Techniques for Finding a Job

What is the Value? (2009) Curriculum vitae/Resumes Interviewing Recommendation Letters Other Resources

Shane Street Department of Chemistry GAANN Seminars

Why Graduate School?

   Graduate training is needed to become proficient enough to be a strong participant in chemical research and the development of new knowledge.

With a PhD, you’ll be able to rise to top technical or administrative positions in industrial, academic, or government labs.

An advanced degree will result in a higher overall career earning potential.

 But: Manage Your Career  http://chronicle.com/article/Changing-the-Way-We Socialize/125892

ACS: Committee on Professional Training

 Preparing for Life After Graduate School: Career Development workshop from ACS     Careers for PhD chemists Describing careers in business and industry Critical non-technical skills Finding employment opportunities See: www.acs.org/gradworkshop Or contact [email protected]

tel: 202-872-4588

What is the Value?



Salaries by Function: Research

$ Thousands Basic Research Applied Research B.S.

ND 80.0

M.S

ND 91.6

Ph.D.

123.5

110.0

2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf

What is the Value?



Salaries by Function: Management/Sales

$ Thousands R&D Management General Management B.S.

69.0

88.0

M.S

79.2

103.0

Ph.D.

142.0

135.2

Marketing/Sales 88.1

100.0

112.3

2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf

What is the Value?



Salaries by Function: Analytical

$ Thousands Analytical Services Production Quality control B.S.

65.0

69.0

M.S

84.0

79.9

Ph.D.

107.0

121.7

2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf

What is the Value?



Salaries by Function: Other

$ Thousands B.S.

M.S

Ph.D.

Health/Safety 80.0

Chemical Information 59.4

96.9

78.1

121.2

107.1

Computers 100.0

118.0

147.3

Patents 80.0

127.5

141.0

2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf



What is the Value?

Academic Salaries 2009

9 mo. contracts 11-12 mo. contracts

$ Thousands Full Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Instructor Adjunct Research Appointment Non-PhD School 78.0

PhD School 115.0

61.4

53.2

37.8

ND 78.0

70.7

50.0

ND Non-Phd School 97.5

62.7

ND 50.0

ND PhD School 149.0

96.5

67.0

50.0

42.0

2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf

Employment Status



Years: 2007-2009

2007 2008 Full-time 92.3% 92.5

Part-time 3.6% 3.9

Postdoc 1.7% 1.3

Unemployed 2.4% 2.3

2009 89.4

3.2

2.5

3.9

Other Than Full-time Employment 2009 Survey data : http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/88/pdf/8828acsnews.pdf

Curriculum Vitae/[Resumes]

        Name and complete address [Objective] Education [Experience] Honors/Awards Publications/Presentations References Research summary  Consider issues of formatting, clarity, printing  Example

Interviewing

  Start with self-assessment:  Primary skills: What is your knowledge base and technical skill set?

 Secondary skills: programming/interfacing, spectroscopy, microscopy, electrochemistry, advanced synthetic techniques  General skills: communication, writing, collaborations, confidence, adaptability, intellectual aggressiveness, awareness.

Assess the job (do your homework):  Specialist, generalist…both?

  Technical, managerial…both?

Corporate and industry environment

The Interview

    The site visit/plant trip  They are spending $, so it’s important  1-2 days, seminar(s), some number of interviews, both formal and informal interactions, facility tours  Exchange of information; listen but make sure you use any opportunity given to talk  You could discuss career paths, professional support and opportunities, how one gets ahead in that company, benefits, BUT Do NOT discuss salary or other direct compensation Confidence, enthusiasm, professionalism Appropriate follow-up.

IMO: The purpose of a PhD chemist is to not only solve their problems but to solve the problems they don’t even know they have yet.

The Interview

 Questions routinely asked:  Why did you go into chemistry? Got to UA? Choose your advisor/research project?

 What is the importance of your PhD work? What contributions have you made to the field? To your research group?

 Have you established any lines of research independently?

 On your own with no limitations, what kind of research would you like to do?

  What kind of career do you want? Why?

What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

Recommendation Letters

 There should not be any obvious absences unless there is a very good reason: PhD advisor, postdoc mentor, collaborating principal investigators  You can supply information to the recommenders! Highlights, points to be (re)emphasized  Follow up and communication, to get it done on time and to facilitate more

The Two-body Problem

 Usually framed as the problem of finding dual science career couples.

 Excellent resource: http://www.phds.org/jobs/the-two-body-problem/  Upshot advice:  One will likely lead, the other adjust  Do not discuss this “problem” at the outset

Other Resources

 Online jobs resources  http://chemistryjobs.acs.org/jobs       http://www.postdocjobs.com/ http://www.higheredjobs.com/ http://www.phds.org/jobs http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/ http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/ http://www.newscientistjobs.com/jobs/default.aspx

 Outdated, but internally useful links: http://employees.oneonta.edu/pencehe/jobsearch.html