BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Professional Skills: Informational Interviews

NIH OITE Job Search Strategies Workshop

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NIH: "Marketing Your Research Experience for Project Management Positions" - BGS Career Development

Jul 29, 2021 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Speaker(s): Amanda (Dumsch) Langer, MS, Career Counselor
This event is recommended for: Summer Interns; Postbacs; Graduate Students; Postdocs/Fellows.

Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/979820306409168395

A job search involves more than just applying to job postings. Successful job searches require planning. You will need to complete four key activities: building a productive network, creating resumes that work for you, establishing search strategies for finding jobs, and preparing for a competitive interview. This session examines the job search as a process that integrates those four key activities to launch an effective job search.

Upcoming Webinars with NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE)

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NIH OITE Webinar - April 1, 2 PM - BGS Career Development

Informational Interviews: What? How? Why?
MONDAY May 4, 3:00 – 4:00 pm EDT
Speaker, Amanda Langer, NCC, OITE Career Counselor
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2973887989168105739

While focusing on networking generally, this workshop will specifically outline steps you can take to begin conducting informational interviews now. These networking conversations can be an effective research tool and often help give you the most current and specific information about a field. Come learn tips on how to get the most out of your informational interviews!

Managing Up to Maximize Mentoring Relationships
WEDNESDAY May 6, 2:00 – 4:00
Speaker, Sharon Milgram, Director NIH OITE
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5846474266919261195

This workshop will explore the relationship between trainees and research mentors/supervisors with the goal of providing strategies for improving communication and interpersonal interactions. The workshop will help participants clarify what they need from their supervisors and mentors and how to ensure that they get what they need.

NIH Career Symposium
FRIDAY May 8, noon – 5 pm

The 13th annual NIH OITE Career Symposium is still happening, albeit on-line. There will be panels, taped interviews, and Twitter chats focused on a variety of career paths in all sectors. For more information and to register: https://www.training.nih.gov/events/view/_2/2823/13th_Annual_NIH_Career_Symposium

Nature: “Why earning a PhD is an advantage in today’s industry job market”

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In this Nature article, one scientist describes the panic he felt when, during his fourth year of graduate studies, he was told his PhD could pose a liability to pursuing an industry career. Partially because of declining opportunities for full professorship in academia, he had decided to pursue a career in industry only to be told that hiring managers perceive PhDs as overqualified and too independent.

The author describes the steps he took to actively combat misperceptions that might arise when submitting a CV alone – he supplemented online applications with networking events and informational interviews. Ultimately, the author credits the problem-solving skills he gained in graduate school with the positions he holds today – consultant to Fortune 500 companies and manager of three biotechnology startups.

Read more here.

BGS Professional Skills Series: “Informational Interviews”

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Next up in the BGS Professional Skills Series: “Informational Interviews”! This talk will take place Tuesday, April 16, 2019  from 4:00 – 5:00 PM in Barchi Library (140 John Morgan). Co-hosted by PGWISE and EE Just. Light refreshments will be served!

Dr. Helen N. Pho, Associate Director at Penn Career Services, will address the following topics:

  • How to prepare for an informational interview, including what questions to ask
  • How to create a good impression when answering the “tell me about yourself” question
  • How to ensure that your networking conversation is beneficial to you and meaningful for the professional

To register, click here or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:

https://forms.gle/GtwJL5zcoeTMApy2A

If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Lopez.

“A Day in the Life of PUI Teaching Professor”

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NIH’s Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) maintains a PhD/Postdoc Blog that discusses work-life balance, career options, and job application process. The most recent post was written by a doctorate student interested in teaching at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI). She conducted informational interviews with three professors at PUIs and summarized their responses.

Read more here.