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Beyond the Ivory Tower: Career Options for PhDs

Beyond the Ivory Tower: Career Options for PhDs. Ruth Schemmer, PhD Assistant Dean for Career Development Graduate School 411 Kirkland. Alternative Careers Identify Skills Gain Experience Explore Options Finding Jobs Final Thoughts. Overview. Alternative Careers. Alternate Academic

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Beyond the Ivory Tower: Career Options for PhDs

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  1. Beyond the Ivory Tower: Career Options for PhDs Ruth Schemmer, PhD Assistant Dean for Career Development Graduate School 411 Kirkland

  2. Alternative Careers • Identify Skills • Gain Experience • Explore Options • Finding Jobs • Final Thoughts Overview

  3. Alternative Careers Alternate Academic Non-tenure track, higher education Potential Positions: Academic Advisor; Program Coordinator; Lab Manager; Development Assistant Potential Settings: Writing Center; Career Center; Academic Dept; Research Lab; Teaching Center; Development Office

  4. Alternative Careers, cont. Non-academic Business/Industry; Non-profits; Government Potential Positions: Research Associate; Curator; Curriculum Director; Data Manager; R&D Research Associate; Analyst; Consultant Potential Settings: Government Agencies; Health Care Organizations; Non-Profits (e.g., arts, research, health, education); Consulting Firms; Think Tanks; Biotech Companies

  5. Identify Skills Data Knowledge Data management: digital data; quantitative/qualitative; survey distribution; experiments Quantitative: statistics; survey analysis; technical reports Organizational Project management: dissertation; planning large events Personal interaction: volunteer work; leadership; teaching/mentoring

  6. Identify Skills, cont. Communication Written: grant-writing; teaching; dissertation; newsletter articles; website development; report for granting agency Oral: teaching; conference presentations; leading meetings; invited talks Business Knowledge Teamwork: collaborative research; leadership positions Management: lab management; classroom teaching; training/mentoring

  7. Gain Experience Internships Paid/unpaid; Business/Government (all levels) Project-based Volunteer Work Grant-writing; Assist with events Campus/Community Leadership Exec Boards; Fund-raising; Event Planning

  8. Explore Options Networking: ask for advice, suggestions, tips, NOT for preferential treatment VU Alumni: VUConnect, locate PhDs with interesting jobs (some are even local!) Alumni from undergraduate institution Departmental alumni (ask professors) Campus Staff (alternate academic careers) LinkedIn (groups/discussions, other people)

  9. Explore Options, cont. Conduct Informational Interviews People respond best to being asked for advice, rather than for a job Ask to visit about their career What skills are needed in their career? How did they get started? Do they know anyone else who would be a good contact for you?

  10. Explore Options, cont. Center for Student Professional Development www.vanderbilt.edu/career Your Toolbox  Online Resources WetFeet Insider Guides: e.g. Consulting for PhDs, Lawyers and Doctors Going Global: international job search information

  11. Explore Options, cont. Chronicle of Higher Education www.chronicle.com Advice Columns: 1st-person accounts VU has site license Chronicle of Philanthropy www.philanthropy.com News of non-profit world VU has site license

  12. Explore Options, cont. Versatile PhD www.versatilephd.com Premium access paid by VU (CAS) for all students: login through CSPD website Discussions, career panels (Humanities/Social Sciences and STEM) Science Careers http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org My IDP (Individual Development Plan) http://myidp.sciencecareers.org

  13. Explore Options, cont. Career/Personality Assessments Psychological & Counseling Center www.vanderbilt.edu/pcc Career Counselor will determine tests Fee is reasonable--much less than on the market

  14. Finding Jobs First Step: create resume from CV Focus on transferable skills, rather than content knowledge 2 pages only Tailor each resume to job description Examples available with resume handout

  15. Finding Jobs, cont. Networking, networking, networking! Versatilephd.com (job listings) Sciencecareers.sciencemag.org Indeed.com (web aggregator) Chronicle.com (alternate academic) University websites, too Philanthropy.com (non-profit jobs) Idealist.com (non-profit jobs)

  16. Finding Jobs, cont. Usajobs.gov (Federal Government jobs) Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates Unique job search—seek additional guidance State, City Government websites Professional Associations, applied focus subsections; e.g., Sociological Practice of ASA Book of Lists (Owen School of Mgmt Library) Lists of companies in selected metro areas DoreWays: CSPD job listing system

  17. Final Thoughts A degree of serendipity in any career journey May start well below skill level, w/commensurate pay level Applying on websites is necessary, not sufficient, condition for job searching Never too early to start—create resume, start networking, research career options

  18. Career Development ServicesGraduate School Ruth Schemmer; 411 Kirkland ruth.schemmer@vanderbilt.edu Appts: Wednesdays, all day; Friday mornings Call 615-343-2727 for appt Walk-ins: Thursdays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm 15-minute short consultation (e.g., resume review)

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