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**PhD Transition Report On-Demand**

Podcast by Cheeky Scientist

Latest Episodes:

Revive Your Resume For The Post-Vaccine Hiring Rush (12 Updates) Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he reveals why resume updates are important for PhDs to get hired in industry jobs

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

First, Isaiah discuss the importance of investing in your resume
Next, he enlists the importance of resume structure
Finally, Isaiah reveals 12 mandatory resume updates every PhD must follow in order to get hired in industry.

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Need To Work On Their Resume Updates

Everybody wants to know what to do with their resume, why they cannot get hired by uploading their current resume. If you are a PhD looking for your first industry transition, you probably have found this by getting no response to uploading your current resume. Maybe it is even your academic CV with five to six pages and gets you no response. You thought it would be easier than this, but it is much harder.

Job search for industry jobs unlike academia does not rely solely on the letter of recommendation from the professor, PI, or advisor. They are not looking for a detailed chronological description of your duties or work history in your resume.

It is not like a lengthy peer review journal article. Rather, they want to see a very short synopsis —a one to two page document— selling yourself. Emphasizing on why they should hire you. It is really a marketing document. You have to position yourself correctly for the position that you want. Always keep your resume up to date. Even though the resume is a one to two page document in industry, you need to keep it up to date.

Your resume is going to stay with you so invest in it.

Importance Of Resume Structure

When I got into industry, I was able to get a promotion within six months. The only reason I was able to do that is because I documented my progress at that company and the results I was achieving. I leveraged that to get a promotion.

I saw several resumes where education was the main section. Everything was really pointing to their education. Couple of them had an objective statement and contact information but the majority was education.

When asked about their skills PhDs immediately talk about their technical skills. What they were doing in academia. STEM and non-STEM PhDs from Life sciences, chemistry, agricultural social sciences, humanities, all of them focused on their technical work. I have worked in industry and know what is out there. We know that while you might be pipetting or doing something that is leading edge in academia: very likely in an industry, advanced robotics are doing it or a slew of technicians, or it is being outsourced to a CRO.

12 Resume Updates Needed For Getting Hired In Industry Jobs

If you are hired but have not updated your resume at all. You can be let go tomorrow and have to start from your job search from scratch again. You have had the experience of a job search before, you have the idea where to start, but you are forgetting all of the results that you achieved. You need to document those on a daily basis. You know that the resume gets pulled out with the hiring committee and they review it. When they come back to your candidacy, the higher the quality of the resume, the better off you will be. If you negotiate, your good resume will help your case. You’ll be paid more.

Take the time to write your resume in the best possible way. Many PhDs sink into the comfort of what they are used to doing; they don’t like to sit there in the discomfort of writing their resume. It is painful to write a resume, like trying to write your first book; takes a lot of work. The reason it is painful is because you have to actually think about the results you have achieved. It is all about how you sell yourself as the most successful candidate to the recruiters.

Do you even know what results you have achieved? It is easy to just blank out and say, I have not achieved any results. Don’t blame imposter syndrome. You have achieved results. You just have not quantified them because it is difficult. You have to activate that deeper part of your brain where it is not just a snap judgment. You have to actually brainstorm the results that you achieved.

It is said that even if a good resume is not enough to get you hired in a high paying industry job, a bad resume is enough to keep you from getting hired in industry.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

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The post Revive Your Resume For The Post-Vaccine Hiring Rush (12 Updates) appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Why PhDs Should Be More Money Driven (& 2 Controversial Cash Goals) Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains why it is important for PhDs to set cash goals and work towards them

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

First, Isaiah discusses why PhDs need to set cash goals and commit to fulfill them
Next, Isaiah reveals the strategies to navigate curve ball questions and get hired. Thus, contributing to the cash goals
Finally, Isaiah explains 2 controversial cash goals to set as a driving force during your job search

From This Week’s Show…

Why Is It Important For PhDs To Value Money

We will discuss something that several others avoid: we will talk about money. As a PhD, you should be aiming to make as much money as possible for doing meaningful work and not feeling guilty about it. You should be rewarded for your value. You can’t know your value or remember your value as a PhD if you are not being paid your value.

PhDs often think that they don’t have enough industry experience, skill sets, or business acumen. Therefore, they are not entitled to more money. But you have to learn to earn it. You can earn more money and you should always try to earn more money else you will get into the industry and then be taken for a ride. I want you to have a target of money and not accept less than what you are worth, because money can get you a lot of things, most important of them is freedom; to focus your time and effort on projects.

There are many people out there who would say that money doesn’t matter; just do what you love. Don’t let people dissuade you. I want you to know that money is not the root of all evil, rather it allows us to make a transaction—a value for value—earlier, transactions were done in terms of weapons or forced labor. Therefore, put aside any wrong thoughts about money and open up your mind into a state of discovery.

