PhD Transition Report On-Demand

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**PhD Transition Report On-Demand**

Podcast by Cheeky Scientist

Latest Episodes:

Why Today’s ATS Software Hates Your Resume Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn why employers are using Applicant Tracking System Software
Next, you’ll learn 2 things to keep in mind regarding ATS systems
Finally, you’ll learn how to tailor your resume to speak to the hiring managers

What you should know about the ATS Software.

98 percent. That’s the number of Fortune 500 companies that are now using applicant tracking systems, according to a survey by Jobscan.

A Kelly OCG survey estimates that 66% of large companies rely on ATS software, too, and 35% of small organizations also rely on recruitment software.

As a job seeker, you know what an applicant tracking system is. Maybe you even know how to get your resume past one, or are actively learning about what that entails. But have you ever wondered why their prevalence is rising? I ask because you must understand how and why employers are using these systems if you want to get hired.

Today I’m going to address the 2 things you need to keep in mind about an employer’s perspective as you work to build your resume.

First: Does the candidate’s experience match the job title they’re applying to? This is such an easy way to weed out applicants, and here’s why. Of the hundreds to thousands of candidates who apply, there are always several who send in a resume because they think “it can’t hurt.”

They know they don’t have the exact experience to do the job, but they think employers are going to take a chance on them because they have similar skills. And they’re half right – employers do give transferable skills priority over niche ones.

But if you’re applying to be a User Experience Researcher and you have only basic research experience on your resume, your resume is going to be thrown out – unless you use the word “User Experience Researcher.” You need to work that job title into your summary or find room for it in your Experience bullet points.

Don’t make the ATS system or hiring managers dig for the reason you’re a good fit – hand it to them. Make it easy.

You don’t have to have been a User Experience Researcher either. You can, for example, say “Research and analysis skills relevant to User Experience Researcher positions.”

That takes me to the second thing that you need to understand about ATS systems. Why are employers using AI to help them screen for candidates? It’s because a job search isn’t just overwhelming for applicants. Imagine receiving more than 2,000 applications and needing to sift through all of them to find the perfect candidate – and you have just 1 week to do it. And then, if that candidate doesn’t work out, you have to start the whole process over again. It’s stressful for employers.

Especially hiring managers and recruiters who hate wasting time on candidates who are not viable for the position at hand. ATS software programs automate time-sucking activities, and they help hiring managers be more objective.

As the AI behind ATS gets smarter, it can help with activities like scheduling interviews, sharing interview details with key decision-makers, sending out offer letters, creating side-by-side candidate comparisons using keyword data, and so much more.

Why wouldn’t an employer use it? Knowing that employers are pressed for time can help you in your job search. Keep this fact in mind when you’re creating your next tailored resume.

How can you say the most about yourself in the fewest number of words? Have you chosen words thoughtfully? Are these words even relevant to the job at hand? Have you answered the question, in your summary, why you’re the right candidate for THIS role? A resume that speaks directly to the hiring manager is the one that’s going to be read and it belongs to the candidate who is going to get a call.

Thanks to ever-enhancing machine learning capabilities, today’s AI can learn as it goes. That means that it’s only going to improve, which means you need to keep improving your resume in terms of both clarity and relevance to the position.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post Why Today’s ATS Software Hates Your Resume appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Leverage An Employee’s Fears About Retention In Your Job Search Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn why employee retention is top priority for every employer.
Next, you’ll learn 3 ways to put an employer’s mind at ease during the interview process.
Finally, you’ll learn how to anticipate the employer’s concerns during the interview.

Leverage An Employee’s Fears About Retention.

If you ask any manager what their number one priority is, they’ll tell you without hesitation: it’s retention. Employee engagement and retention are at the top of every employer’s priority list.

Why do employers care so much? Because high turnover is costly. Quantifying exactly how much businesses spend to replace every employee who leaves is a challenge, and estimates can only measure dollars.

Experts estimate that anywhere from six to nine months of an existing employee’s salary is lost between productivity, retraining, initial hiring costs, and the expense of hiring and retraining a new employee.

