Pilgrimage for a job Interviews

My job search has resulted unsuccessful so far. Should I be concerned? Well, Im not. I have been applying to positions I know I could be a great ad to the companies out there, but Im still to write my thesis, I suspect no one is going to employ me before this literary burden is done and over. Nevertheless, let me share a personal view on the NOs I got through template rejection emails - Theyre the ones who missing on a great employee!

I am eager to get my first interview, and as part of that process it comes natural to me the need to acquire some interview skills. Honestly, I am more and more inclined to believe that all this being picked for a job is but luck, but in order to be lucky you need to make yourself visible to others. Then, and only then can you get lucky.

Doesnt this job searching and applying resemble a nearly-juvenile Friday night in a discotheque? Nice words, pitch properly, dress accordingly, sell yourself and pray to be seen. Yes, applying for jobs is just like that!!!

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This post is part of a series of articles I posted under the pilgrimage for a job tag. You can find the previous articles by fetching the toxic up there on the left side.

I couldnt close this first chapter without going through what I found of juicy and pedagogical concerning interviews. How to behave, what to say, what not to say, where to look, what are they made of. These and other resolute questions always populate our minds when we are shortlisted for an interview. Since I am really inclined to abandon academia and join the industry (fingers crossed) most of the pages I have searched point out towards an exit from academia. I hope you find interest in all this information I collected.

The Dos and Donts of interviewing for a non-academic role

1. Do make eye contact, have a firm handshake, smile and stop looking at the floor 
The first exchanges of energy are crucial and if one comes out as confident and friendly, chances are that they are going to like us a lot more. Lets make it easy for them to like us then. And first impressions are extremely hard to change. :)))))))))))))

2. Bring up your market research notes
Interviewers hate unprepared interviewees. You dont want to come out as lazy or not knowing exactly what youre there for. Research the job role, research the company, research the market youll be working in. The more you know the more confident youll be and they will sense that straight away. See it as a company meeting where youve taken your notes to share with your superiors.

3. Maintain a professional composure throughout
Regardless of whatever approach you interviewer stands for, you are the one under scrutiny so dont relax to the point of losing your professional attentive attitude. Yawning, vulgar jokes or simply thinking it is for you to spread legs and cross arms, it is totally unacceptable.

4. Ask questions. They need you as much as you need them.
Have some dignity for gods sake! They are looking for your kind of talent; this is not X-factor where Simon Cowell offends everyone, babbles whatever crazy adjectives he thinks of and is applauded by millions of people in need of being entertained. This is going to be your bosses and colleagues. You need to know them beforehand, so make use of this opportunity before you sign for some guys who couldnt care less about your needs.

5. Follow up notes are not kissing ass but polite reminders.

Mention something particular in your follow-up note. Try mentioning some points in common between you and the interviewer, but dont lose your grip thinking youre old time buddies. Just make sure he will remember you for something good.

Source: [1]

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Keys to overcome a telephone interview job successfully

1. In this case basic common sense applies. Avoid public areas where noise can be a constraint.

2. Be prepared and open wide your CV to answer straight away to any of the key questions on your experience and skills.

3. The way you answer questions is ever more important than in a face-to-face interview. Here, mistakes cannot be made inconsequential with a smile or a gesture. Listening can help you hit the bulls eye later on by answering properly to a tough one.

4. Its all about your tone of voice when all else is discarded. Image is not present in a phone call, so in the end you will also be assessed for your safe and constant tone of voice.

5. And yet again the follow up. Track the call with an email by thanking the opportunity and reinforcing your motivation.

Source: [2]

***

What one should be asking at a job interview

Ask about everything you find pertinent. Think outside the box. If you are going to ask just for asking then please keep quite. Focus on the good and the bad of doing such job, if there will be training, an example of a typical day in the role, if there is way to progress and climb up the ladder, why do they think theyre good a company for you; ask about their mission, values and culture. As you see there is a lot to ask about!

***

This is what I found for myself and for you also. Make sure you read Liz Ryan post on LinkedIn entitled "Its an Interview, Not an Interrogation", it is quite interesting and will reduce your panicking. And if you are over 40 by any chance, please make sure you read Bobby Edelmans article "Over 40? How to sell yourself at a job interview", everyone alive will be 40 one day, better get ready because the job market is a cold b...

Thats it! Come back this Friday to help me blow the candles of the 5th anniversary of The Toxicologist Today. 5th!!!!!! Awesome.


[1] Five dos and donts during a non-academic interview, White consulting, [http://www.whiteconsultingllc.com/five-dos-and-donts-during-a-non-academic-interview/], last visited on the 24th of August 2015, last update unknown.