Strategies For PhDs To Navigate Certain Curve ball Interview Questions

One of the most popular questions is, ”Can you work with less qualified people?” Industry employers are hiring more PhDs than ever before. They know that you are highly qualified and respect other PhDs. But they want to know if you can talk to people that have less technical skills than you without making them feel like you are condescending. You can call upon your experience as a mentor to an undergrad, volunteer, lab assistants, that learned in a different way than you. That’s the best way to answer this. People learn at different paces and in a different way. So you would change your approach in terms of training the other person with patience and communication skills.

Another question is, ”What do you perceive as some of the disadvantages to working in industry?” Don’t answer that the disadvantage is that it is a business or a company. They don’t want to hear that you think that business in general is a disadvantage. Neither do they want to hear from you that the company’s corporate strategy or the commercial direction is a disadvantage. Don’t answer anything that would indicate that you are going to hesitate to pivot with the company if the market is not responding to a product or a research project. This question has to be answered tactfully.

2 Controversial Cash Goals

I want you to set $10,000 a month as your first target. $10,000 a month amounts to $120,000 a year. Base this as a driving force and take your job search very seriously, negotiate as aggressively as possible. But with a win-win approach, following all the methodologies to get into a position to attain that goal. Make a plan, a strategy to reach that goal even if it is not perfect. As a PhD in learning, you can always improvise.

You already have the goal you have to get; $10,000 per month. This is just a start for those of you that haven’t transitioned into industry, yet the government is going to take away at least 40%. For some of you in other countries, it may be much higher. The government is going to take out taxes first before you blow the money. Then, there is social security, Medicare, federal taxes, state or province or local taxes, car insurance and others. You need to get to a point where you can save 40% of your gross income.

As a PhD, you have set goals, formulate hypotheses, design experiments and improvised to attain the goal. Setting cash goals will encourage you to work aggressively towards a secure future.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post Why PhDs Should Be More Money Driven (& 2 Controversial Cash Goals) appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Hacking Company Culture To Get Hired (& 61 New Career Insights) Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains why aligning with the company’s culture is important for PhDs to get hired and for their career progression in the company

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

First, Isaiah discusses the why PhDs need to accept and follow company culture
Next, Isaiah reveals the strategies to balance capability and cultural fit
Finally, Isaiah explains 61 new career insights

From This Week’s Show…

Why Is It Important For PhDs To Align Themselves With The Company’s Culture

We are going to talk about how PhDs need to understand the company culture and how you need to position yourself to fit in a company’s culture. PhDs need to understand the specific changes and the working trends of the company.

We have been seeing a lot more hybrid project management since the pandemic induced workforce decentralization. Everyone is on Slack and Zoom. PhDs need to update their skills from academia to stay abreast with these industry advancements.

Academia had convinced me that I was an incredible project manager. I could balance so many different incubations and document them in my lab notebook every day. And then I got into industry and I realized in academia, there is no project management. In industry —however small or big— there is a strong organizational culture.

As PhDs, we often don’t think a lot about the culture, we just want to know the goal, and then figure out a way to hit it through data. But culture is how you get things done. Because how you get things done on a day-to-day basis dictates how you feel and how others feel. If you do not make an effort to fit into the culture, it does not matter how competent you are, you can eventually get squeezed out of an organization.

Strategies For PhDs To Display Capability And Cultural Fit

One of the most frequently asked questions in the pandemic era is, How do you create culture in a remote environment? That is a tough interview question that gets asked all the time to evaluate the candidate’s cultural fit. If you understand what the employer wants to do in terms of culture, what they care about, you will have an easier time answering this.

If you come in and you fit in the culture perfectly, but you can’t do the job, you are not going to get hired. You have to perform. So, capability and cultural fit are two very important aspects that affect hiring. As a PhD, you have been trained only to think about capability, which is why so many PhDs go to their first interview just talking about their technical skills with hiring managers; recruiters who don’t have PhDs don’t understand those technical skills.

Dig into concepts like cultural IQ or the language of culture, so you can start understanding what employers are looking for. Every company has its own culture. Understanding the language of this culture will help you to get hired and stay hired.

61 New Career Insights

Companies have been constantly changing and adapting to increase efficiency during the pandemic. They had to rely on hybrid project management, the combination of the waterfall project management methodology and the agile project management methodology, and agile project management, it’s almost like a religion.

We recommend PhDs to take a look at the AI, data analytics and software programs of the company prior to interview. Everything is cloud-based. Newer R&D positions as technology development officers, informatics specialists, cloud informatics specialists, are cloud skill dependent. They need to work with the integration of data inflows from within the company and from external organizations. Project managers have had to embrace these cloud-based systems informatics and as a PhD, that is what makes you so valuable for these project management roles in industry right now. Project management is the connection between projects and strategy. It is IQ, but in the language of industry.

