Job Hunting for Research Positions Beyond the Tenure Track

1. Job Hunting for Research Positions Beyond the Tenure Track Presenter: Bill Lindstaedt, Director UCSF Office of Career and Professional Development bill.lindstaedt@ucsf.edu

2. Common Mistakes Made by Specialized Job Seekers “I can’t find the name of HR.” Not creating and engaging YOUR network. “I’ll do anything.” Shotgun approach – breadth is not better The “academic faculty application” approach 80 apps all the same, same time Over-reliance on online search sites

3. Seminar Goals • Improve understanding of how to find industry positions that offer the best fit for your skills/background • Build skills for writing better application materials • De-mystify job hunting in industry • Provide step-by-step process for conducting a job search for research or development positions in industry • Note: This seminar is focused on getting research and development jobs in industry, not “alternative careers” generally.

4. Start here for non-research careers myidp.sciencecareers.org

5. Start here for non-research careers myidp.sciencecareers.org

6. Seminar Goals • Improve understanding of how to find industry positions that offer the best fit for your skills/background • Build skills for writing better application materials • De-mystify job hunting in industry • Provide step-by-step process for conducting a job search for research or development positions in industry • Note: This seminar is focused on getting research and development jobs in industry, not “alternative careers” generally.

7. Seminar Principles • You must be focused: “I will do any job posted for my discipline” is not the best job hunting strategy for PhD-level scientists and engineers • The more specialized your background, the more likely it is that a personal connection will play a role in your industry job offer • Your job search materials must be focused: Tailor each application to the job description • Job search engines are not the only (nor the best) way to find a job for research scientists and engineers

8. Seminar Outline 1. Questions you should answer before you start 2. Finding company information and finding researchers at companies 3. Preparing industry resumes and cover letters 4. Four techniques for a comprehensive job search

9. Seminar Outline 1. Questions you should answer before you start 2. Finding company information and finding researchers at companies 3. Preparing industry resumes and cover letters 4. Four techniques for a comprehensive job search

10. Questions you should answer before you start • How do I begin to FOCUS background and interests in a way that makes sense to industry? • Create a “background and interest statement” that will help you focus on the kinds of employers that will offer a best fit • I am a PhD-level electrical engineer with an emphasis in power systems, experience studying a variety of renewable energy sources, and an interest in developing and optimizing ocean wave energy production systems • I am cell biologist with a background in angiogenesis research and an interest in discovering new (or improving existing) human therapeutics for breast cancer • Why is this important?

11. Questions you should answer before you start • GET FOCUSED! • What is “my” industry…How is my research field or sub-field applied in industry…How is my research field or sub-field translated in terms of products or services? • What are the national industry groups, societies, associations, info portals and job portals? Is “my” industry clustered geographically? If so, what are the local info/job portals? • Who are the big employers in my industry? What’s the hot news on emerging companies? • How are companies typically organized and where do researchers fit into the corporate structure in that industry? • What is the typical job title progression for someone with my background and interests?

14. Seminar Outline 1. Questions you should answer before you start 2. Finding company information and finding researchers at companies 3. Preparing industry resumes and cover letters 4. Four techniques for a comprehensive job search

15. Finding company information:Create your Preferred Company List • 20-30 companies where you would most like to work • Based on: • What the company does - product area, service, topic or disease focus that interests you (your background and interests) • Location of company • Size of company • Before you begin applying - research project: • Name of 20-30 companies • Name of scientist at each co. whose work interests you • Email address of that scientist

16. Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List Company Name Name of Scientist email of scientist Company #1 Company #2 > > > Company #20

17. Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List RESOURCES for creating your preferred company list: • Always first: companies and researchers you know • Journals in your field • Local industry organizations such as BayBio.org, SFbayACM.org, WomenOfWindEnergy.org Bay Area chapter • USPTO database searches • Databases of company information • Many major campus libraries – OneSource Corptech, Lexis/Nexus, IEEE XPlore, INSPEC • Many public libraries: use Corptech, Hoovers, Reference USA Company Listings

18. Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt 18

19. Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List Getting Started:Create your Preferred Company List First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt 19

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22. How to use PubMed to find the names of scientists at companies: “Limit” your search to publications that have a “tag term” affiliated with the desired company name

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26. Slide Title. Arial Bold, 32pt How to guess the scientist’s email address once you know their name… Google “@amyris.com” • First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt • Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt • Third level bullet. Arial, 18pt • Fourth level bullet. Arial italic, 16pt • Fifth level bullet. Arial, 14pt

30. Seminar Outline 1. Questions you should answer before you start 2. Finding company information and finding researchers at companies 3. Preparing industry resumes and cover letters 4. Four techniques for a comprehensive job search

31. How do scientists and engineers get hire in industry? Step 1: Human Resources – Is the candidate a general fit for the position description? Cover letter (10 seconds); resume (20 seconds) Step 2: Hiring Manager (scientist) – Specific fit for phone interview? Cover letter (10 seconds); resume (1-2 minutes). Step 3: Phone interview(s) with HR and/or Hiring Manager. Invite for site visit? Step 4: Site visit includes interviews with 1-10 scientists/mgrs; possible job talk with interdepartmental audience. Offer? Total time = 0.5 - many months; Steps 3 thru 4: 1-3 weeks

