PhD Transition Report On-Demand

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**PhD Transition Report On-Demand**

Podcast by Cheeky Scientist

Latest Episodes:

How To Prepare For A Site Visit Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains what is the best way to prepare for a site visit, no matter the types of interview you will face

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah discusses the main pieces of information you should find out once your site visit is confirmed
Next, Isaiah lists the actions you should take to prepare for your site visit one week in advance
Finally, Isaiah lists the actions you should take a couple of days before the site visit to ensure you are fully prepared

From This Week’s Show…

The Basic Information You Need To Prepare For A Site Visit

Regardless of which interview types you will be a part of during your site visit, you should prepare extensively by asking the employer specific questions before the interview, researching the company in detail online, and setting up informational interviews with people currently working at the company.

Make sure you find out why they are hiring for this position, what the metrics of success are or likely will be for the role, and what the average salary range is for the position (you’ll need this information to comfortably deflect verbal offers and attempts to negotiate onsite before getting a written offer).

Once you get a confirmation for the site visit, ask about specific details. What is the schedule for the site visit? Who will be interviewing you? What is the goal of the interview? Is a presentation expected?

How To Prepare For A Site Visit One Week In Advance

If you have a week or more to prepare for your site visit, here is the checklist you should follow:

Read extensively about the company, including any mergers and acquisitions they are involved in.
Set up informational interviews with people currently working at the company.
Make sure you find out why they are hiring for this position.
Ask yourself how you can help the company achieve their goals for the position at hand. Make a list of your answers.
Research average and top salaries for this position in the city it is located in.
Determine your “walk-away number,” or the lowest salary you will accept.

The Actions You Should Take A Couple Of Days Before You Arrive Onsite

As the site visit approaches, you will need to adjust your strategy to focus on the most pressing items to complete before arriving. Here’s a checklist to complete a day or two before you arrive onsite:

Contact the company and continue setting up informational interviews to find out how you should dress, who you will be interviewing with, and whether you will be giving a presentation.
If you will be giving a presentation, ask for specifics on what the presentation should be about and who will be in the audience. Then prepare your presentation.
Set up and execute at least two thirty-minute mock interviews with friends. Practice giving your site visit presentation, if necessary.
Review your research notes about the company and why they are hiring.

After you have prepared fully, you are ready to show up, impress everyone with your professionalism and knowledge, and get a job offer.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post How To Prepare For A Site Visit appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Mastering Group Dynamics During A Panel Interview Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains what are panel interviews and discusses what is the best way to navigate them to ensure a a job offer

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah tells what a panel interview is and when are you more likely to have one during the interview process
Next, Isaiah gives some good practices that you should follow during a panel interview
Finally, Isaiah points out the best way to close a panel interview to increase your chances of getting a job offer

From This Week’s Show…

What Is A Panel Interview

During a site visit or a late stage video interview, you may be faced with a panel of interviewers.

Panel interviews are done because the company wants as many people as possible to see your face and interact with you before committing to bringing you on board.

Best Practices PhDs Should Follow During Panel Interviews

Once you are told you will face a panel interview, be sure to ask who will be on the panel so you can research each panelist on Linkedin.

During a panel interview itself, make sure you engage with all the interviewers, not just the most outgoing participant.

Make sure you keep track of each person’s name and job title and who asked which question. This is best done by starting your panel interview with a sheet of paper in front of you with each panel member’s name listed. Then you can write shorthand notes for each person’s question under their name as they ask it.

During a panel interview, you should also be prepared for any type of question because there will likely be people from different departments. You might be interviewing for an R&D position, but you’ll likely be talking to someone from human resources, R&D, sales, marketing, and perhaps one or two executives.

The interests of every panel member will vary, and you need to meet each person’s interests individually, as well as the collective interest, to build rapport. Keep in mind that every person on the panel will have a say in whether you move to the next interview round.

How To Close A Panel Interview To Ensure A Job Offer

To close the panel interview successfully, ask a question like, “Is there any other information you would like to hear from me?”

Look directly at the camera when asking this question (or when responding to any question). Try to avoid looking down at the panel members’ faces the entire time because this is a very negative posture and comes across as negative or like you’re fabricating your answers.