[2] Keys to overcome a telephone interview job successfully, First aid for health care, [http://firstaidforhealth.com/keys-to-overcome-a-telephone-interview-job-successfully.html/], last visited on the 24th of August 2015, last updated on the 11th of January 2015.

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Pilgrimage for a Job PhD to Consulting

I have to be proud of myself, but even prouder of the people who actually take some of their precious time to read my blog. I am so happy with the feedback obtained with the previous Pilgrimage for a job post, that it acted like nuclear fuel propelling me to improve my communication even further. From the pit of my heart, Thank you all! 

I think today we have a great lecture ahead of us. I am particularly excited about this one because I have put a lot of thought into the idea of dropping Academia once for all. A role in Industry or a Consulting position in detriment of Academia is my favourite option. Why dropping academia? Why a role in Industry? Why Consulting? 

Answering these questions would require a post for each of them, but in really short words I can assume that the Academia world is a mind-grinding vicious system that uses young talent to exhaustion, postpone their personal dreams taking advantage of their youngness and naivety, and in the end gives them a postdoc throwing most of them to a career void. The Industry does not represent the good guy in comparison to Evil Academia; that is not what I am trying to say. But I cherish the "stability" offered by a position in the Industry and the much better payroll that actually uses more vividly your professional skills. I am a Researcher and I want to be a Researcher for the rest of my life, if possible, but I wish not to be a day dreamer. Consulting has become a real good way out of the Academia for those who are not lucky to nail an Industry job. Please dont take all these answers literally as they are mere bullet-points, but for many like me these explanations are not that far from the truth!

Consulting represents a great future for most of us. I can definitely see myself as a consultant. I speak four languages, I have plenty of research experience in my area, I know a lot about other areas related to mine and I have a good number of strong transferable skills. But what do the experts say about it? I had to read to try and understand how and why to transit from Academia into Consulting. If you feel enticed by becoming a consultant, just stick around for some good advice I collected this week:

1) There are three main types of consulting opportunities (freelance, own company or boutique consulting firms);

2) Many management consulting firms are actively recruiting PhDs in all disciplines (for their strong analytical skills);

3) Some firms will place recently graduated PhDs initially at a lower level until they prove they belong in the business world. And here it is why I have taken/attended/participated in so many venture challenges, business courses and business conferences these last six years.

4) Always check the websites of firms before applying. Read their specific policy to know which position suit you best. Known the Top Management and Consulting Firms. Verify each of them carefully to see if you fit any of their projects, to start with. And if you really see yourself working for the Top Ones, check this list.

Damn Important!!! When applying to companies that serve specific industries, you will be thoroughly tested. On the other hand, if you are going for companies serving many industries, excellent general thinking will be seen highly. Anyways, be prepared for the case interview, seriously! That is essential.

As for career progression an MBA really makes a difference. I actually asked a person in an Oxbridge talk if an MBA was crucial for career progress in the consulting industry. His face along with his simultaneous silence/furrowing brow kind of offended me, but I got the gist.

Also very important is the notion that later on if you have landed a consulting position and feel that you are to look for something different, former consulting workers are highly regarded in the job market, especially for their problem-solving skills gained in a real wide world business setting.

I definitely feel that I need to embrace this possibility and for that matter will have to get back to this subject later on. I hope that the guidelines presented can help you as I believe they will help me when a bifurcation happens and I have to decide. Most of these ideas were obtained from this original article that I have complemented here and there with the links I present you throughout the text. Thanks for reading such a long article. Much appreciated!

Image kindly taken from raise5, [http://raise5.com/service-594] on the 14th of January 2015.

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Pilgrimage for a job PhD Job Searching the Laura Anderson lecture

A new year is here and you hear yourself selling resolutions that are intended to resolve your problems... good and poetic, but in the long run we all need help focusing on the adequate strategy. Forget 2014; if you are looking to the future and craving for the job of your life, as I am, lets march together and learn from the best. This is the Laura Andersons lecture on PhD Job searching. Ive compiled the key ideas that will definitely help me, as any other job seeking reader, draw the right path to a really good job. Overall, the impression one gets after reading through Laura Andersons contribution online is that we are very ignorant and naive when initiating our job search plan.

Forget about feeling miserable when employers ditch your CV. As Laura states, "only 5% of resumes submitted online ever receive a response" and not all responses are positive ones!

The numbers are clear and painful, "theres more competition for PhD jobs than ever before. Executing a trial and error strategy when applying for jobs reduces the chances of the applicant and slows his/her possibilities when competing with well informed people, e.g., people who actually read The Toxicologist Today!

A crucial rule is that "looking for a job isnt something you should be doing alone". It requires experience, people who know the shortcuts and applicants who are eager to roll up their sleeves and humble their narcissism. Like Dr. Farkas mentions in her post used on my previous article, networking, connecting with the right people, is a must. People build bridges to other people and at some point one of them will realise you GOT IT! Laura states that so clear you should tattoo it on your forehead; "Networking is the starting point of every job search. Over 50% of of jobs come from direct referrals." Lets call it rule zero; the absolute divine truth.

