Questions and Answers from the webinar

Transcription

1 BEYOND THE PhD Career Opportunities and Planning Strategies for Geosciences Doctorates Questions and Answers from the webinar By Alaina G. Levine During our most recent webinar, we discussed the massive yes I do mean massive- amount of opportunities for geosciences doctorates. You can review the list by clicking on the slides from the webinar. We received lots of great questions form participants and I have posted answers to as many as possible here. If you have a question that has not been answered, please me at Alaina@alainalevine.com. Q: If I wanted to work for a specific organization, e.g. NCAR, do I keep applying for a postdoc there, or just give up after a first rejection? Does opportunity improve if they meet me in person? A: If you have your heart and mind set on something, whether it is a specific company, position, or research collaboration, you should definitely not give up. Just because you were not selected for a postdoc this time, doesn t mean you won t be selected for another opportunity within the same organization at a later date. Persistent people do actually come out on top in many cases. That being said, being persistent is absolutely an art. You don t send s and call people every day asking for a job or an interview. But rather the first step you can take is sending an and even an actual thank you note to the postdoc decision-maker, in which you say something like this: Dear Dr. X, I wanted to thank you again for considering me for the postdoc position within your lab/ group. Although I am disappointed that I was not selected, I am still very interested in collaborating with you and your team. As I mentioned, your research investigations into Y truly fascinate me because of a, b, and c. If I can be of any assistance to you and your group in the future, please let me know. Meanwhile, I look forward to exploring other opportunities in which we work be able to work together. Thank you again and best regards, Alaina G. Levine

2 And then here s the key- you actually do stay in touch with this person. Send them an every few months updating them on your research, offering an link to an article they may find interesting, and if they publish a paper, read it and comment on it or ask them a question about it as well. All of these activities will solidify the relationship and when another opportunity comes up either a formal postdoc and research professional position, or an informal opportunity to collaborate on a short-term project, your name and your brand (your promise of value) will already be in the forefront of that person s mind. They will also be impressed that even though you didn t get the job the first time around, you demonstrated not only persistence, but a commitment to both the scientist and the science. This is a trait that most people do NOT show in networking and in career searching and planning, so you will immediately be ahead. Take note- There have been fellowships, jobs, and leadership positions that I myself did not get the first time around, but by staying persistent, in contact with the decision-maker, and continuously renewing my excitement about the organization and opportunity to contribute, I ended up getting the opportunity. Remember: success comes to people who are willing to do what other people won t! Q: What about job opportunities in geoscience for non-citizens (permanent or non permanent resident)? Any suggestion? A: There are many opportunities for non-citizens who want to work in the US and continue in geosciences. Academia is of course one place to go for work, but there are other places too, such as in industry and for science associations. If you are interested in science policy, a great place to start looking for opportunities would be at the Embassy or Consulate for your home country that is in the country in which you work. You might find some really fascinating opportunities there. Q: What industry opportunities exist for ocean sciences PhD? (though not physical oceanography) A: One clear choice is to work for a company that designs and sells instrumentation used in ocean sciences. But there is also a need for ocean scientists in companies that are engaged with the ocean, such as oil and gas, green energy, and even construction and retrofitting --construction companies with buildings in marine areas and on shore lines need geoscientists who not only understand the seismic issues, but also how the ocean affects retrofitting, etc. Q: Is there a risk of being labeled over-qualified if you get a PhD and then apply for lower level jobs? A: Yes, there is that risk. But the key when either applying for a specific job, or circulating your resume/cv through your network in general, is to make sure that your unique problem-solving capabilities and your skills and talents are easily noticeable on your career marketing materials (like your resume, cover letter, etc.) When you apply for a job you absolutely need to communicate, in a way that the decision-makers will understand: --why YOU are the most qualified for this position