A sponsor is a leader in your professional circle who is going to advocate for your career advancement, both before you get hired at a company and after you get hired. This is somebody who is going to be at meetings, especially those where you will not be. You have to get one of these people who can be your sponsor in company meetings well ahead of time. Somebody who will speak well about you on the hiring committee. PhDs can do that by paying close attention to who during the informational interview process connects well, an accountability partner. When it comes to your job search, find people hold you accountable in your jobs.

As a PhD do what you are best at research all aspects of the job search process which will work in your favor.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post Hacking Company Culture To Get Hired (& 61 New Career Insights) appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Why Staying In Academia Causes Mental Disorders (& Some Quirky Interview Questions) Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he explains why mental disorders occurs in PhDs staying in academia for long and the strategies they can follow to get hired in industry roles

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

First, Isaiah discusses why staying in academia harms causes mental disorders in PhDs
Next, Isaiah reveals new strategies that will help you get through the job search process
Finally, Isaiah explores the answers to some quirky interview questions that PhDs might face

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs In Academia Should Prioritize Their Industry Job Search For Their Mental Health

Why staying in academia causes mental disorders? I am not talking about clinically diagnosed disorders. I am talking about the mental challenges, the struggles, the pain. PhDs in academia have an indescribable urge that they are not accomplishing anything or making any progress. How did that happen? This is a common disorder that happens to PhDs stuck in academia for long. That takes a toll on their mental health.

As a PhD, when you come across a depressed postdoc it makes you ponder that being a PhD, you are highly skilled and intelligent, what went wrong? Clearly at that time you don’t understand how dark it is and how it actually damages a PhD’s career and their mental health. However, at one point you realize that the system is broken. We become disillusioned and undergo a lot of pain.

The challenging time and the pain in academia deviates you from a productive target. So you look for something else because as PhDs, we have very active minds. We want to do something better, where we can make a difference. We can do higher level work, more volume of work than other people, and, gradually academia stops making sense to us as we are not given any direction. The university is a business at the end of the day, and they don’t know what they’re doing.

I realized that in academia, professors work hard for years on something. Then, just scrap it because they were just spinning out research to get the next grant. On the contrary, everybody in industry was discovering things so much faster and that acceleration and industry is incomparable. Don’t make someone else’s career your pie, put your career first. Try to find something positive and productive, like your job search to get obsessed over, the options, the possibilities for you in industry that will unlock your energy again.

Strategies To Succeed In The PhD Job Search Process

Don’t get stuck in apathy, staying in academia will bring you more harm than help. Make your job search your priority. There are several new strategies to help you in the job search process.

Certain changes in the resume structure are needed for making a better impact on the recruiter. Education, job duties and technical skills should not be on the first page of the resume. Transferable skills in the work experience section must be highlighted. Resume structure is important because the recruiter needs to find the candidate relevant information from the resume in order to make the final decision.

Academic job titles, though fancy, have less value on an industry resume. Use the job title that would make sense for what you did and use it across instead of a bunch of titles that do not convey your expertise. Highlight what you learned during the job, the transferable skills, add value to your job title.

Answers To Some Quirky Interview Questions That Put PhDs In Academia In A Fix

For almost a decade. The first question that PhDs are going to be asked during an interview after “how are you”, is “tell me a little bit about yourself”. It is very easy to think that everybody you interview with is going to be a trained interviewer, a HR who knows the way the question should be answered. That is not true in many cases.

We recommend PhDs in academia to make an impressive elevator pitch for this, where you say, who you are both professionally and personally. Add a personal aspect too because your answer is going to prompt their next line of questioning.

Besides, a personal note also helps to build rapport with them. Convey your hobbies. Something that shows that you’re more well-rounded than the majority of the PhD population. Show a team-oriented outdoor activity that somebody without a PhD can identify with, because they will ask you about that and in doing so, you have successfully disarmed them. You’re talking about something that’s more personable. They’re going to get back to the other questions, but this is a great way to start your answer.

When you are questioned about why you would like to join the company, your answer should be aligned with why they are hiring you for this position and the goals of the position. Staying focussed on the company’s goal helps these answers. Answering questions in an interview is a skill but preparing ahead to answer these questions efficiently makes a huge difference.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post Why Staying In Academia Causes Mental Disorders (& Some Quirky Interview Questions) appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

PhDs Are Rushing Into These Business Development Roles Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

Join Isaiah and Alessandra as they explain what business development is and the strategies PhDs can follow to be hired in this field

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

First, Isaiah discusses how PhDs get hired into business development roles with PhDs panelists who now work as business development managers
Next, Isaiah and Alessandra reveal how business development roles work
Finally, Isaiah and Alessandra explain how PhDs can get hired into these roles

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Business Development Managers

Eventually, every single career track becomes a business development-based role. PhDs are rushing into these roles. There is a high demand for these roles. We will discuss what these business development roles are and how to be hired into these positions.