Laura Anderson lists 10 commandments for PhD job seekers. If we follow them biblically, we will definitely enhance our chances of standing above the crowd:

1) You will never hear back after submitting your resume online, however a resume is a very important introductory tool, but always after you have built your network.

2) Most industry jobs are not advertised. This is painful to read because I had been suspicious for a long while. But this confirms my suspicions. For years I have read and heard people talking about friends of friends who found incredible roles that were never advertised anywhere. Jobs so good you could feel the creamy sugar whilst fantasizing with it. And you know why? Hit it Laura - "Companies dont need to advertise their high level positions because there is already a high demand for them. Companies will either hire internally or seek referrals."

"Current unemployment rates for PhDs at graduation is 60-80%." We dont want to be seen rambling in that class, do we?

3) Stiff competition is a reality. This is obvious and mentioned by everyone to the tiredom exponential. What can we learn from it? Everyone is different and even against the most qualified individual you will have something different to him, something that makes you also... an individual. Use it, that is your best weapon. If you are not sure that you have it, the trick here is to "learn skills most of the PhDs do not have". Gosh, this is a hell of good advice, just go get your pen and paper right away before it fades away.

4) Finding an industry job takes time. 2-8 months to find a job, 2 to 6 years to change careers (academia to industry), numbers say. Transition can be lonnnnnng, real lonnnnng.

5) You have 90 seconds to make an impression in interviews, regardless of how cute you are. Laura lists a number of attitudes that put the interviewer off:

- no eye contact (67%)

- poorly dressed/carried (55%)

- no knowledge of the company (47%)

- no confidence/ not smiling (38%)

- bad posture (33%)

- never read The Toxicologist Today (30%).

OK, I made the last one up, but if I was the employer that would be a stop sign for the interview, right there! Do you want me to prove this point? Fair enough; so Laura says that "meeting someone for the first time activates your amygdala", now go check the amygdala article posted on the 23rd of September 2010!!!

6) Cross what is there on offer with what you want to do. And be sure you know what is what.

7) "The first person to place a follow up call to an industry job posting has a 95% chance to get the job position". The following day? 1%! I promised myself that in the future everyone giving me an interview or turning me down well get a thank you note so awesome they will fire/promote the HR guy who made the call.  

8) Negotiating is life. You hate it you hate life. Do it on your terms, but do it for Gods sake. And above all it doesnt reveal your desperation, so it works like a kick-ass attitude and people wont take you for granted. 

9) Hiring managers are people and people sometimes do dumb things. "Over 85% of hiring managers say they hire people they like rather than what the job requires". This is almost rule zero stapled to the networking one. If you cannot act normal as any other human being, just run to some interpersonal skills workshop and pimp your ride because you will need it. Fact!

10) Social media is the word these days. Your resume is too long and too boring. People want the sparkling bits of you. "In 2014 18,400,000 people found jobs on Facebook; 10,200,000 on LinkedIn and 8,000,000 on Twitter. I will have to learn liking Facebook and optimise my Twitter usage.

This was quite a long article, but if you want to start 2015 properly you must show energy, give your very best and reach to the stars. In case you want to read Laura Andersons contribution online, access here. I am not entirely sure she is the responsible one for the original article, but she is the one who advertised it and therefore I hereby acknowledge her incredible contribution to my job seeking strategy.

Image kindly taken from Next Scientist, 9 types of difficult PhD supervisor (and how to dometicate them), [http://www.nextscientist.com/domesticate-difficult-phd-supervisor/].

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Pilgrimage for a job The introductory plan

The time will come when I will finally stop being a student and the doors of a most welcomed career will open for me. I am finally finishing my PhD as theres less than a year to go, and finding a job is my ultimate project. This time I want my job search to be completely different from the desperate entropy that characterised my search plan back in 2010. This time I will focus on the advises of those who know better, the recruiting professionals sharing on LinkedIn, scouting science people for science jobs. I know I have a few things on my side but also some aspects that can work as barriers. On my side the experience, the knowledge and the professional drive. Against me, a strong will to abandon academia, my age, my preferences.

For months I have been collecting numerous pages of authors dedicated to help people find their best career opportunities, enhance the outcome of their searches, apply their inner potential to the best jobs out there, learn how the employment market pulses and moves, and learn not to do common deadly mistakes whilst understanding where to reinforce specific strategies. This job searching market is a cannibalistic organism on its own, and I need to move wisely.