Another great question to ask at the end of a video interview is: “Do you still have any doubts that you would like me to address before we move on to the next phase of the interview process?”

This question encourages them to address any doubts they may have while you’re still present and can help them overcome these doubts or get them to confirm they have no doubts. Either way, if done properly, your interviewers will now feel a stronger pull to extend a job offer to you to maintain consistency with their acknowledgment that their doubts were resolved or that they didn’t have any doubts in the first place.

The post Mastering Group Dynamics During A Panel Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

How To Dominate A Video Interview Mar 25, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he discusses the best way to prepare for a video interview and why the technical aspects are so important

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah explains the basics of a video interview
Next, Isaiah gives some tips on how to prepare the location where you will take the video interview
Finally, Isaiah goes through some technical considerations that will increase your chances of success

From This Week’s Show…

What Are The Basics Of A Video Interview

The video interview commonly follows the phone screen and is the next step in the interview process.

In this step, you need to consider the technology you will be using, how the interviewers see you, and what you need to do to come across as a professional candidate.

One of the biggest keys to executing a video interview successfully is knowing how you look on the other side of the camera.

A great way to prepare for this is to ask the company who’s going to interview you, how many people will show up, and where the interview is going to be held.

This is a normal question to ask before a video interview or a site visit. You need to consider how you’re going to look during the interview; assume that you’re going to be on a large monitor in a large room.

This means that your image and your background will be much larger than what you see on your computer screen and that the microexpressions on your face and the movement of your hands are going to be much more dynamic than you might think.

How To Set Up The Space Where You Will Take Your Video Interview

Before participating in any video interview, you need to not only do your homework on the organization but also build a video set for yourself. You must test the equipment you will use during the interview and create a well-lit set.

You should dress head to toe in the clothes you would wear to a site visit because they might ask you to search for or grab something, and you will have to move. Having a full professional outfit instead of just the top part also gives you more confidence during the interview.

You must ensure that you’re comfortable and that the interviewers can see you and hear you clearly. The only way you can do this is by testing everything.

For both the phone screen and video interview steps, you should do several mock interviews with another person.

For video mock interviews, this should be a full dress rehearsal. Wear what you’re going to wear and have everything set up the way you’re setting it up for the interview to make sure you come across professional.

Make sure to check the sound, the visuals, the lighting, and the background ahead of time so that you can make adjustments for the real interview if needed.

Final Technical Considerations

Most PhDs forget to ensure they have enough lighting on their face. Ideally, you should get a lamp and shine it right at your face and eyes.

When it comes to audio, make sure that your microphone and speakers are connected to the computer. You don’t need a Bluetooth device going in and out, disrupting the conversation.

You should avoid huge headsets but having something that you can connect to the computer without being too distracting is ideal because it will ensure you have good audio.

You will also want to connect the computer you will use for the interview to a hardline internet connection like ethernet or similar. Try to avoid using Wi-Fi even if it means buying an ethernet cord and an adapter for your computer.

You will not get a second chance for the video interview if your Wi-Fi fails. Poor Wi-Fi is not an excuse.

Finally, you may want to add your notes to the computer screen, so the interviewers can’t see them.

During the interview, you will tend to look at the image of the interviewers on the screen, but you should try to look at your computer camera most of the time as this gives the impression of eye contact.

This extra effort will make a big difference, especially if you are projected on a big screen.

The post How To Dominate A Video Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

The First 90 Seconds Make Or Break Your Interview Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he talks about how the first 90 seconds can make or break an interview and how to prepare so you always give the best first impression

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah lays down some facts that should convince you of the importance of your first impression during a job interview
Next, Isaiah gives some advice on how to prepare ahead of time to give a good first impression every time
Finally, Isaiah discusses how to answer the two questions that get asked during the first 90 seconds of a job interview

From This Week’s Show…

The Importance Of The First 90 Seconds Of A Job Interview

When it comes to executing an industry interview, a typical interview round can last anywhere from fifteen minutes for a phone screen to forty-five minutes for an individual meeting during a site visit.

However, no matter the overall length of the interview round, studies show that the interviewer decides whether or not they will recommend hiring you within the first ninety seconds.

