Alternative Science Careers

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Many of us are so keen on getting a job that we forget to take the time to see if the job is complementary to our personality. Before looking for a job, a self-assessment should be taken into consideration. Understanding your personality can help narrow down job choices to the kind of job that you would like to do and that would fit well.  As no one knows better than yourself, critically examine the things you are looking for in a job. Doing so will also help you decide if alternative science careers are right for you.

To get started, think of several of the following questions.  Do you prefer to work alone or with a team? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you prefer benchwork or interacting with others? Are you creative or like to follow specified protocols? Do you enjoy leadership roles? Is it easy or hard for you to network with others? Do you like a fast-paced or slow-paced environment? This is by no means an exhaustive list, but at least a place to get your wheels turning.

There are numerous websites that offer personality assessment tests.  PharmaWeb has a free personality test that takes only a few minutes to fill out and the results are immediate. You do have to register with a valid email. The results link your personality to the kind of job you would love or dislike and why. It also gives general qualities of what you need in an ideal workplace and boss.  It is fun to see what the results say. Just remember, the results are not 100% accurate so don’t solely rely on them for your job. The personality test can be found at http://pharmiweb.com/Resources/FreePersonalityTest.asp.

Have fun with this project!

Enjoy the Christmas season and Happy New Year!

Writing your CV and Resume? Want expert advice? You are in luck- The CV Doctor is Back!

“The first CV Doctor column was published 10 years ago in the fall of 1999. Over the years we have tried to look critically at the vitae submitted by readers and point out ways to make the documents more effective. …”  The article, “The CV Doctor is Back” written at The Chronicle of Higher Education, is a great resource.

The article has excellent CV and resume examples. The article contains links to David Jone’s and Lucy Scholar’s CV and resume before the doctor’s help, as well as after. It is amazing to see the difference. By taking some simple advice, the documents look more professional and appealing.

What also stood out in the article is how the authors stated that many graduate students and postdocs will be pursuing dual job searches this year as they search for both academic and nonacademic positions. To help in this regard, the examples shown demonstrate how to prepare a CV for academic positions versus a resume for nonacademic positions.

All of the CV and resume examples can be found at the original article, “The CV Doctor is Back.”

A feature article on Life Science Leader for December “Science vs. Business: Who Makes A Better Ceo?” reports that life science companies have recently transitioned from hiring CEOs with advanced science and medical degrees to executives with traditional business or legal backgrounds.  In fact, the report shows that only 5 out of 18 of the world’s leading life science executives hold advanced degrees in medicine or the life sciences. According to the the article, “the failure of scientists to excel as CEOs has largely been ascribed to a narrow focus, an inability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, poor social skills, and a clear lack of financial and business acumen.”

Many science graduate students and post-docs envision holding management positions in a life sciences company, but are the statistics lined up against those that have (or will have) a PhD? Luckily for researchers aspiring to lead an organization, the answer is no. However, in saying that, there is a lot more preparation that needs to be done to attain such goals. Most scientists who received their PhD through traditional academic programs lack the required people skills and business training to become effective executives. Therefore, the most obvious skills to gain for students aspiring to be in executive positions are to learn the basics of business and finance. The article has a list of academic institutions that offer joint PhD/MBA program in the life sciences. Additionally, developing leadership and interpersonal communication skills are essential.

Obtaining these “other”  skill sets on top of the results-oriented, strategic thinking developed during science graduate studies will allow graduates to be better equipped to meet the challenges of executive positions. Having both business and scientific expertise will give an upperhand in the hiring process as well. As stated in the article, ” many of today’s life sciences company CEOs possess the requisite business acumen and people skills, but most lack the scientific knowledge and “hands-on” training to make informed decisions about new R&D strategies and opportunities. ” The article also suggests the new trend in the life sciences will be necessity for a CEO to have “the technical and scientific knowledge offered by the Ph.D. degree and the people and business skills imparted by an MBA degree.”

As a side note: Food for thought. Should this lend to a new trend for graduate programs? The skill sets needed for executives (particularly people skills) are also essential in many alternative science careers, as well as traditional research positions. Is it the responsibility for graduate programs to ensure that students gain skills outside of the “traditional” expertise acquired in academia?