This time I decided to post the steps I am taking to get the job of my life. By job of my life I mean only this, the one job where my profile fits perfectly and its demands fit perfectly on my career prospects. Just that! Because it might be of help to others like me, or maybe your personal/professional experience can help me in the process, I will invite all of you who might be interested to join me in this ever so special Pilgrimage for a job. A dedicated trip to the guts of the system, determined to find the best for myself and consequently for my family. 

The first step I took after collecting all those career related articles was to define inside myself who I am as a professional, what I want for my career and how I want to obtain it. The identity and goal issues are more than resolved. I am now to dwell on the "How to obtain it" bit. Thus, I divided all those articles collected in three main job topics:

1) Search

2) Application

3) Interview

For the coming weeks, months, who can actually say for sure, I am going to analyse all the details the experts share with job seekers. I will learn the talk and walk the walk. Tomorrow, Ill start with the Search section by scrutinising these three articles:

The whole Cheeky Scientist folder dedicated to PhDs looking for jobs, shared by Laura Anderson on LinkedIn

"PhD Jobs: How to transition from Academia into Business" shared on LinkedIn by yet again by Laura Anderson;

"How to get the job you want - Part 1" shared on the University of Nottingham Alumni LinkedIn Page by Neville Gaunt.

I shall see you tomorrow, have a nice Monday!

Image kindly taken from http://kalvikalanjiam.com/english/files/2012/07/job-search.jpg

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Pilgrimage for a Job PhD to Industry

Its been a while I guess, but the time between the last pilgrimage post and this new one offered a few important reflections on the state of academia state of public research and how well people are NOT coping. Last time I offered the result of my brief research on jumping from a PhD to a career in consulting as part of a three way route-out along with a career in industry, or finding a nice job in the business industry. Vague? Maybe to a certain extent, but this time I believe it is important to cover that exact extent with a basic analysis.

Why you need to leave academia in 2015? 

by someone in the Cheeky Scientist

"I thought climbing my ways to the highest echelons of academia would give me this life [a better life]. I would be paid well, treated well, and allowed to do meaningful work. But I was very wrong."

"Stop ignoring the data... 360,000 [is] the number of people with graduates degrees on government assistance in 2010."

"68,000 [is] the number of postdocs in the U.S. alone waiting for tenured professorships."

"100,000 [is] the number of PhDs granted in a four year period."

"Over 60% [is] the number of PhDs who will not have a paying job at graduation."

And the horrible data blurbs on and on and on in every sad statement publicly made from someone honestly worried about his own future. But it is important to understand that our ostridge attitude of extreme complacency is also to blame. That is well stressed in the original article.

"Youre not above the data. You are the data... The fairy tale is over. Academia is broken. The time to leave it is now. If you dont leave it you will be poor, mistreated and unhappy."

"The academic system makes you so dependent that you get used to being treated poorly... Professors have too much power over you and often abuse this power."

"There are thousands and thousands of non-academic jobs in the world right now that allow you to do meaningful work while also being paid well."

I very recently shared a comment with a Biotechnology Recruitment Specialist that stated there are many roles out there to be filled, but a shortage of top candidates. And in my opinion this is the result of a long and old vicious cycle that starts with poor understanding of the job market by academia, and a greedy fly attitude by the industry. Here I quote myself!

@ Simon: I dont mean to be the devils advocate, but I see here two really big problems, 1) Universities are not preparing their students for jobs outside academia (that is undeniable) and 2) Industry is looking for a thousand skills employee rather than employing many people with different skills (and this is just because industry wants to save on wages!!!!). If there are vacancies to fill in, these both sides of the coin are to blame. People can only do what they are taught to and businesses can only use what is available out there. Sad, but true.

Industry is not the miracle out there waiting for you to to happen. You must know what jobs you can do, what differs you from the rest of the herd, what skills will prompt your successful career in industry. That, whilst you wait businesses to have a more ethic (hope I am not offending anyone with this word) approach towards hiring superhumans.

What jobs can I do in Industry?

by someone in MindThePhD

Here are a few titles that someone compiled for us to have a simple idea. There are many more, but a title is nothing, always look in depth to the job description.

Pharmacovigilance officer if you are good with data, databases and compiling adequate information;

Regulatory Affairs Manager if you went through  the adequate formation as I tried to, see here.

Quality Assurance/Compliance Auditor/Manager if you like ISO and protocols;

Product Development Manager if you are R&D passionate with good communication skills;

Clinical Research Associate if you like running clinical trials working closely with hospital staff and medics;

Project Manager if you like working as a consultant (see previous pilgrimage article) trying to perfect your clients strategy;

Medical Science Liaison/Regional Science Manager/Clinical Research Scientist if you are great with establishing relationships, develop educational material for clients and travelling a lot. God, I see myself doing this for sure! I got my eye on this one!!!