Business development manager roles comprise numerous cross-functional roles as connecting with clients and locating the appropriate clients while simultaneously working with the in-house teams.

PhDs in this role have to work with the operations and R & D teams to generate study design. The experience gained as a postdoc and PhD is utilized to create the study design, analyze its scientific feasibility, and set timelines for flawless execution. It is the best of both worlds: client-facing, budget-making business side and evidence-based scientific acumen.

Business Development roles don’t require any specific experience beyond your PhD. In this role, you are not a transactional salesperson, rather you are developing a business. Understanding the metrics is really what accelerates your business understanding.

Why PhDs Are So Valuable As Business Development Managers

We know this field is very popular as we have seen a rise in the hiring of PhDs as business development managers. The scientific knowledge, client-facing skills, and experience of designing research study and communicating in scientific terms are few of the desirable qualities that make PhDs much sought after for these roles.

PhDs are extremely valuable in this role because at the beginning, they design the study and are also the people that then build trust with the client. The expertise gained through lab meetings, grant presentations, PhD defense, seminars, and symposiums gives PhDs an edge with the clients.

The ability to work on multiple projects is equally desirable. It is always a different project, a different study. This becomes quite challenging and takes you to think strategically; not only to design your study, but also to catch the attention of the client. PhDs are able to solve problems while innovatively research on the topic and speak in the technical language with the client when needed.

You are talking with purpose to set up strategic alliances. You will be making deals that would profit two or more companies. The technical expertise that PhDs have is precious but you have to be very social, meeting different people, listening to their problems and answering their questions.

It’s like getting to be a PI without any of the bad stuff, because you have a way bigger budget, and don’t have to think of the grants. You get to think strategically about how to innovate without restrictions.

How Business Developers Work

The hierarchy of business development roles in an industry is: there is a head of business, then a manager, and a business development associate. Each department has this hierarchy. At the top, we have the chief commercial officer and there can also be a manager between the head and the business development manager. This is a promotion post. You get promoted to the position of the director in the department that you oversee.

There is a cross-functionality aspect to the job. For example, the decisions taken by the business development managers regarding product launch in a different country affects all the departments concerned with the product. Product introduction into an international market would need legal and financial implications as vendor management, type of regulation, cost differences amidst countries would be different. It is extremely important to comprehend and yield to the differences between countries.

You have to interact with different departments, organize and coordinate, at a highly strategic level. Even the marketing campaign might be different. PhDs in business development roles continue to take care of the product, seeing whether any amendment or advancement is necessary for product advancement. Project Management, sales, and negotiation also come into play. Altogether, it is a very large goal that mandates the use of business acumen, scientific knowledge, strategic planning, all while assuring the client and managing a cross-functional team.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post PhDs Are Rushing Into These Business Development Roles appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

How To Get Hired As A Management Consultant in 2021 Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

Join Isaiah And James As They Reveal The Strategies You Should Follow To Be Hired As A Management Consultant

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

First, Isaiah discuss the Management Consultant career for PhDs with panelists who have successfully transitioned into those roles
Next, Isaiah and James reveal the scope of Management Consultants in combating the job challenges that PhDs will face in 2021
Finally, Isaiah and James explains how Management Consultants work to solve business problems

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Management Consultants

This is one of the top career tracks, a lot of PhDs are getting hired in. We came from different academic backgrounds like organic chemistry and education but wanted to learn something beyond our academic horizons and once we started it fit like a glove.

It does not matter what your background is or how certain you are about being a management consultant. As far as business acumen training is concerned, it is definitely crucial as it can get you hired into management consulting. But in order to acquire the business acumen or breakthrough in this field you don’t need an MBA.

As PhDs, we basically have no idea, we are always closed in our labs, in our bubble doing research and the only worry is to make reactions happen or progress research further. So even after working in the industry for a year, I still had a lot of gaps in my knowledge, in terms of industry, how problems were solved in business and industry, what management consulting was? how these big decisions were made on a higher level about mergers, acquisitions, promotions, the analysis and the problem breakdown were still an enigma.

After I went through the management consulting training I realized that it is like a fast track for all the business knowledge that you never gained during your PhD.

Scope Of Management Consulting In Combating The Job Challenges Of 2021

Management consulting has tremendous value in a decentralized framework, in a lead thinking approach to all types of business and real world problems. It extends beyond businesses; profit and nonprofit, for example, education, government and other NGOs.