The same studies found that 55 percent of your impact comes from the way you dress, act, and walk through the door; therefore, you should prepare to make a good first impression.

Much of this impression comes from nonverbal cues. Did you dress professionally? Did you have a firm handshake? Did you smile during the interview? Does your body language portray confidence?

How To Prepare To Always Give A Good First Impression

It’s a lot easier to manage your nonverbal cues and portray confidence when you have established a plan for some of the standard interview logistics ahead of time. Start planning for these by addressing the following questions well in advance of your next interview:

Where will you keep a copy of your resume so that you can easily get to it for a phone screen?
Where will you take calls for your phone screens so that you are not distracted?
What will you wear to your video or in-person interview? Does the professional attire you selected require any care to look its best (e.g., dry cleaning)?
Where do you plan to take your video interview? (PhD Pro Tip: Make sure it is a place that gives you good lighting and has reliable internet access.)

The Two First Questions You Will Get At A Job Interview And How To Answer Them

In general, there are only two questions that are asked within the first ninety seconds. These questions are the same for every interview type and interview round.

The first of these questions is “How are you today?” Don’t start the interview by giving a lukewarm response like “Good, thank you” or similar, and certainly don’t taint the interview from the outset by talking about how bad the weather is, how nervous you are, or any other random or negative observation.

Instead, simply say “Perfect.” Replying with “Perfect” keeps your answer clean and to the point, which will keep the conversation moving forward and eliminate the urge to ramble about whatever you did that morning on your way to the interview.

The second question you will be asked is, “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?”

The best way to answer this question is by delivering your elevator pitch, which should succinctly explain who you are, what you want, and why they should care in one minute or less.

The post The First 90 Seconds Make Or Break Your Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Academic Values Versus Industry Values Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he discusses one of the main differences between academia and industry and why you need to adopt an industry mentality to succeed in your job search

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah explains the differences in timelines between academia and industry and what that means for your job search
Next, Isaiah explores the best way to research a company so you’re always prepared for an interview
Finally, Isaiah talks about one of the worse habits PhDs pick in academia and how it can jeopardize your chances of getting the industry job you deserve

From This Week’s Show…

The Difference Between Academia And Industry Values

Industry time is not like academic time. Things move much faster. For instance, new job postings receive their first application within two hundred seconds of being posted.

Things move even faster later in the hiring funnel. You must be ready to say “yes” to a phone screen request at a moment’s notice if your dream employer asks if you’re free to talk about your experiences.

You must be prepared to reply right away to their LinkedIn message requesting more information about your candidacy.

You must be highly responsive with your phone, email, and LinkedIn notifications turned on so you can seize the moment before the employer moves on to the next candidate.

How To Ensure You’re Always Prepared To Talk To Employers

The goal of every step of the interview process is to convince whoever is interviewing you that you are the best candidate for the position and a good fit for the company.

You will find selling yourself during an interview easier if you lay a strong foundational mindset for approaching your interviews. You should research every company to which you apply; that allows you to demonstrate interest and commitment during interviews.

Hiring managers notice when a candidate has done this homework, and it always leaves a good impression. Here are a few questions your research should answer:

What are the company’s values? What is their mission statement?
Has the company gone through any recent mergers and/or acquisitions?
Why do they need to fill your target position?

You should also prepare questions to ask your interviewers. Most importantly, show up to every interview prepared to convince the employer that you are the best person for the job and that their company is at the top of your list.

Why The Bad Habits You Picked In Academia Can Jeopardize Your Transition

As a PhD, whether you know it or not, you’ve picked up some bad habits in academia that hinder your performance in industry interviews. The worst of these habits is avoiding confirmation bias at all costs.

Of course, when it comes to work, especially data and information that can directly or indirectly affect patient lives, scientific funding, etc., you should avoid confirmation bias. But in your job search, you should be as biased as possible toward yourself.

You must do everything you can (short of outright lying) to convince employers you are the best possible candidate for the job. You must find every angle and leverage every turn of phrase that can make you seem, even momentarily, to be the better candidate.

Once you’re hired, you can prove yourself and reassure them you were always the best choice—but you must get hired first. While all PhDs regularly express uncertainty in their work in sharing things like error values and the limitations of the research approaches, there’s no place for this when it comes to pitching yourself as the ideal candidate for an industry role.