This was a long post, but queing for job seekers allowance can also be long and tedious. Make the most of your skills, work with dignity and professionalism, but most of all be honest to yourself when leaving academia. Ask yourself these three questions before applying to a certain job:

1) Do I know how to do this?

2) Can I learn fast how to do it?

3) Is there something more releated to what I actually know?

Good luck!

Picture kindly taken from Pinterest, [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/353462270727085790/]. 

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Pilgrimage for a job Networking The Farkas Lecture

The pilgrimage has begun my friends and if you missed the introductory plan, access here to learn more about it. 

I am now basically enjoying reading all those interesting articles from people who are known to be experts in the job seeking area. In life I follow no Gurus, but I am one of those who respects a lot those whove accomplished their golden seat with their own hard work, sweat and tears. These are the people that can really express how tough the walk can be, how serious the talk should get.

If you remember well, I am on the introductory part of my pilgrimage. The part where I learn first to then apply at a later stage. This time I read an article by Dora Farkas posted in the cheekyscientist.com website. The article provided a lot of good behavioral conducts that can enhance one perspectives. Most of them I have already been applying from an early stage, other parts I have only recently invested on. The good news is that I was fully aware of the importance of it all and had made it part of my system. This is a good indicator that I am hopefully going in the right direction.

In the article entitled "How to write a PhD thesis and get a job at the same time", Dr. Farkas mentions the ideas I hereby transcribe. All these ideas she also develops in her own business program that its not my place to assess. Lets then look at what I summarised as essential for me, that she offers us and might represent a good dipping compass for job seekers.

"How To Write A PhD Thesis And Get A Job At The Same Time"

Things Happen Slow, Then Fast, So Start Networking Now - Networking is indispensable if you want a job. The key is you have to start networking while you’re finishing your thesis, not after you finish it. Especially because You will learn what marketable skills employers are looking for. “Employers are just as desperate to get the right person for an open position, as candidates are to get a job.”

Networking Is A Two-Way Street. You need to be willing to offer help to your professional contacts as well, if you are not the right candidate for their company, they might ask you if you would be willing to put them in contact with someone with the right background. Many PhD students struggle with getting interviews simply because they cannot articulate through their resumes and cover letters the value that they would bring to a company... it takes 6-12 months to find a PhD level position (even longer if you have no professional network).

10 Strategies To Put Your Thesis And Career On The Fast Track:

1. Have a crystal clear vision of the purpose of your thesis.

2. Network as much as possible. you can show genuine interest in what others are doing without looking like you are desperate for a job.

3. Follow up with key professionals. There will be a few people who are easy to talk to and their backgrounds are similar to yours. Keep in touch with these.

4. Take people out for coffee.

5. Connect with alumni.

6. Write out your 1, 3, 5 year plan starting now. Update your plan regularly.

7. Evaluate which parts of research you enjoy doing on a daily basis. If you enjoy lab work, apply for jobs where you will be working at the bench. If you like writing, apply for positions where writing will be one of your primary responsibilities.

8. Look for external collaborations. Expand your network in any way you can.

9. Engage in LinkedIn group discussions. Contributing to discussions which will improve your credibility as an “expert” in your field.

10. See graduate school challenges as growth opportunities. Your boss in industry might be a more difficult person than your thesis advisor, and they might even have higher expectations from you. View this experience as a chance to learn how to communicate with your future bosses.

 Image kindly taken from http://www.faceitsocialmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/linkedin-network.bmp

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Pilgrimage for a job CVs and Resumes

We are probably halfway on our collective mission of finding a job. Today we get our pen and paper ready, clean that keyboard stained with strawberry jam and toast crumbles, and face the future. From where we stand now we can still see what we are leaving behind, but the doors we need to get our feet on will only open if we use the right keys.

CVs and Resumes, What job websites to trust, What companies to look for, What roles to seek, How to apply professionally, What to say in an interview, Final considerations, and the like. I am summarising these in a self-teaching process. 

Writing a CV or Resume is hard word. It is the document that will describe us to the world out there, and as a sniper aiming for that crucial shot, if you get it right you just did your work, if you get it wrong you will jeopardise the whole operation. I dont want to endanger my job application process just because my CV is not at its best. This is where the game gets real, my friends. One thing is to discuss the unhealthy state of academia, the future of industry or even theorising on where can we take our professional dreams. Another completely different level is to pitch to others who dont even know they need us that we are the real deal, we are what they are looking for and no others can do the job like we can.

To start with lets clarify something here; CVs and Resumes are not one and the same thing. CV (Curriculum Vitae) is "an in-depth document that can be laid out over two or more pages" containing "a high level of detail about your achievements", covering from education to publications and awards obtained [1]. A CV is organised on a timeframe template, it is static (very important differing feature) and should be accompanied by a cover letter (a letter providing additional info job seekers may ask for). Contrarily to the former, a Resume is 1 page-concise, even more straightforward, showing only the outstandings of your profile, adaptable to every position and not static like a CV, does not respect a chronological time frame and should be versatile.

