Congratulations! You made it through several interviews successfully and just received a call with an offer. Now what? Do people still negotiate in this tough job market? Should you negotiate with your new employer? And if so, how do you begin the negotiation process? To be sure, people are still negotiating in this market, some quite successfully. Some trainees have expressed to me that they fear negotiating will drive the employer to rescind the offer. I would contend that being made an offer puts you in a position of power, but there are still some missteps you can take if you’re not adequately prepared. For example, you can turn the…
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REAL WORLD: Interviewing Tips
Read through our first REAL WORLD chat with a current NIH trainee! This trainee joined us for a live, online chat to discuss a position at the intersection of science policy, science communication, and grants administration for which she is interviewing. The text of our conversation can be found at: REAL WORLD NIH 0
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CHOPPED – Blog Review of CVs, Résumés, and Letters
As with last week’s post, I will continue every Wednesday to invite you to send me your CV, résumé, or cover letter via email to msinche@gmail.com. I will choose one document each Wednesday to put up on the chopping block–that is, to review on this blog. I will remove identifying information, and will offer not only critiques, but also praise when warranted. Send me your document soon, and I will post the first I receive–with my comments–on this site. 0
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Job Searching on the Sly…
Working with trainees on job searches over the years, I have often heard the same anxiety-ridden question: How can I possibly look for a job while working full-time? This can be done, and has been done successfully by hundreds of trainees. However, it’s important to exercise professionalism and discretion on the job while conducting your search. If you cannot find time outside of work to conduct your search, try coming in early, staying late, or working on your search during your lunch break. Being in a lab and having access to a computer all day can be hard to resist, but you are at work to do your job –…
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REAL WORLD NIH: Thursday, June 24, 10:00 AM
Join us LIVE this Thursday for our first REAL WORLD chat with a current NIH trainee! The trainee joining us for this live, online chat on Thursday has been invited to interview for a position at the intersection of science policy, science communication, and grants administration. To give you a better sense of the position, read through the following phrases from the job description: Design and conduct evaluations that will examine many qualitative and quantitative endpoints that measure scientific productivity, scientific and public health impact, and economic return on investment Write, review, and edit materials, at various levels of technical difficulty, for use in communicating information effectively and serve as the…
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CHOPPED – First Résumé on the Chopping Block
Below you will find the first résumé in our “CHOPPED” series. I have inserted my comments in red. Please do consider sending your document along for next week’s episode! Ima Champion, Ph.D. 12345 Fakeplace Ave., NW #550 Washington, DC 20008 ima_champion@abced.com (xxx) xxx-xxxx Policy, Communication, Curriculum Development While I encourage trainees to come up with descriptive category headings for their résumés, I would say this heading tries to cover too much. I would advise this trainee to change this heading to the type of work he would most like to do; e.g. “Science Policy Experience,” or “Experience in Science Policy and Education,” or something similar. Fellow ∙ American Society of…
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CHOPPED – Blog Review of CVs, Résumés, and Letters
My favorite new reality TV show is “Chopped,” which airs on the Food Network. The show isn’t new, but I am new to it, and I can’t get enough of it. Chefs are given baskets containing secret ingredients and must create an appetizer, entrée, or dessert using everything they find in the basket. I love to cook, but I am more a recipe-follower than an improviser in the kitchen, so the chefs who compete on this show completely impress me. What I would like to propose now is an online version of CHOPPED–well, with a slightly different premise. I would like to invite you to send me your CV, résumé,…
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Get in Job-Search Shape This Summer
As we get closer to July, vacations loom, and our thoughts run to the beach. Or to the mountains. Or to the World Cup. Or to anywhere but the lab. If you are enjoying a slower pace now, you can use this time to get in shape for a job search this fall. TO-DO list: 1. Get your CV ready. Keep your CV up-to-date. You might create a few different versions, depending on the types of jobs you intend to apply for in the fall. 2. Draft letters. Again, depending on the kinds of jobs you might apply for, you can use time this summer to craft a few…
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Manage Your Time with a Tomato
Recently, a client approached me expressing her need to manage her time more effectively. She felt overwhelmed with all of he projects she was juggling at work, and as a result, felt that she wasn’t doing any one of them as well as she could. I could certainly relate–there have been many times in my career when I have felt swamped, juggling so many projects I was unsure where–or even how–to start. In my research for this client, I found the most intriguing time management tool…a tomato. I’m not sure whether you have ever heard of–or used–the Pomodoro Technique™ , but its properties are quite simple and can be applied…
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Inject New Life into Your Work This Season
It’s gorgeous out today–75 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze that keeps the temperature comfortable enough to sit out in the sun. On days like this, it takes a while for me to get motivated. I find it much easier to daydream about the summer, thinking about places I’d like to go, people I’d like to see, things I’d like to do. It ‘s hard for me to focus on work as I’d rather be outside, enjoying the weather. In truth, I haven’t been very motivated about my work recently. I shared these feelings with a close friend, and our conversation was enormously helpful, as he shook me out of my…
