, know the rules and your rights. Go to the top of the authority food chain if need be.

* Learn the corporate culture and adjust your attitude and expectations. Understand your role as a new-hire and build relationships. Work hard to learn your job and the skills you need.

* Manage your image by developing professional communication styles and be a good listener. Be aware of nonverbal communication that includes dress, posture, gestures, facial expressions and personal space.

If you focus on these issues, you will be well on your way to effectively integrating into your new job and launching a successful career. We have several resources in our lending library that discuss adapting to the work world. Stop by and check them out.

"Naturally Obsessed"

2010-01-27T13:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Graduate College Career Services and the Biotechnology Career Service offices sponsored a film screening of "Naturally Obsessed," a one hour documentary film about what it takes to be a scientist. It spans a three year period and follows three graduate students in the molecular biology lab of Dr. Larry Shapiro at Columbia University. It follows the failures and successes of the students. The film shows the qualities that go into developing into a scientist such as perseverance, critical thinking, mastering new technologies, collaborating, dealing with stress and competition. The film was well done. It was often humorous and accurately portrayed the lives of the students.

We had a discussion with the audience after the film. Most could identify with the characters in the film. Some of the discussion was focused on skills and traits that one develops as a successful graduate student. It has been my experience that many students struggle with translating their PhD work into concrete skills and traits when looking for jobs. For example, as a graduate science student you have developed the ability to problem-solve, evaluate critically, conceive and design complex studies and projects, use several different methodologies to investigate a problem, conceptualize ideas, manage time effectively and the list goes on. It was interesting that Dr. Shapiro talks about how good scientists are creative. Indeed, in the film, Rob has an inspiration and uses a different system and -eureka- it works. You may ask yourself what are the skills you are developing that will serve your long-term career goals?

Another intriguing question about the outcomes of the three students is what did success mean to them? How do you define success and what values underlie success?

For me it was a provocative film because of the questions it raises in terms of career paths and choices. It was interesting to hear the characters talk about how much the approval of their adviser meant to them which leads to the question of how much does the approval of your adviser and lab mates influence your choices? One character, Gabe, struggled with quitting. It took great courage to finally leave the lab and find a job she loved.

I will end this blog with a quote about success from Thomas J. Watson, former president of IBM.

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success."

Are Cover Letters Obsolete?

2010-01-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

There has been a 91 comment discussion going on through LinkedIn’s “Career Change Central” lead by Phil Rosenberg. He makes many interesting points to support the idea that cover letters are obsolete. It is common knowledge that the typical resume is scanned by the Human Resource specialist, manager, or recruiter for maybe 30 seconds. Recruiters use weighted key word searches on posted resumes. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System ( ATS) as a HR database. Most HR people scan the resumes into the ATS not the cover letters. Rosenberg cites a LinkedIn poll that he conducted as well as anecdotal interviews he has lead to support his claim. He reports percentages from his poll but we don’t know how large his sample size was nor does he offer the raw data for perusal. Rosenberg is a Career Coach and he also has a blog spot repeating his mantra on cover letters so he may have an agenda with this discussion.

He is a proponent of customizing your resume per company and even per job in one company using keywords from the job description or from your research on that company. Each position has its own set of keywords. He explains that a resume shouldn’t list the things you can do but rather “Here’s why I can do that better than anyone else.” It should answer why the company should hire you to help them solve their problems. I heartily agree with targeted resumes, it only makes sense when you are marketing your skills to a specific job or company however I hesitate to endorse the blanket statement that cover letters are obsolete.

Perhaps for general jobs, a cover letter is discarded and not passed on to the hiring manager, therefore a waste of time and energy. But for specialized niche positions or upper level jobs, I think the cover letter would be read. Cover letters serve as a writing sample, a means to further your cause and a method to differentiate yourself.

So how do you know if cover letters are going to be read or not? Smaller companies don’t use ATS and may very well use all the materials sent to them to vet applicants. If you send a resume to a networked contact, the cover letter will be read by the contact. At a PhD or post doc level, your qualifications put you in league with a smaller pool of candidates. Maybe that cover letter will help you get that interview.