UK is more about CVs, Europe even has an available CV format that I have used in the past and took me nowhere so I wouldnt even try and advertise it here (actually I find it lengthy and infected with decoys). US and Canada really dig the resume, at least that is what Jorgen Sundberg, the author of the incredible page where I found this information, tells us. Bear in mind that first impression counts a lot!

Short tips for a good CV. A lot of people say a lot of stuff, I will keep it simple but never stupid. Bruce Fong [2] tell us about a few things you can do to produce an interesting CV:

- Always focus on why you are good for the role youre seeking,
- Abolish anything irrelevant for the role you are applying to.
- Keep it to a maximum of two A4 pages.
- Each word and each section should work as sincere baiting.
- When talking about important things that do not directly relate to the role, explain what youve gained from such experiences that can actually be used in the role.
-  Use one sentence for outlining the project, one sentence for describing it and another for the positive outcome.

I only disagree with Bruce in one little aspect, i.e., faking it. If you dont like the position dont drive yourself to a miserable existence, just dont apply for the sake of both you and your employer.

If you are still confused to what you should include, just follow Science Docs Inc.s Dr. Wernette [3] advise on what...

Headings in a CV usually include:

Headings in a Resume usually include:

Overall, you have to keep in mind that what recruiters want to see in your CV/Resume is what the Cheeky Scientist so well states in [4], i.e., "carefully craft your industry resume for each and every person you give it to". Mind these facts:

Fact 1) You have 5 to 7 seconds for your CV to catch their attention.
Fact 2) Organisation is Key.
Fact 3) Curated headlines get 80% of their review time.
Fact 4) PhDs should create a special, separate resume for recruiters only (recruiters want to know what methodologies youve worked with, instruments, certifications and tests youve undergone).
Fact 5) Create two resumes - 1) Industry resumes should be results-oriented, but 2) the Recruiters want a methods/instruments resume.
Fact 6) Adapt your resume to each and every position you apply to.
Fact 7) Always use the exact keywords mentioned in the job posting in the visual center (brief summary on the top of your resume/CV).
Fact 8) Ego does not operate well in resumes. Highlight what they want to see not what you are proud of.
Fact 9) Following up means being followed after.

And by all means avoid common mistakes that will basically determine your premature death in the job application war. Here are some "few" mistakes Dora Farkas highlight as very common [5] and a few more I found online [6]:

Mistake 1) Typos and Grammatical errors in CVs throw them to the abyss bin.
Mistake 2) Absence of a cover letter. A cover letter allows the recruiter to go deep if necessary. On your cover letter show that youve researched the company, researched the role and researched the recruiter.
Mistake 3) Generic resumes reveal generic candidates. Tailor to need and audience.
Mistake 4) No job description keywords, no job. Most of the time resumes are searched by Keywords; you miss them they miss you.
Mistake 5) Paragraphs are stupid. Use bullet-points and same font.
Mistake 6) Highlight duties, not accomplishments.
Mistake 7) Every sentence should get you a job, avoid nonsense and time wasting wording.
Mistake 8) Absence of Generic Objective. A generic objective is a summary on the top of your CV/Resume of what you are looking for and what you have to offer.
Mistake 9) Applying for something you are clearly not qualified for. Remember up there where I disagreed with Bruce Fong? I still do. I must insist, stop wasting yours and other peoples time. But one thing is not being qualified at all and another thing is not having all qualifications. No one is perfect!
Mistake 10) Using an unprofessional-sounding email address. I know a guy whose email was something like Satan666@gmail.com.
Mistake 11) Lying. Running a mile doesnt make you a marathon-runner.
Mistake 12) Chronological order? No! Reverse chronological order is the norm.
Mistake 13) Using "Curriculum Vitae" as a heading rather than your name.
Mistake 14) No page numbers, overusing bold and italics. In an attempt to make everything meaningful you will be tacky and diverting.


[1] Undercover recruiter, CVs VS. Resume - the difference and when to use which, [http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/cv-vs-resume-difference-and-when-use-which/], last visited on the 5th of March 2015, last update unknown. 

[2] 1 really great trick for writing a great CV, All in networking, [http://allinnetworking.com/archives/2181], last visited on the 5th of March 2015, last update unknown.

[3] Resume or Curriculum Vitae, Science Docs Incorporated, [https://www.sciencedocs.com/resume-curriculum-vitae/], last visited on the 5th of Marcjh 2015, last update unknown.

[4] What recruiters want to see on a PhDs resume, Cheeky Scientist, [http://cheekyscientist.com/recruiter-resume/], last visited on the 5th of March 2015, last update unknown.

