As you prepare for graduate, professional school or job interviews, you may be asked a question related to diversity. Interviewers are very interested in selecting candidates who are aware of and who will contribute to the diversity mission of their organization. Have you practiced how you will answer diversity-related questions? In Career Services, we have seen trainees range in their comfort level about addressing diversity topics. Some trainees have several experiences to answer these questions, that said—many others are unsure how to approach answering the question. Perhaps they do not feel well-versed in diversity-topics, may be from a majority or underrepresented group and wonder how to respond, feel that are…
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Diversity Statements
In an academic job search, it is not uncommon to get questions related to diversity during your interview. You may be asked: “How do you bring diversity into the classroom?” and “How do you bring diversity to your research?” Recently though, diversity statements have become more and more standard. So along with your CV, cover letter, research statement and teaching statement, you might also be asked to provide a diversity statement. What is this document and what should you include? It really should be a personal reflection of your feelings and your approach to being a leader and a teacher. However, teaching is meant in the broadest sense possible as…
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Teaching at a Community College 101
Post written by guest blogger Ana M. Ribeiro, Special Programs Coordinator within OITE. What researchers need to know when applying for a faculty position at a Community College Teaching at a Community College is a potential career choice for academics in the biological sciences who want to use their research skills and background knowledge to educate the next generation of college students. There are multiple aspects you should consider when applying to teach at a Community College, most importantly, you need to be passionate about teaching, and using this job as a steppingstone until you get your next research position might not be the best solution for you, the faculty…
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How to Stand with Black Colleagues as an Informed Ally
In a Medium article entitled “Maintaining Professionalism in the Age of Black Death is…A Lot” the author, Shenequa Golding, quite simply enumerates: “Your Black employees are exhausted. Your Black employees are scared. Your Black employees are crying in between meetings. Your Black employees have mentally checked out. Your Black employees are putting on a performance.” Similarly, in a Huffington Post article, “This is What I Want to Tell My White Professors When They Ask ‘How Are You Today?’” Nolen describes her experience as a Black woman at Harvard Medical School where she feels she is forced to leave her personal experience at the door for the sake of “professionalism” and…
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Waiting is Hard to Do
From the Archive: Blog written by Michael J. Sheridan, MSW, PhD, Special Advisor for Diversity and Wellness Programs, Michael.sheridan@nih.gov It is December 2019, and while many are enjoying the holidays, if you are trainee, you are probably asking yourself, “I haven’t heard back from a number of medical schools, is there something I can do to move them along? Should I assume I won’t get in? Will I get an interview at the graduate programs that I applied to? I am waiting to hear from academic positions …is there anything I can do? The good news is that, if you haven’t heard anything yet, you are still being considered. With the holidays fast…
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Which Medical School Should I Choose?
It is exciting to receive offers to attend medical school. Simultaneously, it is stressful to have to choose which medical school to attend. It is natural to experience a mix of anticipation, excitement, and fear of making a mistake as you make this career decisions. Here are some suggestions to help you make this important career decision. Revisit your criteria for choosing a medical school Look over your original criteria that you developed when choosing a medical school. You can go beyond the national rankings of medical schools ask yourself, has anything changed, become better clarified, or new come up that will influence your decision? Be sure to factor in…
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Handling Unanticipated Interruptions at Work
One of the most predictable workplace variables that successful scientists can learn to control for is an unexpected work interruption. These breaks in service can range from changes in staffing and equipment malfunctions to anticipated breaks in the work due to the economy and/or inclement weather. Naturally, during such events (predictable or not), you will experience a range of reactions including awkward excitement, anxiety, fear, panic, frustration, anger or even avoidance and denial. As a future professional, you will be expected to have the skills to manage such reactions and continue to act professionally as a leader. In fact, when you are applying to graduate/professional schools and jobs, you probably be asked questions…
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Waiting is Hard to Do
Blog written by Michael J. Sheridan, MSW, PhD, Special Advisor for Diversity and Wellness Programs, Michael.sheridan@nih.gov It is December 2017, and while many are preparing for holidays, if you are trainee, you are probably asking yourself, “I haven’t heard back from a number of medical schools, is there something I can do to move them along? Should I assume I won’t get in? Will I get an interview at the graduate programs that I applied to? I am waiting to hear from academic positions …is there anything I can do? The good news is that, if you haven’t heard anything yet, you are still being considered. With the holidays fast approaching, it…
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Making Career Searches Less Scary
During a recent OITE workshop on the topic of career planning, trainees from all levels described finding the job search process “scary” and had feelings of fear and stress regarding approaching the next steps. For post bacs, applying to graduate, medical and other professional schools can sometimes feel like an uncharted maze at Halloween. For post docs and visiting fellows, hearing the scary stories about pursuing academic careers, making the big step into industry, or searching for jobs in the US and abroad country is akin to walking in the dark in uncharted territory. To add to previous OITE Halloween posts, here are some suggestions to help you slay the…
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Writing the Teaching Statement
As you prepare a your written application materials to use when entering the Academic Job Market, in addition to the standard Curriculum Vitae (CV), Cover Letter, and a diversity statements, you may be asked submit a Teaching Statement . In general, teaching statements help search committees gain an understanding about how you approach teaching courses in your academic discipline. This statement, that will include your philosophy towards teaching science, will give the reader a concise synopsis of the underpinnings and origins to your approach to teaching followed by the strategies you plan to use, and examples and evidence of your success. The authors of, The Academic Job Search Handbook (5th…