The post Academic Values Versus Industry Values appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

How To Request A Live Informational Interview Mar 18, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains what is the best way to ask for an informational interview, ensuring that your connection doesn’t feel pressured

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah presentes the best way to ask for an informational interview without directly asking for one
Next, Isaiah discusses the importance of clarity and politeness when asking for an informational interview
Finally, Isaiah gives a full script you can use to ask fro an informational interview while keeping the intensity of your request low

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Best Way To Ask For An Informational Interview

The most important part of an informational interview is how you request one. If your requests are open-ended or intense, the other party will pass or ignore you completely.

When requesting an interview in person or by phone or video, always be very clear about how much of the other person’s time you’re going to take. Clarity and politeness are crucial here.

Never ask someone for a moment of their time or open-ended questions like, “Do you have time later this week for a short conversation?” And, of course, as I already emphasized, never mention an “informational interview.”

Instead, ask for a very small and specific amount of time on a specific day during a specific block of time with only one alternate day and time. For example, ask, “Are you free tomorrow any time between 12 and 3 p.m. or Wednesday between 9 and 11 a.m. for a quick, three-minute call?”

How To Set Yourself For Success By Being Exact With Your Request

I recommend suggesting three or seven minutes instead of five, ten, or fifteen because it’s specific and not rounded to the nearest five or ten. Rounding to the nearest five or ten is usually code for “I’m estimating and this could take much longer.”

Be exact. Show them right away that you’ve thought this through and are not going to waste their time. You should also specify the topic in your requests. Don’t make them guess your intentions. Don’t even make them guess how you’re going to phrase your questions.

Instead, say, “Are you free tomorrow anytime between 12 and 3 p.m. or Wednesday between 9 and 11 a.m. for a quick, three-minute call? I’d love to ask you two quick questions about how you got hired at company XYZ and what you enjoy about it.”

The Final Script You Should Use When Asking For An Informational Interview

Most importantly, keep the intensity of your request low. Don’t make your conversation a big deal. Don’t make it hard for them to commit by acting like they are the only reason you’re getting out of bed in the morning.

Never say, “I’ve set aside time tomorrow and would love to call you and talk with you about your career.” That’s too intense. Instead, say, “I’ll be making some work calls tomorrow around noon and would love to give you a quick call too.”

Altogether, you might say, “I’ll be making some work calls tomorrow around noon and would love to ask you two quick questions about how you got hired at company XYZ and what you enjoy about it. This would only take three minutes. Are you free any time between 12 and 3 p.m., or I could do Wednesday between 9 and 11 a.m. too. No worries if not.”

Once you leverage this or a similar script to secure an informational interview, it’s time to prepare for it, which we will discuss in the next Transition Report.

The post How To Request A Live Informational Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Setting Up A Face-To-Face Informational Interview Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he discusses the importance of face-to-face informational interviews to secure job referrals

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah explains the purpose of a face-to-face informational interview
Next, Isaiah discloses the importance of having inside information about jobs that won’t be posted online at your target company
Finally, Isaiah gives some advice on how to set up face-to-face informational interviews to gain access to insider information

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Purpose Of A Face-To-Face Informational Interview

The purpose of a face-to-face informational interview is twofold. First, you want to gather intelligence that will help you determine whether a particular company or role is the right fit for you.

Second, you want to leverage the informational interview to build rapport with the person you’re talking to and get inside information about jobs that are open at the company, especially jobs that are not yet posted online or never will be posted online.

Industry experts agree that over 80 percent of today’s available jobs are not advertised. Those jobs are not hidden deliberately; they’re not advertised because the ideal internal or external candidate has already been introduced to the hiring manager through a referral.

The Importance Of Having Insider Information About Your Target Companies

According to a recent survey commissioned by iCIMS, a provider of talent acquisition solutions, when an employee refers someone, that candidate is hired approximately 67 percent of the time.

Advertising jobs online is a painful process for hiring managers. Employers must wade through thousands of job applications from people they don’t know. A company only resorts to advertising a job when they cannot find the right candidate through other channels, such as word of mouth or referrals.