[5] The 12 deadliest resume mistakes that repel employers, Finish your thesis with Dora, [http://finishyourthesis.com/resume/], last visited on the 5th of March 2015, last update on the 5th of October 2014.

[6] Academic CVs: 10 irritating mistakes, The Guardian - Higher Education Network blog [http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/nov/01/academic-cv-job-10-mistakes], last visited on the 5th of March, last update on the 1st of November 2013.

Post image kindly taken from Advanse International, Resume VS. CV VS. BIO-DATA, [http://www.advanse.com/differences/resume-vs-cv-vs-bio-data/].

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Pilgrimage for a job PhD to Own Business

I am walking with you this long path of preparing the journey towards job applications. I mean successful and meaningful job applications that make a difference to my life as well as to my future employers life. To accomplish mutual satisfaction I cannot waste my time or their time, I must hit the bulls eye rather than just be some more of the same matter hitting the fan. I thus promised explore three possible vias, having in consideration the unbearable lethargy academia is going through and the fact that life is also to be lived as well as personal dreams are to be accomplished. 

Industry, Consulting or Start-Up? When Industry seek not for our expertise and a consulting opportunity is not an option, what else is there for us? Developing our own project. Is that a viable option?

[1]

Well, even though times have changed a lot since our grandparents were born, in both academia and industry, creating your own project/company is still an option. A real tough one, but an option anyways. You know?, in our grandparents times there was so much to innovate, so much to create, so much to bring up to life, times were pulsing with NEED. Nowadays innovation is scarce because this era of consumerism forced the market to constantly produce more and more in a trash-producing rhythm. This created a wheel of constant production of things that differ a picometer from the previous versions. The next idea the market used to overcome expected selling difficulties was the creation of necessity, and this is why the gaming industry exploded orgasmically as we see it these days. The need for more speed, more colours, more characters, more sound and more definition was never a real need, but basically an imposition of the market using primitive vulnerability to stimuli in people. But creating a need very rarely works, and it is the wrong market approach. My idea is that rather than creating need or attempting innovation, one should offer quality. So what if your start-up will deliver more of the same, the real deal here is to offer more quality. Other experts in business might say differently, this is only a personal view from someone whos out there learning the walk.

But for a PhD student with no option but to create its own business there is fear and excitement at the prospect of starting from scratch. Your startup will not have financial power to overcome far more powerful corporations. So where does the secret key to escape the maze reside? In my opinion we can only aim for one exit door - learning from more experienced people and do it with passion.

I am starting my own company not because I believe I wont be able to find a suitable job for myself, but because I dont want to be another one waiting for desperation to kick-in and then do it. It is a humble project, but it is my project and as I err and try again my network keeps growing and my business skills ever more. 

I recently read an excellent simplistic article on starting our own business. First you face a natural fear mixed with excitement, but there is nothing more grandiose than providing for yourself with your own ideas. All you need is to be fully aware of the:

1) Capital required really influences business selection, but these days online businesses have shown that the internet actually reduced costs a lot;

2) Skills, one might have them or not, but when you start your own business it is always good to use the ones you have whilst constantly seeking to get the ones you dont.

3) Managing other people and yourself is like wearing your supervisor shoes. This time you will be able to prove that you can do better under somehow similar circumstances, especially when it comes to motivate or negotiate with people that apparently have nothing to immediately gain from your business.

4) Your personality in the business area youre in is crucial. If you dont like laughing please do not become a comedian. Simple as that. Figure out your top three personality skills and apply them to the niche you are wishing to enter.

I read quite sometime ago a very nice article from Jayne Sharples (Part-time Postgraduate Careers Consultant in Higher Education and freelance coach and consultant) available in the jobs.ac.uk website entitled "From PhD to Business Start-Up" [2]. I dont want to make this post even longer, therefore have decided to just post here the main valuable ideas (in italics) Jayne shares with us and some of my own experience gained in these last seven months:

• If you value independence, autonomy and creativity you are suitable to an entrepreneurial career option.
• If you have a go-ahead attitude towards risk then you are suitable to an entrepreneurial career option.
• If you are committed and do not mind putting in the hours then you are suitable to an entrepreneurial career option.
• You will need to have a robust business idea and a well-researched understanding of the market place.
• Read everything you can online about starting your own business; there is no such thing as too much information. If by the end of it you feel dismayed by the difficulties rather than excited about the opportunities, you are not entrepreneurial material.
• If you do not have an idea just keep your mind open to problems that need solving and there lies your idea. Check these 50 Business Ideas You Can Start Right Now.
• If you feel like you need a hand, partner up with someone you know and trust.  Check How to choose the right partner.
• Write your business plan as this is the most important document thatll actually x-ray your understanding of the niche youll be in. Great help from GOV.UK in BUSINESS PLAN WRITING.
• Raise finance - if you have no money whatsoever, opt for crowdfunding like Kickstarter.
• Test, test and test, and only then build your brand. The Guardian has a really nice article on market research for small businesses.