3 --why YOU will bring value to this organization (immediately), and --why and how YOU will solve the problems of the organization Some jobs absolutely require higher level degrees, but if you are applying for a job that has a minimum requirement of Masters or a Bachelors, and you can show me, in your resume, cover letter and in the interview, why you are better than the competition even with your PhD- and will do the above things for me in a way that will affect my bottom-line and make me look good in front of my boss, there is still an chance that you will get this job. Q: Are conferences/meetings the best way to find opportunities? A: This is a great question! Going to conferences is absolutely vital in advancing in your career. On the one hand, yes, you will hear about jobs posted and be able to meet recruiters right at the conference. But it is also a fabulous and rich opportunity to create and cultivate networks of contacts and this is the primary way you are going to get the career opportunities you desire. Anyone can apply for an advertised job, but most people will not take the time to go and a conference speaker in advance of the meeting, tell them a little bit about yourself, ask if you can take them out for a cup of coffee at the conference and chat with them about their research. This simple step scares people! But if you realize that this kind of activity is how you get noticed and this is how you create a relationship that you can cultivate and will ultimately lead to a satisfactory collaboration (i.e. a job!), then as they say in Nike Just Do It! (PS: seek to speak and present posters at as many conferences.) Q: Is it best to apply for posted positions, or pursue a company whether they are hiring or no? A: All of the above. If you see a job advertised and it is of interest to you, then absolutely apply for it. But know this- most jobs are not advertised and when they are advertised, like those in government or at universities, often the decisionmakers have candidates already in mind when they post the job ad. So you should also seek to network with people in the company even if there are no open positions. This will give you a great return on your investment (ROI) if you do it right it can lead to a job offered to you later that never even gets advertised. Q: How many geoscience PhD are getting jobs last year, do you have the statistic data? How about the water science PhD? Is the job market out there great for water area? A: Statistical data on Geosciences PhDs and career outlooks and trends can be found at Q: What suggestion do you have for water scientist for industry job? A: Water scientists are in demand within states and municipality systems. In industry, it depends on what your special skills are, and what experience and expertise you have. I am sure there are jobs out there but to find them you have to start networking and contacting people who are doing things you might like to do. I would start by going to the website of the most relevant professional

4 organizations which may include AGU and contacting their Board of Directors. These are people who want to assist emerging scientists and engineers in their careers and will most likely be happy to chat with you if you arrange an appointment in advance via . They can give you advice as to with whom you should speak, to what conferences you should go, and with what other experts you should touch base who have ideas about where water scientists can add value. Q: Very helpful! thanks a lot! A: Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it and found it useful! Q: Just wondering how to start the networking when I m still working on my PhD thesis? A: The easiest way to start networking is to do any of the following: --Take note of who is writing papers on subjects of interest to you and them --Visit the websites of professional associations of interest to you and the committee chairs and members of the board --Go to conferences and introduce yourself to speakers and people around you in sessions, at meals, and at networking functions --Ask your advisor about his/her network ask who should I be speaking to in x and y fields? --Volunteer to be on committees and for leadership roles within your society (hint: AGU! AGU!) and within your institution Q: Thank you very much. Do you know of any resources more specifically geared towards space/atmospheric scientists to find jobs outside of the traditional postdoc options? A: Space and atmospheric scientists can find positions in industries such as space, aerospace, and atmospheric sciences. Yes, these are actual industries. Companies like Northrup Grumman, Boeing, and Ball all hire scientists like you. There are also companies such as Accuweather and WeatherWorks, Inc., that employ atmospheric scientists to be forensic meteorologists check out this article for more info: Q: Thanks Alaina! That was really encouraging ;) A: Glad to hear! Q: You mentioned that a PhD is useful or may be an asset for Management positions, does that mean that an MBA is less relevant after completing a PhD? A: It depends on the company, industry, type of positions, etc. If you have management aspirations right now, and are completing the PhD and are still interested in the science, consider taking a science position within a company and then if you want to go back later for the MBA you can always do so. In many cases the company will pay for it. In industry, experience often counts more than specific degrees.

5 Q: What about federal jobs...how important is networking for federal jobs? A: Networking is important for every kid of job and career. But for federal jobs, you will have to be in the federal database. Go to usajobs.gov to get started. Q: How does one find out about the openings in various consultancies? A: Start by looking at the website of the consulting companies. They hire in a somewhat unique manner, in that you often have to fill out special paperwork to be considered. Companies like McKinsey & Co. might want you to fill out a special questionnaire and write an essay, for example. For newly minted PhDs, they often hire in batches at certain times of the year so watch for deadlines. Alaina G. Levine is a science writer and President of Quantum Success Solutions, a leadership and professional development consulting enterprise. She can be contacted through Copyright, 2011, Alaina G. Levine.