Laura Smith Dunaief writes of her experience, “In the not-so-distant past, I sat across from a senior manager in an informational interview; I had been invited in response to a blind (but customized) resume and cover letter I had sent to the firm. Toward the end of the interview, the manager flipped my resume over to reveal my cover letter, where she - or someone - had circled a section of my cover letter, drawn a star and two exclamation points next to it, and had written: ‘Find a way to hire this person.’" The cover letter obviously worked for her.

Some suggest using a “T-letter” which is like a cover letter except that after the introductory paragraph you write two columns, one that has the company’s job requirements and in the other column your qualifications that meet their specifications to connect the dots for the reader.

I suggest that if you are applying online to a medium or large company, don’t bother with a cover letter. If you are sending your resume to a specific person then definitely include a cover letter. Use a T-letter if you have a job description to work from and it feels appropriate. If you are in a very specialized field, I would recommend writing the cover letter. They may not read it but if they do, it could give you the competitive advantage to get that interview. Phil Rosenberg may see this as a black and white no-brainer issue but for the sciences at the graduate level, I see this as a grey area that calls for common sense.

2010 Job Strategies: Contract Work

2010-01-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

How to get a job with very little or no industry experience? As I mentioned in a previous blog, December 17, 2009, large companies are not predicted to hire many people this year. Finding a job will require creative solutions.

Robert Boles, a Communications, Engineering and Technology Staffing Account Manager, suggests considering contract work through a recruiting agency where you can go “on assignment” for 3 to 6 months with a client. It is an excellent way to gain experience and make yourself more valuable. Boles further advises,
“You need to make yourself attractive to managers budget-wise, as well; it is absolutely critical that you get 2-3 years of corporate experience under your belt after graduation - I can not stress that enough. Entry level jobs aren't that common, since employers are currently in the "driver's seat" - there are lots of experienced candidates out there for employers to choose from, and if everyone is the same price, why should they pick someone who's green?”

In other words, it’s an employer’s market. The employer has the opportunity to assess your work without the risk of a permanent hire and you gain valuable experience. The good news is that often temporary positions are converted into full time jobs. The downside to contract work is that there are usually no benefits like health insurance or unemployment insurance.

Some recruiting firms to consider: Aerotek, Kelly Scientific, Lab Support, Joule Scientific. Aerotek offers a Medical, Dental and Vision plan that employees can participate in while they are on contract with Aerotek. Benefits are something to consider when choosing a recruiting agency.

Following Simply Hired or Indeed may be useful in identifying opportunities as well. For a directory of recruiting firms go to Riley Guide.

Another twist on free lance work is Innocentive, a website where companies post the problem and seek people to solve that problem and offer a “challenge reward.”

So where do you find recruiters? Matt LeBlanc conducted a survey of 633 job seekers and 553 recruiters to see where recruiters go to meet and network with job-seekers. A graph on how employers and job seekers find each other shows that Professional Associations were the clear choice. If you are not part of one in your specialty, you need to become involved in one. An excellent article on networking through Professional Associations discusses the value to your career.

Check out our job listing links on the Biotech Career Services website. Persistence and a creative approach to finding a job will ensure success in this difficult economy.

Large Stones

2010-01-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

A Happy New Year to you.
The new year is a time many people look over the past year at where they have been and forward to where they are going. It reminds me of the following story:

There was a philosophy professor who stood before his class with a big jar in front of him. He put in several large stones into the jar. He asked the class if the jar was full. They agreed it was full. Next the professor added pebbles that filled in the space around the large stones and he asked again if the jar was full. The class agreed that the jar was full. The professor then added sand to the jar and it filled in the rest of the space. He asked again if the jar was full and the class responded "yes." From out of a paper bag, the professor pulled out a large cup of coffee, removed the top and poured it into the jar until the top was covered in coffee, effectively filling all the empty space between the sand.

"Think about your life," he said. "The large stones represent the most important things to you, like family, health, your passions and so on. The pebbles represent things that matter like your car, your job, your house and the like. The sand is the small stuff. Don't fill your jar with the sand first. Focus on the big stones because those are the things that really matter if the pebbles, sand and coffee are gone."