This is why you need to master the art of informational interviewing. Specifically, you need to master keeping the person you’re interviewing on a straight line to getting a referral, or at least to getting inside information about job openings at the company.

By setting up a face-to-face informational interview, you gain an opportunity to learn about a company’s culture and how well you would fit into it, as well as strategically place yourself within the hidden job market of the company.

How To Set Up A Face-To-Face Informational Interview

The foolproof way of securing an informational interview is to start with people you are already connected with in your network. These can be friends of family, alumni, professors, or colleagues from internships.

In the early stages, keep your options open. Don’t limit yourself to informational interviews with only high-profile contacts. Instead, get comfortable with the process by interviewing people you already know well.

Also, don’t limit yourself to setting up informational interviews for only the one or two positions you want most. Even if someone’s position seems outside your area of immediate interest, it can prove helpful in the future. You might learn firsthand information that makes a position more attractive to you.

The post Setting Up A Face-To-Face Informational Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Pivoting A Networking Conversation To Asking For A Referral Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he goes through the last levels of professional intimacy and explains how you can pivot an informational interview to ask for a referral

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah discusses third level of professional intimacy and gives some pointers on how to transition into it
Next, Isaiah explores the fourth and final level of professional intimacy and how to make the transition
Finally, Isaiah explains why it is so important to pivot the informational interview at the end if you want to ensure a referral

From This Week’s Show…

The Third Level Of Professional Intimacy

In the previous Transition Report, we talked about navigating the 4 levels of professional intimacy during an informational interview. Now, we will discuss the final two levels.

The third level of professional intimacy overall, is termed “How-To Intimacy.” The ideal question to ask at this level is: “How did you get hired into your role in the first place?” After you’ve learned about the fulfilling and challenging aspects of your connection’s role, it’s time to go deeper in the third level of professional intimacy and ask about their professional story and how they transitioned.

Pivoting to this third level of intimacy is crucial as it will change the context of the conversation from general life and career questions and answers to job search questions and answers.

You can make this pivot extremely subtle, keeping the conversation entirely focused on the other person and your interest in and admiration for what they’ve accomplished.

For example, you might say, “I can appreciate those challenges; it sounds like you’re in a complex role. I hope it’s rewarding for you though. I’m curious, how did you get hired into that role in the first place?”

Always use the word “you” when asking this question. Your connection will answer more freely because they can focus on their subjective experience. They won’t have to think through their answers.

How To Open To Possibility Of A Referral – The Fourth Level Of Professional Intimacy

The fourth and final level of professional intimacy is termed “Advice Intimacy.” The best question to ask here is: “Which roles are about to open up in your company’s pipeline?”

In this final level of professional intimacy, you very subtly shift the conversation to you. You can do this by linking their transition story (how they got hired) to your transition plans. For example, you could say, “Wow. You had three rounds of video interviews. That’s quite the process. Congratulations again on the role. I recently started my own job search, and it sounds like I would be a good fit for a company like yours. What positions are open or opening up where you’re at?”

This is the simplest, subtlest way to set you up for a referral because they might tell you about positions that are not even open yet. If they’re enjoying talking to you, they might even say, “Well, give me your résumé, and I’ll keep you in mind.”

Why You Should Finish By Subtly Asking For A Referral

The steps of this informational interview process set you up for this final moment: asking for a referral. But really, you’re asking for advice—advice that will ideally lead to a referral by prompting the other person to ask how they can help you.

Since you showed interest in them at the beginning of your connection, they are much more likely to show interest in you, and since you behaved professionally and appropriately, they will know you are a serious candidate who is deserving of a referral.

Here are some other questions you can ask at this final stage that will prompt the other party to give you advice or directly help you get hired:

Would it be okay if I gave you a copy of my résumé?
Could you pass my résumé on to the hiring manager in case a position opens up that I’m a good fit for?
Do you know who the hiring manager is for this open position at your company?

By successfully guiding your networking conversations to deeper levels of professional intimacy, you master the informational interview process.