I think that there is tremendous value in having this structure of frameworks that allow you to take on any problem at any level of ambiguity, regardless of your own level of expertise, because you have learned the problem solving process.

There are thousands of companies that hire management consultants. There might be different titles, different types of consulting – at times broad at time narrow niches.

Many companies are trying to revamp their strategies. The pandemic pushed us through the equivalent of five or six years of digital change, digital transformation. Of moving everything into the digital world, into remote work. Whilst a lot of industry experts thought that this would happen at some point, it has happened and we adapted through the jump.

That means that all types of companies are having to completely rethink how they would mobilize their workforces, how they would keep their employees happy, and, on the front end, how would they make their services, or products available to the people in this new world.

A delivery service door dash, became an IPO last week, something that was really accelerated because of the pandemic. 2021 is bringing all these concerns to the industries: from local restaurants figuring out how to deliver their product to people during this pandemic to a massive software company trying to figure out how can we get our services, products to the people without going in front of them physically, how can we sell online? How can we present more of our value proposition digitally?

So, there’s tons of stuff. And the industry is growing massively and so are their concerns in the pandemic. Management consulting steps in and gives you an objective, acts as the objective outside observer.

The Value PhDs Add To Management Consulting

As a PhD, you’re incredibly valuable. A study from McKinsey reports that there is a massive deficit, about 20% in the job market for people who can research and analyze data correctly.

I have seldom seen PhDs who were scared to jump in management consulting as they did not have any business background. But at some point, it clicks that PhDs pick this stuff up so much faster than MBAs because you already have the problem solving skills. You think about how to solve problems in a very similar way. And especially if you’re working in the hard sciences or social sciences, you have a commitment to using logic and evidence, to find an answer to a problem. And that’s exactly what people want out of a management consultant.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post How To Get Hired As A Management Consultant in 2021 appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Staying In Academia Is Morally Wrong (& 55 PhD Job Search Insights For 2021) Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he reveals the best insights about the PhD job search strategy based on this year’s roundtables

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

First, Isaiah discusses the hiring trend for PhDs
Next, he enlists the hurdles faced during the PhD job search
Finally, Isaiah explains the strategies to implement in order to overcome PhD career hurdles

From This Week’s Show…

Hiring Trends In The Pandemic

Friction creates growth. All the challenges, disruption, and chaos that you faced, made you a stronger person. You have had to learn to rely on parts of yourself that you never knew before. You have had to think more creatively than you’ve had to think before.

We are doing a roundup of some of the best insights of this year. We will focus on a few topical things, looking at which companies are merging, looking at some current industry trends, and emerging market trends to emphasize the importance of developing that business acumen.

As PhDs, you have this incredible intellect, unmatched skill sets. You are meant to do a lot. Don’t let academia make you think that you have nothing to offer the world because that is not true. You need to see that as an obligation and do whatever you can to get into a space, either in a non-profit or a for-profit company, a large company, small company, private company, or a public company.

What shocked me this year in particular is the hiring of a large number of PhDs. Despite every odd happening this year, more PhDs were hired in the last quarter than we have ever seen: while hiring in most sectors went down.

Unemployment rates have started to tick back up again. They are still incredibly high, but for PhDs, hiring has increased. It is because of those skills that you have, the world is marketing your value. The world needs those skills in the rampant pandemic. Hence, the R&D, clinical trials; not just in the infectious disease space, but all around is increasing. People are seeing in their daily lives how valuable data, correct models of data, research tools, and information from experiments is on a quotidian basis.

Hurdles In The PhD Job Search

Globally, the importance of research and data has been acknowledged. As a PhD, it is your duty to add value to the world. Even though this year might seem like a tough time for you, there are strategies to turn it around. However, it is more important to identify the shortcomings.

And I’m going to go through this special cheeky stack, articles that I have been reviewing, that will help you understand what you can do, what, you know, looking back, what could you have done? And even if you missed an opportunity, what you can do now, despite the pandemic woes.

It is expected that we will see a lot of changes from the pandemic in 2021. It is pivotal that even in chaos we would identify how to grow and stay focused on our goal. Don’t get distracted, even though there is always something going on to pull you away from your professional growth; from advancing. You have to be very sharp and vigilant to make sure that you are investing your time, skills, and energy in things that are going to have a larger impact. As a PhD, you have to look at things at a higher level. You got to stay focused.

Set up a meeting with your boss/ supervisor / PI to discuss your career. I remember being so afraid of my supervisor because I thought that I will be perceived as a failure once I talked about transitioning to industry positions.