A student asked, "What about the coffee?" The professor responded, "The coffee just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

It's easy to get sidetracked from our priorities and what is really important. My New Year's Resolution is to keep my priorities always in mind as I delegate my time.

Looking into the Crystal Ball

2009-12-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

Once a year, Professor Phil Gardner of Michigan State University does a massive survey of companies throughout the United States entitled "Recruiting Trends." I will summarize some of the career-related highlights.

Projections for the 2010 hiring indicate that small companies ( less than 500 employees) will be hiring while medium to large companies project a downturn in hiring. Employers appear to be looking for candidates who are flexible and can fill a variety of positions because of their broad base of competencies and soft skills. Employers will focus more on what you can do and your experience rather than the major you studied. They are leveraging internships into full time jobs rather than other traditional ways of hiring. They are using social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook in that effort. Respondents to the survey indicated that they expected to hire more PhD candidates to replace more experienced retiring workers.

Employers are looking for workers who are able to build professional relationships, evaluate, analyze, interpret data, pursue continuous learning, communicate through persuasion and justify their position, plan and manage projects, create new knowledge, and have a global understanding as well as the core competencies (we have a handout listing those competencies and soft skills). Star performers take initiative, have technical competence, and have cognitive thinking ability. ( See Kelley R, Caplan J."How Bell Labs creates star performers." Harv Bus Rev. 1993 Jul-Aug;71(4):128-39.)

Areas that will be in demand: : Environmental sciences, Statistics, Information systems/sciences, E-commerce and entrepreneurial experience.

Gardner recommends that students remain "focused, directed and connected" in order to find a job. Perseverance will remain key to land a job in this economy.

There is a copy of the "Recruiting Trends 2009-2010" report is available at our office. You are welcome to stop by and read it.

Once upon a time..

2009-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

What do storytelling and interviewing have in common? Both are oral narratives that connect the teller to the listener. In an interview you want to make an impression, create a rapport with your audience, and leave them with a positive experience ( of you).

Most people forget facts but most people remember a story. Many companies use a technique called Behavioral Interviewing to assess the potential job candidate. When they ask you "Tell me about yourself," it is an invitation to show them why they should care to hire you. What makes you stand out from the other job competitors? Or they may ask "Tell me about a time when you showed leadership." What story would you tell?

Points to consider in good storytelling:

* Who is your audience? Do research on the company
* Why are you selecting this story as an example? How does it show you in the best possible light? Remember to be honest.
* Pay attention to how you language your story
* What is the setting of your story?

Stories are linear. In the case of interviewing narratives, consider the P.A.R. outline.

P= Problem: what is the challenge or conflict in the story
A= Action: what action did the hero/heroine (you) take?
R= Result: What was the outcome or solution to the problem?

A thoughtful, prepared story in response to a question in an interview will portray you as articulate and intelligent. If you need practice with interviewing, please sign up for a mock interview through the Biotech Career Services office.

The shortest distance between two people is a story.

Handling Conflict

2009-11-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I pulled into a private parking lot to visit a friend when a woman backed out of her parking spot into my left rear fender. We both got out to inspect the damage and I walked over to speak with her. She began bellowing at me in righteous indignation. She accused me of several wrong-doings and I calmly explained given where the damage occurred that it would not be interpreted as my fault. She postured and threatened to call the police and I encouraged her to do so. After much abuse, she got inside her car, I thought to get her cell phone to call the police. I moved my car out of the way into a parking spot and got out. To my amazement she pulled out of the parking lot and drove off like a bat out of hell.

During our interaction, I thought about how one would determine or evaluate the cause of the damage or who was at fault. Analytical skills would come into play. Later, I thought about how people handle stress and conflict. In a job situation, these are critical skills. The number one reason people get fired ( outside of trying economic times)is that they have poor interpersonal skills. They are difficult to deal with.

