The NIH’s Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) provides a number of useful career development resources, including videos as well as guidance on resume and cover letter writing and a number of other professional skills. Students exploring careers in different industries might be especially interested in their guideline to informational interviews. This document provides a definition of informational interviews, tips on how to request such a meeting, and a sample of general informational questions to ask.
Articles
Biophysical Society: “Using Social Media to Share your Science”
In recognition of social media’s power to spread information and misinformation alike, this career article from the Biophysical Society explores how these online tools can be used for science outreach, strengthening networks, and creating a following for one’s own research. The author offers a broad overview of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. They also provide strategies unique to each of these platforms, such as how to present yourself in the headline versus summary sections of LinkedIn.
Science: “Explore the skills that can open career doors after your doctoral training”
This Science article discusses a survey of 3,803 science and engineering Ph.D.s working in various industries. Survey respondents revealed that while many believe they began developing important professional skills while in grad school, there are a number of skills that they have found very important at work that were not a central focus of their Ph.D. training (for example, personnel management.)
The article’s authors developed an interactive graphic based on the survey’s data. It compares the extent a skill is developed in grad school with its importance in 12 career sectors, including research, consulting, teaching, and more. It is intended to give doctoral students an overview of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of jobs in a variety of sectors and to shed light on which skills should be prioritized, either within their Ph.D. training or through extracurricular activities.
Academic Medicine: Rationale and Models for Career Advancement Sponsorship in Academic Medicine
An article from Academic Medicine differentiates mentorship from sponsorship in academic medicine. While the former centers on personal and professional development (e.g., skill-building and goal-setting), the latter concept targets overall career advancement through an understanding of organizational structures, by enhancing one’s visibility, credibility, and professional networks. The authors detail the gender disparities that exist in sponsorship, with men more likely to receive sponsorship. They discuss two existing sponsorship models and call for their broader, more equitable implementation.
IHE: Building an Endpoint to Your Faculty Job Search
This Inside Higher Ed article addresses a tricky topic for graduate students and postdocs searching for a faculty position – determining how much time to dedicate to the search. Of course, temporary positions such as adjunct teaching or visiting professorships are valuable opportunities in their own right and can serve as stepping stones on the track to a faculty position. At the same time, the article suggests, setting a clear limit on these temporary positions is one way to remain open to other career possibilities.
LOCATION UPDATE: Walk-in Wednesdays with Career Services
Beginning on Wednesday, September 5, Penn Career Services will be holding Walk-In Wednesdays in a new location – 501 Stellar-Chance. Stop by to have your resume/CV reviewed, prep for interviews, and get networking and career advice!
Other resources that may be useful include this article from the Biophysical Society on the differences between a resume and CV. The author details how to tailor the former to each individual position to which you wish to apply – a critical skill for finding an industry job.
The NIH’s Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) also provides the following guide to writing resumes and CVs. While there are no concrete rules, the guide provides a number of samples as well as memory joggers to help you recall your accomplishments and a sample action verb list to maximize the impression you make.