There’s also a more abstract cost when talent leaves – they take their institutional knowledge with them. This puts a ceiling on the speed and quality of the work that can be done.

Every company wants to attract and keep the best talent. If you can send the message to employers that you are looking to stick around, this is going to give you a definite edge in your job search.

So how do you do that? There are three things you can do that will guarantee you’ve put a potential employer’s mind at ease.

The first way to convince employers is to do your research about the job you’re applying for.

Specifically, I’m talking about keyword research. It’s incredibly simple to upload your resume on a job search site and use the Easy Apply button.

As a result, many people apply for jobs without even reading the whole description. What can it hurt to apply, they think? And that’s why 99% of Global 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to discard hundreds of applicants automatically.

The AI that does this is using one thing and one thing only to determine who is a good fit – the words on your resume. So if those words don’t match the words in the job description, you will not be making it past the ATS. Period. But I’m not just talking about keyword research.

The second thing you can do to show employers that you’re as invested in them as they are in you is to research the company. Dig in. From their social media to their press releases, find out what they’ve said about themselves. See what others are saying about the company on the Better Business Bureau, Glassdoor, and Blind.

Introduce yourself to an employee who works there and, after building some rapport with that person, ask for an informational interview. Ask questions and draw conclusions. Only then will you be able to anticipate what the company is looking for in a candidate.

Mention a quality or skill you have in your cover letter, your resume and in interviews that will assure them you can solve a problem they are facing. Armed with the research you’ve done, when you make it to the interview stage it’s time for a third and powerful step: anticipate their needs. Address these questions, even if they’re not asked:

What attracted you to this position?” …
“Why did you leave your last job?” …
“What motivates you?” …
“What makes work enjoyable for you?” …
“What do you expect from your relationship with your manager?”

Use what you’ve learned about the company and its current needs, and use your answers to demonstrate that you know what you’re getting yourself into. “This company is my top choice because of XYZ reasons.” “I see my personal values reflected in the mission of ABC company.”

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post Leverage An Employee’s Fears About Retention In Your Job Search appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

5 Game-Changing Resume Strategies Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn why your academic CV will not land you an industry job.
Next, you’ll learn 5 steps to change your resume.
Finally, you’ll learn why employers are not just looking at your resume to find out if you are a good fit.

How to take your resume to the next level.

PhDs trying to transition into industry struggle at the resume stage more than any other stage of the job search process.

Why?

PhDs have a hard time being succinct about their experience, they don’t believe enough in their skills, and they don’t know how to speak the language of industry.

Most PhDs want to treat their industry resume like a CV – they pile on academic accolades, heap on other academic honors and skills, and think all of this jargon will impress the hiring manager.

If this is you, stop.

Industry employers are not academics. They don’t care about your academic accolades, certainly not those described using academic babble.

Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS for short, will stop your application in its tracks if you don’t adapt to the evolving nature of how these systems currently read resumes.

There are 5 things you can do to start adapting today.

First, get maniacal about the keywords on your resume. In terms of getting your resume through today’s filtering systems, there’s nothing more important than understanding keywords and keyword connectedness.

You must use the actual words and phrases on the job description in your Professional Summary and Work Experience sections to show these systems you’re a good fit for the job.

The best and most time-efficient way to do this is to use a free word cloud software program. You can also use a keyword density checker or just your powers of perception. Whatever you use, try to apply 70% of the nouns, verbs, and adverbs from job descriptions into your resume.

Second, get active on social media.

I’m not talking about LinkedIn here. I’m talking about social media profiles that are not aligned with your professional brand. This means you should make your Facebook or Twitter or Tiktok or Instagram private if it includes hundreds of rants about non-professional topics.

Make it private, or temporarily archive it. At the very least, remove anything polarizing, controversial, or unwholesome from public visibility.

Why?

Because, like it or not, employers are judging you based on what you post, and they will be looking. According to a study by Zippia, 92% of employers use social media to evaluate candidates.

Third, get your resume’s bullet points right.