PhD Job Search Strategies To Overcome Career Hurdles

Volunteer for stretch assignments. If you want to get promoted, ask to do more, to help out in a different area of the business. If you get hired into the R&D department, ask for helping out in terms of coordinating or managing a project, adding some organization or an increased level of organization to what you’re doing, volunteering.

Jumping on earnings calls with companies, get innovative, and pitch new ideas will show your value as a PhD, or really any professional in any career. The idea is that you bring your highest level of value and your ability to execute on those ideas. Don’t pitch a problem, anyone can do that. Rather, focus on the solution or better a plan.

Grow your network starting from where you are at. Reinvest in your relationship-building, go beyond your comfort zone, your immediate neighbors. This is the golden rule in every aspect of career.

Constantly update yourself, attend networking events, connect with people, update buzz keywords in your resume, LinkedIn and other candidate portfolios, add new courses, and new skill sets. Set the stage for success.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post Staying In Academia Is Morally Wrong (& 55 PhD Job Search Insights For 2021) appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Top Interdisciplinary PhD Job Search Strategies Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

Join Isaiah, Christopher, And Regina As They Discuss The Job Search Strategies For Interdisciplinary PhDs.

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

First, Isaiah interviews a panel of interdisciplinary PhDs who successfully transitioned to diverse industry careers
Next, the expert panel discusses the special skill set that interdisciplinary PhDs possess and gives them an added advantage in industry positions
Finally, Isaiah, Christopher, and Regina explore the different career tracks available to interdisciplinary PhDs.

From This Week’s Show…

Advice From Fellow PhDs

Interdisciplinary PhDs form this umbrella term which is relatively new. Depending on your department, university, or country your PhDs may be classified as social sciences in one location and humanities in another. They often consider themselves second-class citizens when it comes to job search. But in reality, they have a special skill set that gives them an advantage over other PhDs in certain positions as User Experience Researcher.

I am an anthropologist by training but have actually worked at the intersections of social finance and the humanities. I also have a certificate in gender and race studies, and was initially trained by the humanities land team, to be a social scientist. Interdisciplinary PhD is borderless to a large extent as there are huge overlaps.

After I completed my PhD, I decided to transition and was looking into the skills that I could bring to the industry table. I felt like I had nothing to give; that my PhD was not as fruitful as a STEM PhD. Surprisingly, during my transition, I learned a lot about my own skills, experiences, and how to communicate them in a better way. Since then it has been great.

Although I was fortunate enough to have a dissertation chair who told me to imagine my position outside of academia, I suffered from imposter syndrome. I felt that I was a work in progress and was not adept enough to transition into industry. It took me long but I used my network to leverage my skill set. Working in industry taught me how valuable my transferable skills are.

The Special Skill Set That Gives Interdisciplinary PhDs An Advantage In Certain Industry Careers

I think the distress point here is if you think it is particularly bad for you, as a social scientist or human sciences, as there is even less funding there. And I think that is why we have to overcome the second class citizen mindset. It is not because you are less valuable, rather the system is more broken for certain departments.

PhDs with an interdisciplinary background possess skills like empathy, qualitative analysis, focus groups, that are different from a traditional STEM PhD.

The ability to do qualitative research about user experience or consumer behavior lies with interdisciplinary PhDs. Most of the businesses conduct problem-solving in some capacity i.e being able to figure out what you are doing and your analysis of the situation of what we call qualitative data.

Interdisciplinary PhDs are trained to employ their critical and creative thinking skills to analyze qualitative data and recognize user problems. Once the problem is identified, user experience solutions can be easily designed. I think that’s one of the most important things that I do in my job.

Ethnography is a very elaborate process involving a series of different methods that go toward the writing of a human life. But people use ethnography in industry to mean going on site to somebody’s place and doing an interview with them: this gives a lived experience in a bite-size.

I think that’s the best example of the academic training that you all have here that can be leveraged for industry, that someone coming froms traditional STEM could not do.

The Industry Career Tracks Available To Interdisciplinary PhDs

There are partial pivot and full-pivot roles for interdisciplinary PhDs.

The full-pivot positions are more of the standard for-profit industry positions, the top ones that interdisciplinary PhDs get into. A financial analyst is one of them which involves analyzing information. It does not matter whether the information is qualitative or quantitative, because you can do both.

