Career Advice
Found 28 articles
A day in the life of a scientific regulatory affairs manager
- Sep 29, 2021
In his scientific career, Adrian Land has hit all three of the classic academia-government-industry triumvirate.
How to banish impostor syndrome
- Oct 25, 2021
Impostor syndrome—the feeling that one doesn't belong or deserve their success, and that they will be discovered as a fraud—strikes many professionals. It doesn't matter whether you are a Nobel laureate, CEO, department head, university president, or graduate student. Many of us have felt like an impostor at various times in our careers, especially as we ascend into new roles and achieve milestones.
To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these key questions
- Oct 25, 2021
You've made it to the last step of the Ph.D. application process: the interview. Congratulations! But amid the excitement and butterflies, don't neglect the crucial next step: preparation.
Daunting but doable: Job searching after a postdoc
- Oct 25, 2021
How postdocs can compete in a historically tight academic job market.
Hesitant about virtual networking? Adjust your approach to harness the benefits
- Oct 25, 2021
"I got invited for an interview!" Sandra exclaims, doing a small dance of joy.
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Scientists push against barriers to diversity in the field sciences
- Oct 25, 2021
Christopher Schmitt is an anthropologist and biologist at Boston University who studies vervet monkeys. He is also a gay man, a fact that can make fieldwork in remote locations more complicated. "Often when I'm in the field and not sure how my being gay will be received, I take a ‘don't ask, don't tell' stance," he says. "Basically, I would confide in folks … I was sure were gay-friendly, but be ‘single and too busy to date' with folks I wasn't sure about."
Idealist or pragmatist? For a successful job search, know your priorities
- Oct 18, 2021
Elly throws a dumbfounded look across the lab bench at Jane. "The interviewers were nice, they made you a job offer with a fantastic salary—and you declined?" Elly asks, bewildered. "That's exactly what happened," Jane confidently confirms.
Scientists, let's talk about cash—and the financial realities of career choices
- Oct 18, 2021
Max and Gareth stand side by side at the gas station near Berlin's Checkpoint Charlie. Gareth holds the fuel nozzle in the tank while closely observing the pump.
To get the most out of your workday, consider your ‘inner clock’
- Oct 18, 2021
Ruth knows she should write her papers and her thesis. But she simply can't get more than a sentence or two on paper.
One mentor isn't enough. Here's how I built a network of mentors
- Oct 18, 2021
"Unfortunately, I don't have the bandwidth for a mentorship relationship right now." "I'm not sure I can help." "Why are we meeting again?" Those are just a few of the responses I've received in my quest to develop a broad range of mentors.
Don't erase undergrad researchers and technicians from author lists
- Oct 18, 2021
"While I recognise that she thinks she had a major contribution to the project it will be difficult to show that she did more than a technician's job." This was the infuriating response I received in a long email thread with former colleagues about work I had done as an undergraduate researcher.
How to find a postdoc position that's right for you
- Oct 18, 2021
Postdocs make up a crucial component of the scientific workforce. But the application process can be mysterious.
Science's English dominance hinders diversity—but the community can work toward change
- Oct 18, 2021
When Valeria Ramírez Castañeda was a biology master's student at the University of Los Andes in Colombia, the thought of writing her thesis in English gave her a headache. Writing it in Spanish would fulfill her graduation requirement—but if she wrote it in English, it would be far easier to turn it into a paper she could immediately submit for publication.
Three trouble spots facing women in science—and how we can tackle them
- Oct 18, 2021
Women are pursuing careers in science at rates never seen before, and this growing representation of female voices is truly exciting. Yet we are well aware that the academic community has not solved all the problems facing women.
To get a nonacademic job, you need to learn the jargon
- Oct 4, 2021
"What have you been up to?" Sara asks, holding the phone to her ear as she prepares her dinner. "I had a job interview today," Ellen replies from the other end of the line, dropping onto the sofa.
How to write a clear, compelling CV
- Sep 30, 2021
In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci wrote a letter that is credited as the first CV. He was looking to land a job as a military engineer from Ludovico Sforza—the ruler of Milan, Italy—whom Leonardo referred to in his letter as "Most Illustrious Lord."
Ten tips for negotiating job offers
- Sep 30, 2021
With a lot of hard work and a little luck, many scientists receive an exciting phone call this time of year—a job offer. Despite years of work preparing for this moment, many of us are clueless about how to proceed.
Looking for meaning in your career? Try a pay-it-forward plan
- Sep 30, 2021
No matter where you are in your career, you didn't get there without help. Someone opened a door, gave you advice, shared a bit of info about a path or a profession. And when you pass that kindness on to others, you often get more benefits than you could have realized.
Overworking tanked my health—until I began to prioritize work-life balance
- Sep 30, 2021
The doctor spent nearly an hour with me, listening to my story. Then, to my surprise, he said he wasn't going to refill my prescription. Instead of relying on pills, he said, I needed to rethink my approach to life and work.
Should you go to grad school?
- Sep 30, 2021
After Paris Grey finished her bachelor's degree, she gave herself 2 years to work as a lab technician and figure out her interests before making her next move. By the time her deadline was up, Grey knew she wanted to live and breathe science at the bench.