Surveys of recruiters have shown that the top 5 skill sets they look for in a job candidate include communication, time management, critical thinking, interpersonal and leadership skills. Integrity is also high on the list. Recruiters will ask the job candidate in an interview to describe a situation or an experience that they have had to show how they handle difficult people or conflict. We all have had problematical situations to resolve. Think about how you deal with conflict. What story would you tell?

It is important on many levels to be self aware. It is a sign of maturity that companies value. While it is important to be technically savvy, emotional intelligence strengthens successful outcomes.

My hope is that very angry, insecure woman will take time to reflect on her behavior.

When You Are Not the First Choice For a Job: Handling Rejection

2009-11-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

Frustration, stress, feeling like a loser; these are common reactions to rejection or a stalled job search. First and foremost remember, like Tessio said in the movie The Godfather, "This is business, not personal."

There may be any number of reasons that you were not selected for the job. For example, I had a student who interviewed with one of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the US. It was down to her and another candidate. Then for three months her emails were met with no response from the company. Finally she got an email awkwardly explaining that the company hires on a quarterly basis, if the department doesn't complete the hire within that time, the funding for the position is withdrawn. The recruiter had not acted in a timely manner and lost the funding for the position.

Another reason that you didn't get the job may be that when the recession hit, those companies you applied to went into a hiring "frost." Sometimes people who are connected within the company through alumni or other networked contacts will get the job instead of you.

Maybe there were valid reasons not to hire you. Those reasons could be that you didn't have the right skills, were too inexperienced (no industry experience) or maybe you choked at the interview because you hadn't prepared adequately for the interview questions.

If you did not receive a job offer, ask the recruiters for constructive criticism. Find out their reasons and act on them. Take additional coursework to fill in technical gaps; volunteer to take leadership over a project; get an internship; build a network into industry through your alumni contacts. 50-55% of job seekers get jobs through referrals( contacts within the company).

Be sure to take extra good care of yourself during this time. Stress can cause a myriad of negative physical responses. Listen to your chatter in your mind. Keep it positive and squelch the "should be," "must be," and "has to be" kind of rigid thinking. The reality is everyone has been rejected one time or another. That's life.

The good news is that you will get a job through persistence, a positive attitude, and knowing that this is business and it's nothing personal.

Job Market Paper

2009-11-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

A colleague called and asked if I knew what a "Job Market Paper" was. I had not heard of the term. Apparently a student who is pursuing nontraditional jobs in chemistry was asked to produce one for a recruiter to review.

We asked others and checked online. Here is what we found out. A Job Market Paper is an economic term typically used in the business sector. It is a document that reflects the candidate's research and can be posted online on their personal website. It signals that the student is close to finishing his/her PhD. It serves as a writing example as well as gives the recruiter insight into their research project.

One science company recruiter wrote: "Some companies ask you to do this if you are a PhD and the expectation is that you will one day be publishing papers for them.

A job market paper is just like one being prepared for publication, except it may not be quite as polished or complete. The other element is that a good job market paper shows off the candidate's skills as well as contributing to the science.

When completing your thesis you typically have several papers associated with this. Some or most of these will be papers on which the candidate would be the lead author. Therefore, a job market paper would be a paper that was written to be submitted to a journal based on the research that was done for the PhD. Someone close to being done with their PhD would typically have a few of these they have or could write. Of course, any papers written and published might also be considered as well, but typically if you are coming down the home stretch of the thesis, the main papers associated with your thesis would not be published yet. "

My advice would be to share only your published research. If you don't have anything yet published and you are asked for such a document, check with your adviser before giving out any pre-published thesis work. With university labs competing with other labs investigating similar projects, that would be the wise move.

So much to do, so little time

2009-10-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

The fall seems a particularly busy time of year. If you feel like Alice in Wonderland running all the time just to stay the same place, you are not alone.

If you plan on attending our Research-Oriented Science Information and Job Fair on October 22nd, here are a few convenient ways to do some research on companies.The companies coming to our Fair are listed on the Biotech Career Services website with links to their home page.