The Financial analyst position studies the psychological and behavioral aspect of how people spend money. An economist in this position would only focus on the currency aspect that is why they need an interdisciplinary PhD. As opposed to a pure economist, you will be able to inject the human behavior element and also bring in that kind of empathy so that people are not just going to be data points. And sometimes you can have some insights that people won’t be able to have that way because of that added, perspective that you bring to it.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post Top Interdisciplinary PhD Job Search Strategies appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

5 Keys To Getting Hired As An Application Scientist Or Application Specialist Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

Join Isaiah and Alex Woychek as they reveal how to get hired as an Application Scientist or Application Specialist

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

First, Isaiah and Alex discuss what the Application Scientist role entails
Next, they enlist why this role is growing in popularity in industry
Finally, Isaiah and Alex give an overview of how the Application Scientist/Specialist role is different from R&D and sales rep roles and the 5 things you need to get hired for this role

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Application Scientists/Specialists

This is one of the most popular positions PhDs are getting into; industry demand for this position is peaking, especially in November and December. This is a No. 1 non-bench position PhDs are hired into, yet most PhDs do not understand it or consider it until someone contacts them about this role.

It is one of the fastest ways to get hired from any branch of science. It is the position we recommend you to get into, if you are skeptical about the right position for you, as it is also the easiest position to leave. It is a known transitory position by industry professionals, so even when recruiters hire you they are comfortable in helping you transition into other industry roles.

As Application Scientists, we are professional troubleshooters. I like being able to support product post-sale, customer satisfaction, and feedback integration. I convey customer insights to the R&D and sales departments, which helps them improvise.

A big reason for its popularity may be because we use a lot of the exact same skills that we have used during our PhD such as collating, analyzing, and interpreting data. The troubleshooting and communication skills that you developed during your PhD are really applicable to this position.

Why Are Application Scientists/Specialists Valuable

You are so valuable in everyday troubleshooting. We are the ones in the field gathering feedback from customers about things that they would like to see in our product that work really well. Even our R & D team hasn’t thought of putting into future versions of the products. We are the go-between the customer and the company; doing everything we can to get the customer to use the instrument perfectly.

I am able to support that post-sale, making a big difference because they integrate the product after the sale. I am a key piece in customer satisfaction and integration adding potential value to both the product and the customer relations. You are respected by the company because you have valuable feedback from the people using the product. The R&D and Sales department are hanging on your words to hear and improvise on the product. You are respected because you bring in such precious information.

I would love to help develop a better app or software feature or a better instrument or a better kit, some innovation that is going to improve research, improve diagnostics, improve treatment.

Imagine going back into your own lab, training your labmates on how to do their research, better training your PI, and telling your PI what they are doing wrong and how they can use an instrument or some advanced technology to improve it.

5 Keys To Get Hired Into An Application Scientist/Specialist Role

It is the perfect entry point into industry for someone coming out of academia. If you don’t know which role is right for you, it will be the easiest for you to transition into an Application Scientist role as it pays very well, allows you to work autonomously, and allows you to transition into multiple different roles.

It is still in demand despite the pandemic, the key transferable skills such as problem-solving, flexibility, business acumen, time management, working autonomously, and understanding the science are needed for the role.

It is a great transition role you can move within the same company, build your network, then can go into management or any other role within your company.

You don’t need a certain background to be able to support certain products. You need to use language that showcases your understanding of where we currently are in terms of the industry. You must strike to the employers as their safest bet.

You don’t have to know everything, you just need to convince the recruiters that you will look it up during the interview process and get back to them. That shows that you’re willing to learn, to put the time in to get yourself up to where your coworkers are. And just by showing that drive and motivation for the company will get you further than even someone who did know, but they just weren’t motivated for the position.

That ability to ascertain knowledge is what makes a doctor in philosophy. As you are the doctor of learning, you can process information faster and you can produce a larger volume of work, which makes you perfect for the job of an application scientist.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post 5 Keys To Getting Hired As An Application Scientist Or Application Specialist appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

2021 PhD Job Market Review Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Join Isaiah as he reveals what to expect from the PhD job market in 2021

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

First, Isaiah discusses the reasons behind the trend of year’s end hiring surge
Next, he goes on to enlist what PhDs should do to get hired before the year’s end
Finally, Isaiah gives an overview of the top careers of 2020, the PhD profile that fits these, and the 7 goals every PhD should attain

From This Week’s Show…

The Year’s End Hiring Surge Already Started

We are seeing the largest hiring boom of the entire year. Although the year 2020 has been uncertain, we have been able to stay ahead by watching financial markets, the hiring and spending freezes in academia, and hiring patterns within Global 500 partners.

During the beginning of the year, companies want to focus on staff training, virtual recapping the previous year, financial forecasting, and laying out the plan for the upcoming year: not an ideal time to be hired.

We are going to walk you through a couple of months. What you can do to make sure that you are in the best position to take advantage of all the extra budgets the companies have right now.

The final thing I wanted to discuss is what does the job market look like in 2021? You know, the obstacles that are before you, but I want you to get very familiar with the indicators that are going to tell you where the go jobs are and when to feel a sense of urgency in terms of your job search and what could impact your job.