The paragraph-style format of resumes is dead. Employers need white space to keep their eyes from glazing over, and bullet points are the perfect solution to providing insight into your relevant experience while keeping your document clean.

Your bullet points should showcase your transferable and niche skills, and quantify your achievements. Ideally, include 3 bullet points in your Professional Summary and 3 to 5 in each of your work Experience sections.

Fourth, add industry-relevant accolades to your resume. You should include awards, certificates, and other honors from academia, but you should describe them using the language of industry and explain why they are important to the role.

If you have prior industry experience, include achievements from those positions that demonstrate why you were a valuable employee.

Fifth, add personality and passion to your resume. It’s not only okay to show that you’re a passionate professional, it’s required. At least if you want to get hired.

Employers are looking for candidates who are creative, proactive, and ready to give their all – both on the job and outside of it. Highlight your passion projects on your resume, especially if they are related to the role you’re applying for.

If you have space on your resume, include details about the hobbies and interests you have that are relevant and showcase your skills. And show your passion for the role at hand too.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post 5 Game-Changing Resume Strategies appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Don’t Be That PhD At Networking Events Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn why online networking isn’t as powerful as networking in person.
Next, you’ll discover what not to do at a networking event
Finally, you’ll learn tips to enhance the networking experience

Avoid doing this at networking events

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics concluded in a recent survey that 85 percent of jobs are filled by networking.

I’ll give you a second so you can let that statistic sink in.

That means that if you’re not leveraging your network, you’re fighting exponentially harder to land any given position – in industry or academia.

You should be spending time every single week, if not every day, networking in person or online. When you network online, it’s a lot easier to make a good impression in many ways – you can take time to think about what you want to say, you can speak directly to a single person without any external noise, and you have that person’s profile in front of you so you basically have a conversation cheat-sheet.

But these online interactions, according to a study by Forbes, don’t carry the same weight as in-person networking events. In fact, that means you need to suck it up and make yourself go network in person.

And just going isn’t enough, either. You can’t merely show up to an event, throw a few business cards at people, and expect to get a strong job referral.

You have to show up, build rapport, and offer value – even when you feel like you have nothing to offer. You have to participate, sorry.

But I’ll tell you what you shouldn’t do, without a doubt. You shouldn’t be any of these three PhDs that no one wants to meet at a networking event.

Number One is the Extra-Extroverted PhD. You see these most often at events that serve alcohol. This person is loud. They’re laughing and talking at an inappropriate volume. They seem like they’re having just a little too much fun.

Whether it’s a ruse to mask your nerves or the booze talking, don’t be the person that sticks out for being abrasive. If you’re nervous, you can always try reaching out to the host before the event and ask them to introduce you to a few people when you arrive. This might sound awkward, but trust me, hosts love doing this.

The second type of unsuccessful PhD is the Drive-By Connector. You can’t just show up to a networking event, shove your business card into a few hands and leave.

If you want to be remembered, you need to invest in getting to know the people you meet. Don’t assume other people will follow up with you just because you gave them your business card. They won’t. It’s up to you to build and maintain your networking relationships.

The third type of PhD you don’t want to be is The Clinger. You’ve made a connection – that’s great! Once you’ve exchanged contact info, it’s time to move along. If you set up camp because you don’t know how to conclude a conversation with someone, that connection is ruined.

Body language is your first hint that it’s time to move on. If their eyes have begun to wander around the room, if they’ve positioned their body at an angle so their shoulders are no longer square with your shoulders, or if they’ve started to fidget then it’s time to move along.

Excuse yourself politely, let them know you’re looking forward to staying in touch, and then catch up with someone else in the room.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post Don’t Be That PhD At Networking Events appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

3 Attention-Grabbing Resume-Cover Letter Combinations Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn about 3 different resume and cover letter combinations
Next, you’ll discover when is the best time to utilize each of the combinations.
Finally, you’ll learn what to do if you are unsure on which combination to use.

3 Attention-Grabbing Resume-Cover Letter Combinations

Applying for jobs is a strategy game. And in this game, the die you cast is your resume and cover letter. If you want any kind of tactical advantage in your search, you need to choose your format combinations skillfully.

