2013/08/20
by Katrin Wodzicki
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How to communicate why leaving academia: It’s a question of what you want instead!

Recently, I had a discussion with some postdocs about how to communicate about leaving academia to possible future employers.

In the end, I believe it is not a question of why you want to leave science; It is rather the question why you want to have a specific job outside academia: what motivates you to apply for this job and why do you think that you would be successful in this job – and that’s what future employers are interested.

So ask yourself the questions which skills and interests are distinguishing you from others. In performing which kind of activities have you proven these skills? How will they enable you to do the new job?

In her article on CAREEREALISM.COM, Karen Siwak moreover highlights the importance of being “realistic about your qualifications” and not to “apply for jobs for which you are clearly unsuitable” for reducing tension in the recruitment process.

You will feel much more self-confident, if you are clear about how your skills fit to a specific job. Possible employers want to be convinced of your motivation and your fit to a job. You can only convince them, if you are convinced yourself!

2013/07/31
by Katrin Wodzicki
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GGNB Career Service Unit Goes Into Recess For The Summer

From 1^st to 20^th August, I’m out of office for my summer holidays. I will not read my e-mails during this time. I wish us all a nice and hopefully relaxing summer.

All the best,

Katrin

2013/07/30
by Katrin Wodzicki
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Career Planning Workshop “What to do with a PhD?”, 10 September 2013

We are happy to announce the next Career Planning Workshop “What to do with a PhD?” for late-stage PhD students and early postdocs.

Date: Tuesday, 10 September 2013, 9-17 o’clock

Place: GZMB building, seminar room 0.232

Duration: 1 day

Goal: Getting to know about professional perspectives and reflecting about own suitability to different career paths

The workshop deals with what career means and which personal career objectives matter. Participants are introduced to different science-related career paths in the public sector (including universities, but not restricted to) and private enterprises, and which technical and personal skills matter, respectively. Moreover, participants get the opportunity to reflect their own competences and objectives as well as their suitability to these different career paths. Finally, participants develop an individual strategy for their next career steps.

Registration:

If you would like to take part in the workshop, register for the GGNB Career Services here and write an e-mail to the coordinator Katrin Wodzicki (ggnb-career@gwdg.de). The e-mail should include a motivational statement (Why do you want to take part in the workshop?).

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis! Confirmation of registration will be send not before 21 August 2013 (due to summer holiday break of the coordinator).

More information about the trainer Barbara Hoffbauer is available here. A retrospective view on the first workshop of this kind is available here.

2013/07/25
by Katrin Wodzicki
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Next Career Impulse Sessions: Supporters Wanted!

As the Career Impulse Sessions aim at addressing your interests and needs, I gathered a couple of suggestions for further topics during the last events. Although I have some first ideas whom to invite or how to do these sessions, I would appreciate your support in preparation. So here is my Call for Supporters:

You are

… eager to bring variety to your daily lab work,

… willing to meet for at least 1 hour (for planning issues), and

… keen to take over small tasks before and/or during the session (e.g., inviting a guest speaker, moderating discussion, ringing a bell).

Being part of such an organizing team will enable you to

… invest in your career,

… build new skills by taking over non-scientific responsibilities, and

… network with potential guests and other postdocs.

Retrospective View on the First Workshop on Job Hunting and Application Skills

End of June, the first workshop on job hunting and application skills took place and was fully booked. I even had to put some postdocs off until the next workshop – which is already in process of planning!

The one-and-a-half days were very intense. The group was impressively eager to learn. The evaluation, fortunately, revealed their high satisfaction:

“It was perfectly suited to my need, very helpful with a great experienced trainer.” (Postdoc in Neurosciences)

“The workshop was very informative and dynamic. It helped me to realize my most positive characteristics and feel confident about my future career possibilities.” (Postdoc at GZMB)

They highly recommend you all to visit the next workshop of this kind:

“Make the most of this wonderful experience. Learn and improve yourself with the content of the workshop. It’s an eye opener.” (Postdoc in Molecular Biology)

If you are registered in the database, the announcement of next workshop will reach directly. Take your chance then!

2013/07/18
by Katrin Wodzicki
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New Call for the Dorothea Schlözer Mentoring Program at the University of Göttingen – Women only

The research department of the University of Göttingen announced the next round of the “Dorothea Schlözer Mentoring Program at the University of Göttingen” for female doctoral and postdoctoral researchers:

In support of female researchers aiming for an academic career the University of Göttingen provides a mentoring program for doctoral and postdoctoral academics starting on 30 October 2013. The program includes one to one mentoring for female postdocs and group mentoring for doctoral researchers, a career training program for advancing professional and personal development, as well as information and networking events devoted to career related topics. An overview of the program starting in October you will find attached. Applications by female doctoral or postdoctoral researchers at the Göttingen Research Campus (including Max Planck Institutes and Germen Primate Center) can be submitted until 31 August 2013.

Additional information and the online application portal can be found on the website: www.uni-goettingen.de/mentoring

The coordinator of this program is Dr. Manuela Kaiser-Belz (manuela.kaiser-belz@uni-goettingen.de).

Take your chance to get advice from an experienced researcher and build your skills in the training program!

2013/07/16
by Katrin Wodzicki
0 comments

Follow-Up on Networking Session

Following the discussion in the last Career Impulse Session on Networking, I compiled some concrete, easy to apply ideas about how to start networking:

Start an “Interesting People Fund” (suggested by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha): Invest this money in going to meet people and inviting people to a coffee or similar.

“Imagine you got laid off today. Who are the 5-10 people you’d write to for advice? Make sure to invest in those relationships regularly, not just when you have an urgent need.” (suggested by Adam Rifkin): This will help you to focus your networking activities. However, don’t forget the importance of diversity in your network.

“In the next week: Introduce two people who do not know each other but ought to. Then think about a challenge you face and ask for an introduction to a connection in your network who could help.” (suggested by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha): This might also be a good way to facilitate the networking among postdocs in Göttingen.

“Do a “five minute favor” every day” (suggested by Adam Grant): This is really not a big deal, but will have a huge impact.

“Get a business card” (suggested by Peter Fiske): If you not already have, you should definitely get some. Or can you remember every name of people you met at a talk or at a conference? How much easier is it to make a follow-up after a conference with a stack of business cards – at best with a short note about the person on the backside.

“Send out preprints” (suggested by Peter Fiske): Therewith, you can kill two birds with one stone: You can provide others with valuable information and make your own work more visible in the scientific community.

“Share your passion” (suggested by Colleen DeBaise): With whom do you like to speak more, a colleague who is very passionate and cheerful or a colleague who struggles with his achievements and is rather unhappy? A positive, enthusiastic atmosphere open doors and makes the conversation enjoyable. And not just this: You can also only convince people of the value of your research or your expertise, if you are convinced yourself.

So, I think 7 tips for the start are enough. I hope that you find them just as convincing as I do!

Some more thoughts and links about doing social networking online, you can find here.

If you cannot find something convincing for yourself, you might want to have a look on the 24 networking tips here.

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