Get Hiring-Ready By Introducing Corporate Phrases In Your Profile And Hiring Process

It is important to note how PhDs can improvise to ensure that they get hired in early 2021 when the job search is at its most difficult point.

We are seeing lockdowns in Europe, it is very likely that we may face similar consequences, possibly in phases. It means that you need to understand what employers are looking for now, the new normal. The best thing that you can do to get hired now is to really focus on changing your language for the current context.

What kind of language and qualities are the recruiters looking for? You need to use language that showcases your understanding of where we currently are in terms of the industry. You must strike to the employers as their safest bet.

It is imperative that PhDs showcase their understanding of corporate language and culture by using corporate jargon as workforce decentralization, working remotely, remote communication, virtual collaboration, and working autonomously in their resume, LinkedIn, and any other profile that would be shared with an employer.

Employers are looking for PhDs who can multitask. If they’re going to hire a PhD as an R&D scientist or engineer, the PhD should also know project management and scientific writing. Therefore, along with your skills and technical literacy— as your ability to do research, analyze it, synthesize it; ability to edit, review and publish, to coordinate things remotely, and work autonomously—corporate phrases should also be listed.

A lot of employers ask how you perform autonomously? What is your morning routine? How do you set priorities? Autonomous working is one of the most desirable attributes of a PhD in industry.

The Seven Cheeky Scientist Goals For PhDs

So, we have a list of the seven goals that every PhD must attain for success.

I want to recap what our goals are as a cheeky scientist for all PhDs. What are we fighting for? How do we plan on succeeding?

We want to standardize the graduation process for PhDs so that PhDs can invest time in applying for industry.

We canvas for the mandatory overtime for postdocs as well as adjuncts or whatever other job titles they come up with that allow for universities to get away with very cheap labor.

PhDs should be exposed to standard practice and not a free internship. We want PhDs to be able to work for a company full time, just like MBAs or somebody who wants an MBA. Quit putting limits on yourself, and we want to stop you and other lifetime academics from putting limits on you as well.

It is important to know your value as a PhD.

** for the full podcast, check out the audio player above.

The post 2021 PhD Job Market Review appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

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PhD Transition Report On-Demand

Join Isaiah as he reveals why resume updates are important for PhDs to get hired in industry jobs

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Need To Work On Their Resume Updates

Importance Of Resume Structure

12 Resume Updates Needed For Getting Hired In Industry Jobs

Join Isaiah as he explains why it is important for PhDs to set cash goals and work towards them

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2 Controversial Cash Goals

Join Isaiah as he explains why aligning with the company’s culture is important for PhDs to get hired and for their career progression in the company

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Why Is It Important For PhDs To Align Themselves With The Company’s Culture

Strategies For PhDs To Display Capability And Cultural Fit

61 New Career Insights

Join Isaiah as he explains why mental disorders occurs in PhDs staying in academia for long and the strategies they can follow to get hired in industry roles

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs In Academia Should Prioritize Their Industry Job Search For Their Mental Health

Strategies To Succeed In The PhD Job Search Process

Answers To Some Quirky Interview Questions That Put PhDs In Academia In A Fix

Join Isaiah and Alessandra as they explain what business development is and the strategies PhDs can follow to be hired in this field

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Business Development Managers

Why PhDs Are So Valuable As Business Development Managers

How Business Developers Work

Join Isaiah And James As They Reveal The Strategies You Should Follow To Be Hired As A Management Consultant

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Management Consultants

Scope Of Management Consulting In Combating The Job Challenges Of 2021

The Value PhDs Add To Management Consulting

Join Isaiah as he reveals the best insights about the PhD job search strategy based on this year’s roundtables

From This Week’s Show…

Hiring Trends In The Pandemic

Hurdles In The PhD Job Search

PhD Job Search Strategies To Overcome Career Hurdles

Join Isaiah, Christopher, And Regina As They Discuss The Job Search Strategies For Interdisciplinary PhDs.

From This Week’s Show…

Advice From Fellow PhDs

The Special Skill Set That Gives Interdisciplinary PhDs An Advantage In Certain Industry Careers

The Industry Career Tracks Available To Interdisciplinary PhDs

Join Isaiah and Alex Woychek as they reveal how to get hired as an Application Scientist or Application Specialist

From This Week’s Show…

Why PhDs Make For Great Application Scientists/Specialists

Why Are Application Scientists/Specialists Valuable

5 Keys To Get Hired Into An Application Scientist/Specialist Role

Join Isaiah as he reveals what to expect from the PhD job market in 2021

From This Week’s Show…

The Year’s End Hiring Surge Already Started

Get Hiring-Ready By Introducing Corporate Phrases In Your Profile And Hiring Process

The Seven Cheeky Scientist Goals For PhDs

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