But how can you do that if you don’t understand when and why you would choose one format over another? Every format has a different strength and use.

When you use two different document formats when applying, it produces a different effect. Like, get you hired.

Today I’d like to explain the major focus of specific cover letter and resume formats and talk about 3 ways you can combine them for different situations.

Let’s start with your cover letter. You can use two formats for your cover letter: the standard three-paragraph business format or the T-format.

In the standard format, skills are mentioned in the standard paragraph form. It should demonstrate how your experience translates into relevant transferable and technical skills and express your interest in the role.

The T-format is designed to, at a glance, show how you are a perfect match for a role by organizing them into a two-column table.

Here you list the job requirement in the left-hand column and your relevant qualifications in the right-hand column.

There are many different formats PhDs can use for their resume, but some of the ones that are most effective include the functional, combination, sidebar, recruiter, and reverse chronological resume templates.

The functional resume organizes your experience by relevant skills.

A combination resume combines the skills-forward approach of the functional resume with reverse chronological resumes to emphasize your most recent roles.

A recruiter resume is formatted specifically for – who else? – recruiters.

Sidebar resumes use a two-column format to give visual weight to your professional summary and work experience.

And reverse chronological order is the most common resume format – it lists experience in order from most recent to oldest.

Deciding which combination of these to use can be a challenge. To decide, you need to consider how these two documents work together.

For example, choosing a combination resume and a T-format cover letter demonstrates that you have previous industry experience and are focused on continuing to use your skills in that sector.

A functional resume, which is meant to detract from a lack of industry experience, combines with a T-format cover letter to highlight your qualifications, not your experience.

This is a good choice if you are trying to get into your first industry role or are trying to pivot into a completely different sector of industry for the first time.

Some roles, like those in the management consulting and banking sectors, may require a more traditional or formal touch. For these, combine the reverse chronological resume format with the business cover letter format.

If you are unsure which resume-cover letter combination to use, there’s one infallible hack you can use: ask. Reach out to someone working at the company, get to know them, and ask what the company prefers.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post 3 Attention-Grabbing Resume-Cover Letter Combinations appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Try These 5 Networking Strategies Like Yesterday Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn about 5 networking strategies that you must start implementing.
Next, you’ll discover how attending the right type of seminars is key to meeting new people and making new contacts.
Finally, you’ll learn why letters from advisors and committees are not important to industry professionals.

5 Networking Strategies You Must Use

Most PhDs think that their PhD is the beginning and the end of the hiring funnel. The truth is that if you want to get ahead, you need to start building your professional network – and the sooner, the better.

The ideal time to start networking is a year or two before graduating, if not sooner. If you don’t start early, you’re three steps behind graduates who have bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Why? Because they’re already working in industry, and already have a professional network.

There are online and offline techniques for networking in graduate school that you can start using immediately.

Today I want to share five important strategies you can use to build a thriving network by the time you graduate.

The first is to go to the RIGHT seminars. You’ve probably got a few people you’ve run into more than once at the same talks or conferences. Why? Because you’re studying similar things and you’re all looking to network. Stop. It’s time to go to different seminars.

Take a stroll to the far side of campus. Step outside your comfort zone and meet new people from a different discipline. Stick around after the Q&A and exchange information with a few people.

Don’t just go to academic seminars, go to industry seminars. The people giving these presentations are your gateway to a career in industry and your future employers. Get their contact information and find a way to stay in touch.

Another strategy that not enough PhDs take advantage of is reaching out to the authors of your favorite peer-reviewed journals.

It takes a group of very dedicated people a very long time to create each of those articles you’ve been reading. And guess what? These people are under-appreciated. So, show them some appreciation. Find their email addresses and tell them what you liked about their article or ask them an insightful question.

A third strategy to network successfully in grad school is to have an online presence. The worst thing that can happen when you’re networking is that the people you spent so much time introducing yourself to and investing time in can’t find you in a Google search.

