About ASI - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Transcript About ASI - Faculty of Social Sciences
The experimental PhD:
What comes next?
About me
Started grad school at the U of O in 1999 with Prof.
Stelmack
Would make extra money by being an item writer for
Assessment Strategies Inc. (ASI)
Became quite knowledgeable about casino slot attendants,
taxi drivers, kitchen helpers and housekeeping room
attendants
Started working at ASI in 2003 on a contract basis
while I finished my PhD
Defended my thesis and started working full time at
ASI in 2004
About ASI
Located in Ottawa
Approximately 25 employees
Develops and administers licensing exams for a
range of occupations including:
Registered nurses
Medical radiation technologists
Speech language pathologists
Occupational therapists
Registered safety professionals
Typical work tasks
1.
2.
3.
As a test consultant, there are three primary work
tasks:
Facilitation – Training groups of subject matter
experts (e.g., nurses) to write high-quality multiple
choice questions and facilitating the question review.
Statistics – Evaluating the performance of exam items
and overall test statistics. Some advanced statistics
including item response theory and statistical
equating.
Project management – Managing project budgets,
deliverables, timelines and deadlines. Also involves
client management and relations.
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
ASI employs a large number of psychology
graduates in a number of positions. They come
from:
Industrial/organizational psychology
Neuroscience
Psychometrics and statistics
Social or clinical psychology
All of these people “fell into” their job at ASI
but now enjoy the work
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
Some interesting facts
In the private sector, there is no distinction
made between clinical and experimental PhDs
The primary area of research (along with who
your thesis supervisor is) is often of little
consequence
The job market is all about transferability of
skills
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
For most employers, the hiring motto is “smart
people figure it out”
Psychology graduates are especially in demand
because:
Working knowledge of statistics
Report writing abilities
Ability to read research articles critically
Experience with research and conferences
For U of O grads, often bilingual
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
However, there are other “soft skills” that make
psychology graduates marketable:
People skills
Oral communication (group dynamics,
presentations)
Teamwork abilities
Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet
deadlines
Perseverence and discipline
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
Some areas where psychology graduates initially
struggle:
You are no longer the expert. There is a lot to
learn
Dealing with the nuances of client management
– the research may be clear but there are other
considerations
Managing budgets and workplans
Dealing with an “office environment” and
internal company politics
Benefits to working as a consultant
Most of these benefits will also apply to working
in the public sector (e.g., federal civil service)
There may be some differences across
companies
Some consultants also choose to be independent
contractors (bathrobe consultants)
When interviewing for a job, it will be important
for you to see if these benefits apply at your
workplace
Benefits to working as a consultant
The salary and benefits are usually pretty good
Salaries tend to be slightly higher in the private
sector
Consultants usually start off at around $60,000
Salary increases are usually based on performance
rather than entitlement
Most places of work also offer a competitive
benefits package that also includes a retirement
pension
Benefits to working as a consultant
Work-life balance is a HUGE benefit
Most workplaces have 35-40 hour work weeks
With most employers, overtime is infrequent and
discouraged
Also very little weekend work
In the testing industry, there is often a small amount
of travel within Canada and occasionally in the US
for conferences
The bottom line: You can have a life again!!!
Benefits to working as a consultant
Variety of work
The variety of the work you do keeps a job
interesting and challenging
One day, you can be performing a statistical analysis.
The next day, you are leading a group of experts to
write exam items
There are also various internal committees and
projects you can be involved with
There is always something to learn
Benefits to working as a consultant
You don’t have to give up on academic interests
and research
Teaching is a big part of the job – Especially being
able to explain complex concepts to non-experts
Most companies perform applied research
Most companies also support participation in
industry groups and conferences
Many part-time professors also work in the private
sector and can bring applied experience to the
classroom
Some tips when finding a job
A full-time job is a major decision. As a result, be picky
about where you work
The job interview should be a two-way discussion
There should be a fit between your working style and
personality, and the style of the organization
If research is important to you, discuss this in advance
and get a firm commitment
Salary is negotiable in the private sector. They will
usually give you a lower offer
Sometimes, a signing bonus is available or moving
expenses could be covered. Ask about these.
Thank You
Chris Beauchamp
Senior Consultant
Assessment Strategies Inc.
[email protected]