The post Pivoting A Networking Conversation To Asking For A Referral appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

The 4 Levels Of Professional Intimacy Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he talks about the right way of carrying out an informational interview and introduces the concept of professional intimacy

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah explains the goal of an informational interview and how this relates to the levels of professional intimacy
Next, Isaiah explores the first level of professional intimacy and the questions you should ask at this level
Finally, Isaiah discusses how to transition from the first to the second level of professional intimacy and what questions to ask when you’re there

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Goal Of An Informational Interview

The purpose of an informational interview is to elevate the other person’s credibility – the employee that is. You are showing appreciation for their success in industry.

They have gone before you and transitioned successfully. They are where you want to be. Act like it. Serve them in the conversation. By doing so, you’ll leave the other person wanting to help you and even work with you in the future. And this all starts by learning to navigate the four levels of professional intimacy correctly.

The First Level Of Professional Intimacy

The first level of professional intimacy when talking about networking and informational interviews is termed “Topical Intimacy.” The best question to ask a networking contact to get them to this level of intimacy after they reply to your initial connection or reconnection request is: “What are you currently working on that you’re excited about?”

Everyone is currently doing something in their work that is on the top of their mind. It might be challenging, but it’s likely also rewarding. It’s a healthy challenge. It’s too early in your professional relationship to bring up the challenge, but it’s the perfect time to ask them what they’re working on and encourage a positive response by framing the question in a way that only allows a positive reply.

People enjoy talking about positive, topical experiences, especially when they’re related to their favorite thing in the world: them and their life. No matter who you are talking to, they will enjoy talking about what excites them. By asking this question, you can be confident that your connection will take this cue and give you information that will help you move to the next level of professional intimacy.

How To Move To The Second Level Of Professional Intimacy

The second level of professional intimacy is termed “Challenge Intimacy.” The perfect question to ask a networking contact to get them to this level of intimacy is: “What are some of the challenges associated with your role?” While this question is an extension of the first question, it will allow you to go a bit deeper into the other person’s professional life and get to know both their personality and mindset better.

In the first level, you asked your connection to talk about what excites them about their job; most people will focus on only the enjoyable aspects of their life and work at this stage. Once you ask about the challenges, you subtly ratchet up the rapport by offering them a new person (you) to share their struggles with while keeping the conversation focused on their job.

Here is an example of how to transition from first- to second-level professional intimacy: “Well, right now I’m working on a new project that has some amazing potential. We’re all pretty excited about it at work.” “That’s great to hear. Congratulations. I love when I can get my hands on an engaging project, even if it’s challenging. What are some of the general challenges you’re facing with the project right now?”

Notice that you’re keeping the conversation light and general (avoiding intensity) by asking about “general challenges” instead of getting too specific. You’re also identifying with the other person by showing you understand what it’s like to work on an engaging project and expressing that you also enjoy it.

The post The 4 Levels Of Professional Intimacy appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

How To Reactivate Your Current Network Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he talks about the importance of reactivating your network as you plan your transition

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

First, Isaiah discusses the importance of reactivating your network once you decide to transition into industry
Next, Isaiah explains how levels of separation work and the opportunities you will gain access to by reaching out to people you already know
Finally, Isaiah gives you tips you can follow to reactivate your network

From This Week’s Show…

Why Is It So Important To Reactivate Your Network

Reactivating your current network can instantly decrease the degrees of separation between you and professionals in your target companies. Your connection efforts on LinkedIn or otherwise should start by pursuing your own contacts because the people you already know, even if they aren’t in fields of interest to you, can lead you to people who are working at your companies of interest.

This includes family, friends, teaching assistants, professors and former employers. In particular, as a PhD, you should work to identify alumni from your current and previous universities to contact as they often take a special interest in “giving back” to fellow alumni (you).

It’s been said that there are only 6 degrees of separation, at most, between you and anyone else in the world. In other words, you are only 6 introductions away from connecting to any decision maker in industry.

The Opportunities You Will Access By Reaching Out To People You Already Know

You are likely only 2-3 degrees of separation away from numerous industry gatekeepers and decision makers. You might only be one degree away. This is because, whether you know it or not, you are already in the industry you want to get into – at least in part – because you already have, or are about to have a PhD.