How to look up information quickly on companies of interest? There are several excellent web sources that are supported ( paid subscription) on campus. For example, Vault is a resource that provides company profiles and can be accessed through the Career Center website. Another very useful site is Webfeet that offers job search tools and articles. These websites are accessible only with your illinois.edu email account.

Good luck on your research and hope to see you at the Fair.

The Non-compete Clause in Job Contracts

2009-09-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Many companies such as pharmaceuticals, biotech and seed companies protect their trade secrets and research by including a "non-compete clause" in the job contracts of new hires. A student of mine received a job offer from a large company and as she read through the contract, she came across the non-compete clause.

What is a "non-compete clause?" The basis of the agreement not to compete with the company is that when an employee terminates his/her employment with company "A", that former employee will not use confidential information or trade secrets gained from company "A" to give another company a competitive advantage or to start their own company based upon the knowledge they obtained while in the employment of company "A". This includes marketing plans, new product information, customer/client lists and business practices. Typically the clause contains a time period whereby the former employee cannot work in that field/industry.

For example, it may be written as: "For a period of one year after the employment contract terminates, the employee shall not, without prior permission from the employer in writing, undertake any work or activities within the State of XXXX whether in his own name or by means of and/or in collaboration with or in the employ of other natural or legal persons, which are the same as or similar to the pharmaceutical or biotechnological arenas..."

A time frame and a geographic area are usually indicated. The laws vary considerably from state to state and the language of the non-compete clause may vary as well. Some are very tightly specified and some are more broadly written. Courts have held that the company cannot stop a person from reasonably making a living as long as the company is protected.

If you receive a contract that contains a "non-compete clause," I recommend that you contact the Student Legal Services on campus. Make an appointment and give the lawyer a copy of the clause to study in advance. At your meeting, the lawyer will help you to understand the clause and make a decision.

I invite others who have experience on this issue to comment.

Kathleen

Where the jobs are...

2009-09-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Recently a student sent me an email to tell me that she got a job with the USDA. She participated in a mock interview at our office to help her prepare responses for the USDA interview and landed an offer. There have been few job offers extended to our students of late. She is one of the lucky ones.

However, on the bright side, the Federal Government is and will be hiring to fill the gap that will be left when the Baby Boomers retire. In their own words, hot off the press:

“According to the results of a report released by the Partnership for Public Service earlier this month, the federal government will need to hire 273,000 new federal workers for mission-critical positions over the next three years. This surge in hiring is the result of an increased demand for services, priority program initiatives like climate change and healthcare, a wave of baby boomer retirements and normal attrition.

The majority of these positions are expected to fall into five broad fields:
• Medical and public health
• Security and protection
• Compliance and law enforcement
• Legal
• Administration/program management

These jobs, and those in other categories, cover almost all occupational fields and issue areas, and are located across the country and around the world. From doctors and nurses to law enforcement and immigration personnel to lawyers and program managers, there are positions available for nearly all academic majors, interest areas and skill sets.

Do you want to learn which agencies are hiring, in what mission-critical areas and in what numbers? Visit the Where the Jobs Are web site and learn the answers to all of these questions and more.”

I encourage you to consider federal jobs. Areas of interest may include NIH, NSF, and opportunities such as patent review agent, forensics, legislative advisor and scientific writer.

Come to our workshop on Tuesday, September 29th at 5pm at 124 Burrill Hall. We will discuss “Tips of Federal Job Applications.” Hope to see you there.

Kathleen

But I don't LIKE networking....

2009-08-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine you are at a conference seated with other scientists for the purpose of professional growth and making connections for a possible future job or post doc position.They are the exact opposite of the type of people you are comfortable with. How would you communicate and successfully network with these people?

Workshop presenters Gina Anselmo and Michael Elias asked us this question at the Annual Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers conference. How do you interact with the world; where do you direct your energy? Do you prefer a structured or spontaneous environment? Using the Myers Briggs personality test, one can determine one's personality type.

We looked at two parameters: Extraversion(E)/Introversion(I) and Judging(J)/Perceiving(P). Possible combinations were: IJ, IP, EP, EJ. Now back to the original scenario. What if you were an IJ ( a decisive introvert, who is reflective and like structure/organization) sitting at a table with EPs( adaptable extroverts who are talkative and spontaneous)--your opposite in terms of communication style and interaction with their environment--- and you are to network with them, how would you do this? ( Hint: running away screaming is not an option.)