Control the conversation by building up your online presence. Create professional social media accounts, start a blog, and join relevant LinkedIn groups.

A fourth tip that I personally have found indispensable is to take notes about the people you talked to while networking.

For instance, you don’t want to walk out of the conference with 50 cards and not remember anything about the people that gave them to you. Whenever you get someone’s card, write down what you talked about or something personal about them on the back. You can do this while you’re still in front of them – it will make them feel important and make you stand out as a professional.

The fifth tip is to quit worrying about letters from your adviser and committee. You might feel like these letters are of tantamount importance now, but they mean absolutely nothing outside of academia.

In industry, recommendations are much more valuable from people who have direct experience working with or supervising you. So connect with those people and nurture a relationship with them after you part ways – you never know when you might need a powerful reference.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post Try These 5 Networking Strategies Like Yesterday appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

3 Toxic Academic Habits That Hold You Back In Industry Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn how there are 3 toxic habits that will hold you back in industry
Next, you’ll discover how feeling the need to always keep busy will actually lead to burn out, anxiety, and stress.
Finally, you’ll learn why it is important to focus on your choices rather than leading with your emotions.

3 Toxic Academic Habits Holding PhDs Back

Do you feel overwhelmed with guilt when you try to do something for yourself?

Do others tell you you’re too hard on yourself?

Do you always feel like something bad is just around the corner?

As PhDs, the pull of work is often deeply ingrained in us – especially when we try to take it easy. There are so many great qualities that you pick up while you’re working toward your PhD, but there are plenty of toxic ones you may not realize you’ve ended up with.

When those destructive habits follow you into industry, they can start to stifle you and make you feel just as trapped as you did in academia.

There are three habits that I hope, if you find yourself caught up in, you’ll work on breaking.

The first is feeling as if you need to make yourself constantly busy at work. A strong work ethic is an admirable quality and one that employers are going to appreciate. But did you know that completing tasks triggers a dopamine release?

This is why experts say that you could find yourself addicted to keeping busy. If you find yourself bringing work home, working late, and failing to take breaks, this could be a subconscious response to combat the negative effects of stress or pressure.

You need to accept that, occasionally, a project is done. A task is finished. And you can breathe before diving into the next thing. Continuing down this path is inevitably going to lead to burnout, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Remember, your worth is not equal to the number of tasks you accomplish.

Another terrible habit is bypassing caution and jumping straight to the worst-case scenario.

In the 1950s, psychologist Dr. Albert Ellis first coined the term “awfulizing.” It describes the act of escalating a situation, in your mind, into the most negative possible conclusion – often with no concrete evidence.

In these situations, it’s your fear of negative consequences that drives your reasoning. When we begin to awfulize or feel threatened, the brain’s amygdala triggers our fight-or-flight response.

Unless you have a very specific kind of career, your fight-or-flight shouldn’t be engaged at work. Our body responds as though we are experiencing an actual threat, whether it’s real or not. This can lead to decreased productivity, stifled creativity, and an increase in stress and anxiety in the workplace.

Does that sound like someone you want to work with? To combat this habit, experts say it’s best to stop, name your emotions and then focus on choices.

A third toxic trait is feeling like a burden anytime you need to ask for help.

You might be afraid of inconveniencing or frustrating other people or somehow losing face for needing help. If you find yourself worried that those around you are growing tired of you or your needs, it is absolutely going to sabotage your success at work.

Think about it – if you’re worried about burdening others with your presence, how are you going to be able to ask questions? Or set boundaries?

Plus, if you’ve ever been around someone that requires validation and reassurance all the time, you know it can be frustrating and exhausting.

Solve this problem by focusing on your self-esteem and building it up. Set achievable goals, congratulate yourself on a job well done, and challenge yourself to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post 3 Toxic Academic Habits That Hold You Back In Industry appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Make An Unforgettable Impression At Your New Job Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn about how with the right job search methodology guiding the way, the industry role you want is closer than you think.
Next, you’ll discover how to make a great impression on your coworkers by discovering your strengths.
Finally, you’ll learn why it is important to start keeping stock of your wins on Day 1.