32. Application Materials Needed • General resume – for networking purposes only • Job application resumes – your general resume tailored for each individual job description • Cover letter draft – tailor for each job description • Business cards – for networking and interviewing • For postdocs: Betty Smith, PhD Hydrogeologist

33. Resume writing tips Effective layout and section titles: • Heading: Name, address, phone (not lab), email, website • Visa status as part of heading (if international background, but citizen or permanent resident) • Profile or Summary or Highlights section • Education • Experience-related section headings – descriptive! • Skills or Techniques – categorized list • Awards/Funding/Honors – describe if not obvious; omit if not relevant • Presentations and Publications -- at the end • References – Generally none, unless requested

34. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE University of California, San Francisco 1999-Present Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. R. U. Ready -Developed novel…resulted in 17 publications in Cell… Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 1995-1999 PhD Candidate, Laboratory of Dr. I. Rule -Initiated discovery of… Resume writing tips • SECTION HEADING • Sub Heading • List Item #1 • -Details in bullets Effective layout and section titles when making lists:

35. Resume writing tips Make sense of your background and skills for HR and Hiring Manager Use a Summary section or Profile section -First section of resume -Purpose #1: Hook the Hiring Manager into reading more -Purpose #2: Make it easy, quick for HR to see that you fit Useful format: -1-2 line statement: classify and sub-classify yourself -2-5 bullets: connects you to desired/required qualifications -ONLY include items that will help convince the reader you are a fit for the job description

36. Resume writing tips Scientist – Protein Chemist ….We are seeking a highly motivated PhD scientist to join our Technology Development Team… The Technology Development team is seeking a uniquely qualified individual to establish a new project that combines our chemical synthesis core technology with state of the art combinatorial peptide methods. Requirements: -PhD in Biochemistry -2-5 years of experience in industry or a combination of industry and related postdoctoral experience -Experience with structural biology, NMR or X-ray crystallography is a plus -Background in folding and purification of proteins is highly desirable -The job entails both bench work and management skills -The job demands excellent communication skills, writing skills and the ability to work in teams Use a Summary or Profile section

37. Resume writing tips Use a Summary or Profile section tailored to job desc Amelia Earhart, PhD Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics Phone: (415) 111-2222 (H) Box 000 (415) 333-4444 (W) University of California at San Francisco e-mail: shu@ucsf.edu San Francisco, CA 94143 _______________________________________________________________________ PROFILE Protein chemist with more than 5 years combined post-doctoral experience in industry and academic settings • Extensive background in chemistry and structural biology • Protein purification experience • Experience with NMR and X-ray crystallography • Excellent communication, teamwork and writing skills developed through previous industry position, bench and management duties

38. Resume writing tips When necessary, make sense of your background and skills for the non-scientist Use the 3-bullet format to write about your research -What’s the big question you’re trying to answer? -How are you trying to answer it? What methods? What approaches? -Accomplishments…What interesting things have you found? Might you find? What are the potential applications of this research?

42. Resume writing tips Review samples of successful PhD resumes targeted at industry research jobs: career.ucsf.edu -Grad Students and Postdocs -Non-academic careers -Applying for jobs

43. Industry Cover Letters • Two goals for a cover letter: • Get the reader to be interested in you and in your resume • Be BRIEF • Two ways to accomplish the goal: • Impress the reader with your knowledge of company and position • Impress the reader by highlighting some unique qualifications that fit the job description • TIP for online applications: • Always apply online, then also write to a scientist at a company addressed by name

44. Industry Cover Letters • Three-Four paragraphs: • Indicate why you are writing – include specific job title • 2-3. Indicate why you are interested in that position. Why you are a good fit for that position and that company! If possible indicate that you know about the company/group and why it’s desirable. • 4. Refer to your enclosed resume and include your plans for follow-up

45. References - Industry • Phone call reference check happens near end of the process • With some companies, includes background check • What if you can’t tell your boss yet that you might leave? • “I would prefer to provide references other than my current boss. I know my boss would provide a positive reference for me. I would be happy to provide her name and contact information if this process is likely to go forward to a job offer. However, you should know that I am certain that once she finds out I am job hunting, it will negatively impact my stay in the lab should a job offer not be made by your company.”

46. Seminar Outline 1. Questions you should answer before you start 2. Finding company information and finding researchers at companies 3. Preparing industry resumes and cover letters 4. Four techniques for a comprehensive job search

47. Job Hunting Techniques – What works? “I spent two hours on Monster.com, and got offered four jobs; now I’m CEO of the company”

48. Four job hunting techniques that work • 1. Answering internet ads effectively • 2. Networking with contacts in your field • Attending job fairs effectively • Working with third party recruiters

49. Technique 1:Answering internet ads 1. Locate an interesting position 2. Research that position and company 3. Create targeted resume and cover letter 4. Submit resume as instructed in ad, to HR 5. Then email resume w/letter to a scientist within the company

50. Technique 1:Answering internet ads Resources: • Journals and societies from your field/sub-field • General sites such as monster, indeed, craigslist • Scientific and engineering job sites: • sciencecareers.org, naturejobs.org,PhDs.org, the scientist, new scientist • Find your specialized sub-industry jobsites • “Careers” site at each of your preferred companies