We brainstormed ideas of how to be effective given your personality type.

Successful Networking Strategies:
IJ: One-on-one interactions ( talk to your neighbor at the table) or small groups with an agenda are options. Go with a friend and/or have planned questions ready to ask upon meeting someone or a targeted individual. If you have to go to a large event, limit the time you spend there and have a goal of talking to 3 people.

IP: Try to arrange to be introduced to others; perhaps initiate first contact through email. Ask questions of others to give yourself time to process; redirect personal questions back to professional topics. The IPs tend to be the most resistant to networking.

EP: Go to unstructured casual social events where there are many things to do and people to see. Focus on shorter encounters rather than on extended conversations. Verbally repeat or paraphrase contact's thoughts and create an opportunity to process thoughts out loud.

EJ: Attend structured group settings; network before and after a formal event. Give yourself a certain amount of time per person and then move on. Create the opportunity to introduce others and redirect conversation to interests in unstructured situations.

These are some ways to work with your personality type. Want to learn more?

See "Breaking the Myths About Networking"

Networking Advice

"Nuts and Bolts: Networking for Introverts"

As for me, I am an IJ and I learned a thing or two about how to be more productive and comfortable in professional situations.

Kathleen

The Real World Part II

2009-08-17T17:17:00.001-07:00

In this two part series, a little bit more about the specific challenges in my personal job. I currently work as an Intellectual Property (Associate) Manager. That means I help the researchers in my current organization patent, license, and market their new technologies. Basically, I work with inventions! I regularly have meetings with inventors about their cool ideas. I help them to figure out if it's patentable or not (whether it has utility, is novel, and is non-obvious). Then I reach out to companies who might be interested in the technology. The PhD is useful for understanding the technologies at a very technical level. Outside of that, it's a lot of on-the job-training.

In very obvious ways, it's been tough. I've never even seen a CT machine firsthand before, and now I have to understand the algorithms used to improve the software. In terms of licensing, my only past experience has been clicking the "I Agree" buttons on different websites. And now I'm expected to draft the terms on behalf of my organization and inventors. In other ways, it's actually been easier. I work ~50 hours a week, and my weeknights and weekends are all mine (no more running into lab early on a Saturday morning to set up Sunday's experiments!) The expectations are clear. We're formally evaluated on an annual basis and intermittently receive informal feedback. Finally, we function as a team. So before those license agreements that I drafted (which control revenue and royalty shares of important people) are signed, they're reviewed by someone more senior than myself.

Besides other PhD's on my team, I also work with lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, and a myriad of other biotech folks. No day is exactly the same. If you've had a taste of business, but don't want to stray too far from the science, then I would suggest giving intellectual property management a shot.

The Real World Part I

2009-08-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

My name is Karla, and I'm pinch-hitting for Kathe for the next couple of weeks, as she is taking some well-deserved time away from the computer (et al.) I'll start out with a brief introduction. I earned my PhD in Fall 2008 in Neuroscience at Illinois. About a year and a half prior to that, I realized that I didn't want to pursue academia and started looking for what else could possibly be out there, besides becoming a highly over-qualified coffee barista. That's when I met Kathe, and she quickly became a wonderful mentor on the many possibilities. I can talk about that more later. The main reason I'm "here" (in this neck of the blogosphere) is that students have been inquiring about the transition from grad school to the real world. And as a newly minted "professional", she thought I might be able to contribute a few thoughts on the topic. I'll do my best...

I think the biggest change for me was the fact that I'd actually be doing something that impacted many different people on a regular basis. The thing is, the whole point of grad school is to become an expert on something that nobody has ever done before, something novel. The risk is that you become so specialized that half of the time the only ones that ever care about what you're working on are your advisor and yourself. In my current position (managing intellectual property portfolios), that is no longer the case. People care, and they'll send you little reminders on a regular basis in case you forget.