Make An Unforgettable Impression At Your New Job

A recent global report by Monster reveals that nearly two-thirds of employers are willing to hire someone with transferable skills and train them on the job. This is proof that your PhD-level skills are more in-demand than ever before.

With the right job search methodology guiding the way, the industry role you want is closer than you think. Our Cheeky Scientist Associates are members for life, and recently I’ve had some pose questions after they’ve landed a job. Questions like, “What’s next for me? I landed the role as a Data Scientist, but what role do I shoot for now?”

In academia, your career trajectory lives up to the ladder metaphor: there are one, two, maybe three rungs to aim for, and then you’ve reached the top. Game over. But in industry, the idea of the ladder is becoming outdated.

In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg encourages today’s job seekers to consider their career path as more of a career jungle gym. “Ladders are limiting,” she writes. “People can move up or down, on or off. Jungle gyms offer more creative exploration.”

In that spirit, I like to tell PhDs to consider that there really is no one right answer. But there are ways you can make your ambition a part of your brand, discover where your strengths lie in this new career path, and make a great impression on your coworkers that will set you up for success.

Today I want to talk about 3, and the first is to set your intentions.

Make yourself goals and hold yourself accountable for reaching them. They can be simple, such as completing your training X days ahead of schedule. They can be big, too, such as an overhaul of the existing SOPs for your department.

Whatever they are, keep your supervisor abreast of your goals. They’ll appreciate your initiative and be impressed that you’re able to hold yourself accountable. They might also be able to help you pivot goals that are more productive than the ones you started with and allow you to demonstrate that you’re flexible to employers.

The next step is research. You’re going to want to talk to anyone and everyone you can to find out what they expect from someone in your position. What did the previous person do well that they don’t want to see change? What could work better? What are the biggest pain points that you can address?

Gathering information and acting on it demonstrates that you’re an employee who follows through, that you take ownership of your success, and that you’re committed to growth – both for yourself and the company.

Don’t Forget To Complete Your Annual Review

In industry, something that nearly every Global 500 company expects you to do is complete an annual review.

If you start taking stock of your wins on Day 1, you’ll have a wealth of data to choose from.

Keep a spreadsheet diary or a document, and check in weekly about new skills you’ve learned, accomplishments, wins between departments, creative ideas – anything you’ve done that adds value to you, your department, or the company.

A strange thing starts happening when you see everything you do as a milestone – you start feeling like you’re working toward something, not just working.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post Make An Unforgettable Impression At Your New Job appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

3 Careers For PhDs Who Love To Travel Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about…

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn about careers for PhDs who are sick of being stuck in the same place for years.
Next, you’ll discover specific job titles like Medical Science Liaison and Consultant where travel is common.
Finally, you’ll learn other aspects of these roles so you can decide if they’re right for you.

Careers For PhDs Who Want To Move

Many jobs involve travel and they’re eager to hire PhDs like you who understand the world of STEM and can act as a bridge between academia and industry.

The first company is Medical Science Liason. MSLs are scientifically trained field personnel who possess in-depth knowledge of therapeutic areas of research and discuss the scientific aspects of medicines and other products with physicians.

Up to 75% of an MSL’s time may be spent on travel depending on the territory for which they are responsible. MSL positions can be found in various healthcare-oriented sectors such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, contract research organizations (CROs), and medical device organizations.

A few examples of companies that hire MSLs include Sanofi, IQVIA, and Medtronic. PhDs wishing to become MSLs should emphasize relationship-building, communication, and teaching skills along with their therapeutic expertise.

Experience as a clinical research associate (CRA) can also facilitate the transition into an MSL role. Another role that’s great for PhDs who love to travel is Scientific Consultant. Science PhDs who want to use their subject matter expertise to solve scientific problems for businesses may enjoy this work. In this role, you’ll leverage your subject matter expertise to help organizations strategize solutions for their scientific projects.

You’ll provide fresh perspectives for clients in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, or environmental industries. You’ll define and then help address the problems companies face by leading experiments, analyzing data, and presenting information to the client or its employees.

