Once I submitted my I-485 for the adjustment of the status (to that of a permanent resident) and got the EAD/AP (Employment Authorization Document/Advanced Parole), I started looking for opportunities outside academia. I revised my CV into a one page resume with few tips and tricks that I learned from reading blogs and perusing resources online and elsewhere. I also drafted a cover letter. Initially, I started by sending the same resume and cover letter to all kinds of jobs I was applying to. I did not then consider the importance of aligning and showcasing my skills with job requirements. I would naively send my resume and cover letter and in turn, get automatic emails thanking my interest, followed by another response politely rejecting my candidature. After a while, I came to realize that I am not doing something right. I then started researching more into how to drafting a resume and cover letter. In my second phase of job applications, I got an email from HR of a company stating she would like to know more about my interest in the position. I was so happy that I scheduled the telephonic interview without really preparing for it. I never heard back from this person again.
In the third (and what ended up being the final phase) I tried to tackle this problem from all different angles. I revised my resume to add important stuff like selected publications (2-3 out of a total of 16), selected presentations (1-2) and modified most of the bullet points in a ‘problem action and result’ (PAR) format to make it two pages long. I applied for positions on the company web portals and simultaneously contacted the recruiter with my resume and cover letter, expressing my interest. I prepared for the interview by making a power-point presentation (I got this suggestion from my CSG mentor) which included questions asked by recruiters and the best personalized answers to them. I practiced for the interview by speaking out loud, and confidently delivering the answers. I also had a few follow-up questions prepared. One of the positions I had applied to, was looking for a candidate with extensive knowledge in B cells and some programming and data analyses skills. They must have found my resume and cover letter impressive; I heard back from the recruiter expressing an interest for a telephonic interview. I agreed to a suitable time and then prepared for it. I was able to impress the recruiter not only by my answers but also by the subsequent questions I asked, which then lead to an interview by hiring manager. This was my chance to talk about science and show him that I am really well aware of the methodology they are using, the pros and cons and the recent advancements in the field. My preparation, and a strong foundation in B-cell research and my experience in programming and statistics did the trick. More importantly, I could share my thoughts on the challenges faced, and my suggestions towards solving these issues. The constant support and the timely help provided by the CSG mentors immensely helped me secure this position.
At this juncture I would like to add some important things for aspiring postdocs who are looking to transition into industry. As a postdoc, the time spent in the lab doing the research is important. But it is equally important to develop and learn something new. For example, my interest in multidisciplinary science motivated me to learn programming languages, statistics and train on MOOCS platforms like Coursera, Edx and Udamy. Keep your learning process active, be it business, leadership, management or anything cross disciplinary. This will give you a unique value proposition, thereby raising your chance of success, a notch higher.
My onsite interview was scheduled two weeks after my telephonic. Meanwhile, I went on planning a few experiments in the lab. Then I got a call from The HR asking if I could manage to come a week early for onsite interview. I agreed to the new time and this in turn put everything on fast-track. I had no other option; I was doing my experiments and practicing my presentation with friends. Since I knew the importance of integrating audience perspective for a successful presentation, I asked myself several questions from the interviewer point-of-view. I modified my PowerPoint slides to reflect this; my first slide after the title was showcasing my certificates of programming, statistics and business, together with academic achievements like publication, citation, editorial board and peer reviewer experience. After my presentation, I met with various people with great enthusiasm and energy. I was told by a CSG-mentor, during preparation, that my energy while talking to people play an equally important part in determining the success, and I was quite mindful of this fact during the interview. Overall it was a success. I got to know later from the hiring manager that they would like to have my reference letters sent to them. The hiring manager also wanted to speak with a few people I have worked with, which I arranged. Lo behold! I now have my offer letter.
In summary, the process of job hunting is tedious, very discouraging and disappointing. Remember, don’t give up. Prepare as much as you can, and you will definitely land your DREAM JOB.
About the author:
In Satyendra Kumar’s words , “I received my Ph D from University of Pune (National Institute of Virology, Pune) India in 2010. Then I came to University of Nebraska Medical center at Omaha as a Postdoctoral fellow for brief period in Department of Biochemistry and molecular biology, UNMC. Later I joined University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (2010-2015), and became Visiting Research Assistant Professor in 2015. Since 2010, I have been working on understanding the molecular mechanism of B cell antibody diversification at various stages of differentiation.”
Edited by: Sitharam Ramaswami (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sitharam-ramaswami-ram-a0ab0660)
Image source: https://pixabay.com/en/interview-job-skills-employment-607713/
This work by ClubSciWri is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
