Post written by guest bloggers Jenn Wiggins, Wellness Advisor at OITE and Andrea Naranjo Erazo, Research Ethics Training Coordinator at OITE. Transitions can be composed of three stages:  the ending, the neutral zone (or liminal space) and the new beginning, and each stage is associated with its own challenges, emotions, and coping skills required for mastering the transition.   Transitions can cause us to feel multiple emotions and at times these emotions may conflict. For example, a trainee has accepted an academic appointment that will require them to move across the country. The trainee may feel excited, yet afraid, stressed, or relieved. A hodgepodge of feelings can add to the…

Everyone should have an elevator pitch ready – a quick introduction to your professional self. Reflect on your pitch and see if you are making any of these common mistakes: Lack of Confidence Confidence is key when selling anything, including your own skills and experience. Some phrases that belie a lack of confidence include: “I don’t have a lot of experience in _____ yet.” “I’m just a student/intern/postbac/ (fill in the blank).” Reflect on your accomplishments and the experiences that you have done. Of course, you can’t invent new experiences or skills, but you can confidently convey the ones you have. Lack of Focus Ideally, your elevator pitch will have…

Pronouns including, they/them/theirs, he/him/him, and she/her/hers, etc. are becoming more common to see in email signatures and Zoom boxes, but should you put them on your job search documents? There is not one blanket rule/policy that can apply to all and your decision to include your pronouns is a very personal one. There are a few ways that you can clarify your pronouns within a job application process. If you want to include on your resume, you can simply add your pronouns under your name in the header (before your contact information). Another perhaps less obvious way to include your pronouns is in your cover letter, beneath your signature at…

The mentor/mentee relationship is symbiotic and it holds tremendous value in the world of science.  Mentees often come into the partnership yearning for knowledge and skills training. Likewise, mentors need mentees so that they can continue their research effectively and so that they can help train the next generation of scientists.   We all need mentors to support and encourage us throughout our educational and career journey; however, often trainees aren’t sure how to manage a relationship with their mentor. Similarly, sometimes mentors feel overwhelmed by mentoring responsibilities and feel they trained to do lab work not management. For many reasons, and perhaps because of the importance of this partnership,…

Post written by guest blogger Angie Snyder, PsyD, Wellness Advisor Prior to the pandemic, loneliness was an epidemic.  More and more people reported feeling lonely, isolated, disconnected – married people, single people, people living with others or alone.   Then, just over one year ago, with the onset of the COVID pandemic, factors collided to increase an already concerning phenomenon. In this turbulent time of uncertainty, loss, and fear, just when people needed more than ever to feel connected, there was an increase in isolation.  While the implementation of social distancing guidelines has been necessary to maintain physical health, it has taken a toll on people’s mental well-being.  People have lost…

The term “elevator pitch” comes from the idea that you get into an elevator with a CEO who is usually going to an office on the top level of the building. Therefore, you have the length of that elevator ride to make your sales pitch. With that in mind, one of the key principles of an elevator pitch is that it is concise, usually about 60 seconds. Within the world of job searching, you need an elevator pitch for everything from interviews to networking events. Your elevator pitch should be a brief monologue answering the prompt “Tell me about yourself.” It is a key statement to prepare as it really…

Networking doesn’t come easily or naturally to all. With so many connections nowadays starting online, it can often feel awkward and intimidating to write networking messages. The most successful messages are short and succinct. The purpose of your email should be implied within the first two sentences and very clear by the last sentence. People are busy, so don’t include long-winded bios; however, it can be helpful to say a few key pieces of information in your first line, including: Who you are How you found them Why you are reaching out For example: I am at postdoc in my fourth year at NCI. I found your contact information in…

More than 75% of people have reported feeling envious of someone in the last year. A growing statistic especially since social media (LinkedIn included) makes it very easy to see what your colleagues and friends are up to professionally and personally.  You can be happy for another’s professional success while still feeling a twinge of jealousy. This career envy can be especially acute if you are job searching and/or making a career pivot and feel like you are starting back at square one. While jealousy can be motivating for some; it can derail others. To help from falling in the latter category, here are some ideas to make productive use…

Post Written by: Sara Hunter, OITE Wellness Advisor Anxiety is a normal and healthy emotion that all humans experience. It’s a way to signal to our brain and body that we should prepare for action. This reaction is part of what contributes peak performance and sustained attention. As a result, we don’t need to get rid of our anxiety; we just need to learn how to respond to it differently. Anxiety becomes disordered when its intensity is disproportionate to the anxiety-provoking event. With this heightened response, we move quickly into flight, fight or freeze mode, mechanisms of our evolved biology to keep us safe from danger – to keep us…

Today is the first day of Women’s History Month and it seems like an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges that women have faced, especially in 2020 – 2021. This past year, the pandemic has had a devastating impact, but in truth, women’s professional lives have been the hardest hit. According to a January 2021 article, US employers cut 140,000 jobs in December 2020. Women accounted for all the losses, losing 156,000 jobs while men gained 16,000.  This is why many are now referring to the current economic recession as a SHEcession.  According to an analysis by the National Women’s Law Center, this is the first time since 1948 that female…