Typically, SCs will work with each client to complete one project before moving on to the next client. PhDs can find scientific consultant opportunities in consulting firms. A few examples include RAND Corporation, Bain and Company, and Cambridge Healthcare and Biotech.

To transition, PhDs should highlight their business acumen, experimental design skills, leadership skills, data analysis skills, and communication skills. The third and final role that’s perfect for rolling stone PhDs is R&D Project Manager.

These professionals oversee research, control expenditures, ensure the timely completion of projects and, ultimately, achieve the required project results. R&D project managers must understand market needs.

Another Role For PhDs Who Want To Travel

PhDs from technical backgrounds who enjoy research but would prefer a role focusing on managing a product or a portfolio of products from conception to market entry would be the perfect fit for R&D project manager positions.

These positions can be stressful because they come with a lot of responsibilities. However, they can also be rewarding because they allow professionals to collaborate across company departments to bring innovations to the market.

Additionally, success as an R&D project manager is the ideal gateway to some of the highest-level executive positions in the industry. PhDs can look for R&D project manager roles at any company that has an R&D department.

A few of the major companies that hire R&D project managers include AT&T Inc., Cisco, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). To transition, PhDs should leverage their people, resource, and budget management skills along with their interpersonal skills and technical knowledge.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

The post 3 Careers For PhDs Who Love To Travel appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Reframe Your Academic Skills As Industry Accomplishments Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we talk about how to translate your academic experiences into powerful industry language.

In this week’s episode…

You’ll learn how to communicate your skills so industry employers understand your value
Next, we discuss what you can do proactively to ensure your resume gets though today’s increasingly stringent AI
Finally, Isaiah gives a few examples PhDs can use to demonstrate their understanding of these trends

Learn The Language Of Industry

When PhDs realize they have an interest in industry, there’s a sort of culture shock that hits once they start looking through job descriptions.

At first glance, it appears as though you have 1 out of every 10 skills an employer is looking for. However, you don’t suffer from a lack of skills or knowledge – all you need is a good translator.

During your PhD, you likely wrote grants, researched funding opportunities, performed statistical analyses, published your work, and defended it. These skills have limitless industrial applications.

There’s just a language barrier that you need to break down.

It’s crucial to present yourself in a way that potential employers value and understand.

There Are 3 Key Strategies For Reframing Your Academic Skills

It’s crucial to present yourself in a way that potential employers value and understand.

Here are three key strategies to help you reframe your skills and make a successful transition.

The first strategy is to highlight your applicable work experience. You may not have formal work experience as a data scientist, but your PhD prepared you. The trick is to draw a parallel between your skillset and the job requirements. You may be tempted to just list your skills – “research design” for example – but instead, you need to paint a picture for employers.

Describe how you identified research problems, developed evaluation criteria, and so on, leading to the completion of X studies and Y publications. Not only do you need to translate the value of a skill, but you need to translate the academic words into industry ones. In the example we just talked about, these are leadership skills or project management of a team of X members.

This brings me to the second strategy: literally, translate your skills. When you apply for jobs, make a list of prominent keywords. Work those into your resume or cover letter. If you go over 20 job descriptions for your target position, I guarantee you will find a wealth of keywords to inspire you. Narrow these down and compare them against the terminology you would have used to describe your skills.

How do they compare?

Are there opportunities to swap some academic terms out for industry ones? This is an important step – one that will make sure you make it past applicant tracking systems. It might sound tedious or granular, but it’s probably the most important part of showing employers your value.

The third strategy is to provide detailed job titles and descriptions. Employers aren’t always going to understand the academic terms you use and the actual work you did. You need to explain, as succinctly as possible, what you did, its value, and the measure of its value. You should include every research contract or project you worked on as a job on your resume.

Each job should have its title, duration, responsibilities, employer, and supervisor. Explain the work you did in industry-friendly terms. While the language and the terms used in industry may be different, PhDs have already learned the “language” of whatever field they specialized in, and they can easily learn a new one.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

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