KNOW YOUR SKILLSPRODUCE A CAREER (STEM)

Ruth Schemmer, PhDAssistant Dean for Career Development

Graduate School411 Kirkland

OVERVIEW

• Know Your Skills• Produce a Career (how to get

from Point A to Point B)• Final Thoughts

Know Your SKILLS

• What skills do you possess? Name some.

• What do you think of when I say competency?

Know Your SKILLS

National Post-doc Association• 6 Core Competencies: Discipline-specific

conceptual knowledge, Research skill development, Communication skills, Professionalism, Leadership & Management Skills, Responsible Conduct of Research

Know Your SKILLS

Discipline-specific Conceptual Knowledge• Courses, independent research• Additional training (summer research

programs)• Improvements made in processes,

outcomes, new knowledge

Know Your SKILLS

Research Skill Development• Data/Quantitative skills• Scientific skills• Ability to think through a problem

logically from beginning to end

Know Your SKILLS

Communication skills• Conference presentations/Journal articles• Science in the Classroom• Grant proposals/reports to funding

agencies/technical reports• Successful proposals for funding—convincing

someone to give you money!• Ability to convey and explain complex concepts

to undergraduates• 3MT participation

Know Your SKILLS

Professionalism• Center for Teaching• Graduate School Career Development• BRET Career Development

Know Your SKILLS

Leadership & Management Skills• Training newer students in the lab• Mentoring/supervising undergraduates• Managing course section, making all plans• Working with team on large project;

multidisciplinary collaborations• Project management: taking multi-year project

from initial question to completion• Evaluating student performance

Know Your SKILLS

Responsible Conduct of Research• Why do employers care? Ethics very important

in the workplace• Knowledge of proprietary information’s

importance

Know Your SKILLS

Others??

Know Your SKILLS

MyIDP (Individual Development Plan): http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/

• Hosted by Science Careers (AAAS)• Assessments of interests, values, competencies;

can also ask advisor/mentor to complete form and compare yours and theirs

• Offers career possibilities drawn from assessments

• Track goals and progress

PRODUCE A CAREER

Consider Optional Paths: Alternate Academic (non-tenure track, higher education)

• Typical Positions: Lab Manager; Program Director; Development Assistant; Research Assistant/Associate

• Potential settings: Academic Departments; Research Labs; Teaching Centers; Development Offices, Research Institutes; Post-doc Offices; K-12 Teaching

PRODUCE A CAREER

Non-academic: (business, government, non-profits)

• Typical Positions: Research Associate; Policy Analyst; Development Assistant; Analyst; Consultant; Data Manager; R&D

• Potential settings: Government Agencies; Health Care Organizations; Consulting Firms; Insurance Companies; Biotech Companies; Think Tanks

PRODUCE A CAREER

Gain Experience

• Internships • Volunteering at non-profits; Science outreach• Grant-writing• Interacting with undergraduates• Campus/Community leadership

PRODUCE A CAREER

Explore Options• Network! ask for advice/suggestions/tips, not

preferential treatment–Lit review for your career: gather stories, informational

interviews–VUConnect.com: set up a profile, locate PhDs in interesting

jobs–Alumni from your undergraduate institution–Alumni from your Department (ask professors for names)–Campus Staff (alternate academic careers)–LinkedIn (join groups for discussion; VU Alumni)

PRODUCE A CAREER

Explore Options• ScienceCareers.org: www.sciencecareers.org • Chronicle of Higher Education: www.chronicle.com• Versatile PhD: www.Versatilephd.com –Career Panels, STEM forum, PhD Career Finder–First access through Graduate School Career Development

https://my.vanderbilt.edu/gradcareer/ Non-academic Careers Exploring Options

• Indeed.com–Web aggregator of job listings; read for skills in job

descriptions

PRODUCE A CAREER

Explore Options

• Career/Professional Development events & resources–Graduate School Career Development:

https://my.vanderbilt.edu/gradcareer/ –BRET Office of Career Development:

https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/career-development/ –GradLEAF: https://my.vanderbilt.edu/gradleaf/

FINAL THOUGHTS

• A degree of serendipity/chaos in any career journey.• You may start below your skill level, with commensurate

pay.• Volunteering time and services may be necessary to

demonstrate evidence of skills.• Knowing your skills and creating a resume containing

them is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for job searching: networking is a must!

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICESGRADUATE SCHOOL

Ruth Schemmer; 411 Kirklandruth.schemmer@vanderbilt.edu

Twitter: @VUGradCareer

Appts: Wednesdays, all day; Friday morningsCall 615-343-2727 for appt

Walk-ins: Thursdays, 2:00 – 4:00 pm15-minute short consultation (e.g., resume review)

THANK YOU & QUESTIONS