You are already trained at a very high level in your field, which gives you credibility in related fields. As such, by networking correctly on LinkedIn with other PhDs in industry roles, you can cross off many of the aforementioned 6 degrees of separation and quickly gain exposure to decision makers.

Imagine you have a friend from undergrad who is connected to someone that works as a Senior Scientist at your company of interest, and this Senior Scientist is connected to several Product Managers at the same company. As a result, when you reconnect with your friend from undergrad, you’re reconnecting secondarily to these Product Managers because they are already your second degree connections.

How To Reengage Your Network

After spending years working long hours either alone or in a small research group during your PhD, you may feel that you have lost contact with everyone you used to know and have no way of reactivating your network. This is simply not true. You have “relationship equity” with everyone you have ever met or spent time with, especially in person.

You can easily build on the equity left by reaching out with the right networking script once you open your mind to the connections you already have. Consider connections you’ve already made through the following sources:

Current Jobs
Previous Jobs
Undergrad University Alumni
Graduate University Alumni
Postdoc University Alumni
Other Institutional Alumni
Family
School (High School, College, Graduate School)
Volunteer Organizations
Sports Teams
Band, Orchestra, or Choir
Clubs
Places Of Worship
Interest Groups

Use these fourteen sources as a starting point to build an initial networking contact list. Who knows – there might already be a gatekeeper, decision-maker or contact in your current network who is working at one of your companies of interest.

The post How To Reactivate Your Current Network appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

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PhD Transition Report On-Demand

Join Isaiah as he explains what is the best way to prepare for a site visit, no matter the types of interview you will face

From This Week’s Show…

The Basic Information You Need To Prepare For A Site Visit

How To Prepare For A Site Visit One Week In Advance

The Actions You Should Take A Couple Of Days Before You Arrive Onsite

Join Isaiah as he explains what are panel interviews and discusses what is the best way to navigate them to ensure a a job offer

From This Week’s Show…

What Is A Panel Interview

Best Practices PhDs Should Follow During Panel Interviews

How To Close A Panel Interview To Ensure A Job Offer

Join Isaiah as he discusses the best way to prepare for a video interview and why the technical aspects are so important

From This Week’s Show…

What Are The Basics Of A Video Interview

How To Set Up The Space Where You Will Take Your Video Interview

Final Technical Considerations

Join Isaiah as he talks about how the first 90 seconds can make or break an interview and how to prepare so you always give the best first impression

From This Week’s Show…

The Importance Of The First 90 Seconds Of A Job Interview

How To Prepare To Always Give A Good First Impression

The Two First Questions You Will Get At A Job Interview And How To Answer Them

Join Isaiah as he discusses one of the main differences between academia and industry and why you need to adopt an industry mentality to succeed in your job search

From This Week’s Show…

The Difference Between Academia And Industry Values

How To Ensure You’re Always Prepared To Talk To Employers

Why The Bad Habits You Picked In Academia Can Jeopardize Your Transition

Join Isaiah as he explains what is the best way to ask for an informational interview, ensuring that your connection doesn’t feel pressured

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Best Way To Ask For An Informational Interview

How To Set Yourself For Success By Being Exact With Your Request

The Final Script You Should Use When Asking For An Informational Interview

Join Isaiah as he discusses the importance of face-to-face informational interviews to secure job referrals

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Purpose Of A Face-To-Face Informational Interview

The Importance Of Having Insider Information About Your Target Companies

How To Set Up A Face-To-Face Informational Interview

Join Isaiah as he goes through the last levels of professional intimacy and explains how you can pivot an informational interview to ask for a referral

From This Week’s Show…

The Third Level Of Professional Intimacy

How To Open To Possibility Of A Referral – The Fourth Level Of Professional Intimacy

Why You Should Finish By Subtly Asking For A Referral

Join Isaiah as he talks about the right way of carrying out an informational interview and introduces the concept of professional intimacy

From This Week’s Show…

What Is The Goal Of An Informational Interview

The First Level Of Professional Intimacy

How To Move To The Second Level Of Professional Intimacy

Join Isaiah as he talks about the importance of reactivating your network as you plan your transition

From This Week’s Show…

Why Is It So Important To Reactivate Your Network

The Opportunities You Will Access By Reaching Out To People You Already Know

How To Reengage Your Network

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