[1] Business development manager, LinkedIn, [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/business-development-manager-science-phds-career-option-arunodoy-sur], last visited on the 23rd of February 2015, last updated on the 8th of February 2015.

[2] From PhD to business to start-up, jobs.ac.uk, [http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/studentships/1741/from-phd-to-business-start-up], last visited on the 23rd of February 2015, last updated in December 2011.

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Pilgrimage for a job Covering Letters

At this point we all have agreed that non-academic PhD jobs are a must, for various reasons that have been widely explored on previous posts. We got now to the point where our CVs have been shaped and tailored and we are ready to cover them with some nice arguments in our favour. That is the primary function of a covering letter. I tried to find compiled information that could drive you straight to the point; no gibberish, no small talk. And thus I found June Kay, Kailey Barney and Dorie Clark.

As Kailey Barney suggests, a cover letter is a brief document where you offer an introduction to you as a candidate, summarise your suitability for the role and explain how you can be contacted [1].

June Kay is a Careers consultant specialising in helping researchers and graduates. Just like June Kay says and to be fair Ive seen it sometimes from colleagues of mine, cover letters are underestimated. That is wrong and somehow stupid. Imagine you were trying to get the perfect professional for a job; you read her CV and it goes side to side with someone as good as her. How will you scrutinise the most adequate one for the role? By the content of their cover letters.

So as June so well states, the content of your CV should be factual and highlight your skills, knowledge and personal qualities that are immediately important for the role you are applying for. However, the reasons that made you apply for that very specific job are not embedded in your CV or resume, they follow in a covering letter as a complement that supplements.

Your covering letter need to reflect on:

• your Personality;
• the Values of the organisation matching yours;
• the exact Nature of the role youve applied for (a generalist one is a shot on your own foot).

The obligatory content of your covering letter: 

• Where did you see the vacancy advertised?
• What caught your attention?
• What aspects of the job description excite you?
• What especially relevant experience or skills do you have?
• How do the values and ethos of the organisation and job sector match your own?
• Where does this role fit in your overall career plan?
• When are you available for interview/to start this role?
• Make it succinct, polite and professional! [1, 2]
• Stop using general ideas that they can read anywhere else; show them why you are special.
• Drive, passion and enthusiasm are crucial - if you dont have that when considering such and such role, let others have it because you wont fit. It is a matter of social/professional responsibility.

The size of your covering letter:

• one A4 page in length, one and a half if you are that incredible and yet succinct.

What not to include:

• Do not include your current wage;
• Do not include you expected wage;
• Forget about telling them why you are looking for a new job (that will probably surface at interview level);
• Do not repeat the content of your CV. [1]

A final remark on self-confidence:

Coming across the wrong academics and the wrong academic experiences in your life can really devastate your self-confidence, if unfortunately that is the case. The biggest mistake Ive seen these people do, from supervisors to technicians, colleagues and the like, is to portray a failed attempt as if you were a failure. Ive seen people abandoning their PhDs right at the start or half way through because they came across some egocentric idiots who made them feel like losers rather than helping them pick up from the empirical lessons. 

Dorie Clark heard about over-criticism when discussing some viewpoints with her readers. Some of them experienced the "one strike and youre out" attitude toward failure. Even if this was in a somewhat different topic, the typical killer attitude is yet another proof of a rotten society weve been building based on exaggerated optimisation of processes that ultimately determines an exaggerated emotional coldness and competitivity.

Failure is in fact an ongoing real process and the best trigger to learning. It is not a rarity, it does not make you a failed individual. Innovation requires failure, Success is based on the strength gained after failing massively [3]. If you pick up yourself after a really hard blow you are proving yourself that your resistance is strong, all you have to learn now is to analyse where it went wrong and make sure you gradually apply the correct model. Use that confidence when communicating your qualities! Think about it - If there were perfect people they wouldnt be people, would they?

[1] What not to include in a cover letter for a job, allinnetworking, [http://allinnetworking.com/archives/4360], last visited on the 27th of March 2015, last update unknown.

[2] Covering letters for non-academic jobs - Tips for researchers, LinkedIn Pulse, [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/covering-letters-non-academic-jobs-tips-researchers-june-kay], last visited on the 27th of March 2015, last updated on the 13th of March 2015.

[3] Stop believing that you have t be perfect, Managing yourself, [https://hbr.org/2014/10/stop-believing-that-you-have-to-be-perfect/], last visited on the 27th of March 2015, last updated on the 8th of October 2014.

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