techniques for finding a job shane street department of chemistry gaann seminars what is the value?...
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Techniques for Finding a Job
Shane StreetDepartment of Chemistry
GAANN Seminars
What is the Value? (2009)Curriculum vitae/Resumes
InterviewingRecommendation Letters
Other Resources
Why Graduate School?
Graduate training is needed to become proficient enough to be a strong participant in chemical research and the development of new knowledge.
With a PhD, you’ll be able to rise to top technical or administrative positions in industrial, academic, or government labs.
An advanced degree will result in a higher overall career earning potential.
But: Manage Your Career http://chronicle.com/article/Changing-the-Way-We-So
cialize/125892
ACS: Committee on Professional Training
Preparing for Life After Graduate School: Career Development workshop from ACS
Careers for PhD chemists Describing careers in business and industry Critical non-technical skills Finding employment opportunities
See: www.acs.org/gradworkshopOr contact [email protected] tel: 202-872-4588
What is the Value?
Salaries by Function: Research
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
$ Thousands B.S. M.S Ph.D.
Basic Research
ND ND 123.5
Applied Research
80.0 91.6 110.0
What is the Value?
Salaries by Function: Management/Sales
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
$ Thousands B.S. M.S Ph.D.
R&D Management
69.0 79.2 142.0
General Management
88.0 103.0 135.2
Marketing/Sales 88.1 100.0 112.3
What is the Value?
Salaries by Function: Analytical
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
$ Thousands B.S. M.S Ph.D.
Analytical Services
65.0 84.0 107.0
Production Quality control
69.0 79.9 121.7
What is the Value?
Salaries by Function: Other
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
$ Thousands B.S. M.S Ph.D.
Health/Safety 80.0 96.9 121.2
Chemical Information
59.4 78.1 107.1
Computers 100.0 118.0 147.3
Patents 80.0 127.5 141.0
What is the Value? Academic Salaries 2009
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
$ Thousands Non-PhD School
PhD School
Non-Phd School
PhD School
Full Professor
78.0 115.0 97.5 149.0
Associate Professor
61.4 78.0 62.7 96.5
Assistant Professor
53.2 70.7 ND 67.0
InstructorAdjunct
37.8 50.0 50.0 50.0
Research Appointment
ND ND ND 42.0
9 mo. contracts 11-12 mo. contracts
Employment Status
Years: 2007-2009
2009 Survey data: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf
Full-time Part-time Postdoc Unemployed
2007 92.3% 3.6% 1.7% 2.4%
2008 92.5 3.9 1.3 2.3
2009 89.4 3.2 2.5 3.9
Other Than Full-time Employment
Curriculum Vitae/[Resumes]
Name and complete address [Objective] Education [Experience] Honors/Awards Publications/Presentations References Research summary
Consider issues of formatting, clarity, printing
Example
Interviewing
Start with self-assessment: Primary skills: What is your knowledge base and
technical skill set? Secondary skills: programming/interfacing,
spectroscopy, microscopy, electrochemistry, advanced synthetic techniques
General skills: communication, writing, collaborations, confidence, adaptability, intellectual aggressiveness, awareness.
Assess the job (do your homework): Specialist, generalist…both? Technical, managerial…both? Corporate and industry environment
The Interview
The site visit/plant trip They are spending $, so it’s important 1-2 days, seminar(s), some number of interviews,
both formal and informal interactions, facility tours Exchange of information; listen but make sure you
use any opportunity given to talk You could discuss career paths, professional support
and opportunities, how one gets ahead in that company, benefits, BUT
Do NOT discuss salary or other direct compensation Confidence, enthusiasm, professionalism Appropriate follow-up.
IMO: The purpose of a PhD chemist is to not only solve their problems but to solve the problems they don’t even know theyhave yet.
The Interview
Questions routinely asked: Why did you go into chemistry? Got to UA? Choose
your advisor/research project? What is the importance of your PhD work? What
contributions have you made to the field? To your research group?
Have you established any lines of research independently?
On your own with no limitations, what kind of research would you like to do?
What kind of career do you want? Why? What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
Recommendation Letters
There should not be any obvious absences unless there is a very good reason: PhD advisor, postdoc mentor, collaborating principal investigators
You can supply information to the recommenders! Highlights, points to be (re)emphasized
Follow up and communication, to get it done on time and to facilitate more
The Two-body Problem
Usually framed as the problem of finding dual science career couples.
Excellent resource: http://www.phds.org/jobs/the-two-body-problem/
Upshot advice: One will likely lead, the other adjust Do not discuss this “problem” at the outset
Other Resources
Online jobs resources http://chemistryjobs.acs.org/jobs http://www.postdocjobs.com/ http://www.higheredjobs.com/ http://www.phds.org/jobs http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/ http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/ http://www.newscientistjobs.com/jobs/default.aspx
Outdated, but internally useful links:http://employees.oneonta.edu/pencehe/jobsearch.html