Other challenges involved shock from the new-ness of it all. New job. New co-workers. New city. New apartment. No roomies--for the first time in 5.5 yrs. No close friends to meet up with last minute on a Wednesday night. I had to get used to a lot of new's and no's. But the bright side is, that is exactly what I wanted. Hopefully if you're reading this and have spent years of bumping your head against a wall in a lab or in front of a computer, you're wanting change as well. Grad school is tough, which is the reason that not everyone survives. But know that when you're done and entering the real world, you'll be tough too.

The Job Search: Making the Web Work for You

2009-07-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

If you are starting the job search and want to be as efficient as possible, here are some suggestions.

There are many online resources that can save you time. The first place to start is on the Biotechnology Career Services website under Resources: http://www.biotec.illinois.edu/career/students_resources.php

We have numerous links under “Job Listings” for industry, academic and government jobs.

As a registered student with our office, you may use Nacelink (https://biotech-uiuc-csm.symplicity.com/students/ )to search for jobs that are posted with Illinois and on the national Nacelink system.

Visit Indeed (http://www.indeed.com/) or Simply Hired (http://www.simplyhired.com/ ) and set up an RSS feed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS ). You can set the profile of the jobs you are interested in and any new listings will be delivered to your email.

Consider setting up Google Alerts (http://www.googlealert.com/faqs.php ). This system will track topics/jobs of interest for you and send you an email alert. It’s free.

Sign up for LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_home ) and join appropriate interest groups in your field. Often jobs are posted to the group. This gives you an inside edge.

These are a few easy ways to have information sent to you and it takes very little time to set up. It will help you keep tabs on the job situation and the types of jobs available.

Kathleen

Is the Price Right?

2009-07-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

I had a student come in with a job offer that was not to her satisfaction but it was with a Fortune 500 company and it was the only offer she currently had. She asked, "What would you do?"

Ahh, now there's the rub. I often tell students in our initial meeting to write a list of their top ten values or criteria for a job. Is location of primary importance; salary to pay off that loan; or the working environment? This value scale is our compass. One needs to develop it before interviewing and considering a job offer. Otherwise we are all too often swayed by other concerns and fear.

A wise friend of mine said when you want something, ask yourself the following questions:

What do you want? ( be careful what you wish for)
What do you need? ( be honest)
What will you take? ( bottom line)
What will you give to get it? ( very provocative question)

These are weighty questions to ask yourself. It gives you a baseline from which to make consequential decisions.

I had another student who had spent over a year looking for a job and finally received a very nice offer from a large Pharma with a very decent salary. I asked him what advice he would give other graduate students and he wrote:

"Advice for graduate students... I would say first and foremost to be persistent. I think that persistence may be key. It took me 13 months to find the job I really wanted, and I almost gave up a couple of times along the way. I'm glad I didn't." The key here is that he held out for the job that was in line with his goals and values.

The graduate student in the beginning of my blog declined the first offer she received. We checked around, asking contacts and alumni who had worked at this company, and found that the low salary offer was common and that the corporate culture was not supportive.

She continued with her job search and eventually found a position in the Research Triangle that was about the same amount of money as her first offer but the people were collaborative and the career growth potential was very exciting to her. She accepted the job and has been very satisfied with her choice, especially the one to let the "big fish" go.

Welcome Blog

2009-07-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new Biotechnology Center Career Services web site!

Our goal is to make the web site as user friendly as possible. If you have any suggestions or would like to see additional content, please contact us.

The challenge of getting a job has turned a corner. The effects of the global economy and ever-advancing technology has put a new face on the strategies one uses to find and compete for a job. This coming fall we will offer a series of workshops in an effort to address these issues.

I especially encourage you to attend our workshop on "Web 2.0 Job Strategies" on October 7th. The time and location TBA. Other offerings include "About Federal Jobs and Applications" held on September 29th and "How to Work a Job Fair" held on October 19th with our annual Science Job and Information Fair held on October 22nd at the Illini Union. Mark your calendars and I'll see you then.

Kathleen Brinkmann
Director, Biotechnology Career Services