Articles Written By Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… Don’t give glib responses like “I work too hard” Tell a story using the STAR method Talk about a weakness you had in the past and how you collaborated with someone and engaged in continuous learning to overcome it I hate candidates who give me b.s. answers when I ask PhDs what their biggest weakness is. I reject them immediately.” I was talking to a talent acquisition specialist friend at a very large biotech company and this is what she responded with. I had started asking her about what questions…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn to try and deflect or vaguely accept a salary offer if the employer becomes pushy Next you’ll use the standard “any reasonable offer will be considered” when first asked for your salary expectations Finally, always bring the conversation back to the value you will add to the company If you tell an employer your salary, stipend or fellowship as a PhD, you’re screwed. I sure was. My second job in industry started with a referral and then a phone screen where the hiring manager immediately asked me “what…

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn that AI can find jobs that are the right fit for you Next you’ll learn that AI chatbots and VAs can answer employer questions for you Finally, LinkedIn’s AI allows you to hack your profile to show up higher in the search results on LinkedIn Recruiter Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool to enhance your job search and increase your chances of getting hired. But most people I talked to are being dominated by AI. They’re resumes are getting screened out by increasingly stringent AI, their…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn that a personal greeting to the interviewer demonstrates your attention to detail Next, show that you’ve done your homework on the company by mentioning something specific about the company culture or values Finally, display authentic enthusiasm for the role and the company We interviewed them and they came across as someone who had the personality of a wet mop. Oof – this is what a hiring manager friend told me after interviewing someone with a doctorate that I knew but never worked with. Tough remarks but the point…

Writing a resume for an industry job is one of the biggest sticking points I see with PhDs entering the job market.  What worked even a year ago is not working today due to recent and rapidly accelerating advances in Applicant Tracking Systems.  These systems, called ATS or just AI today, are software tools used by companies to filter resumes.  They scan for specific keywords related to the job role, abilities, credentials, and qualities desired in a candidate.  As a PhD seeking very competitive roles, including relevant keywords in your resume is essential to pass through these systems and get…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn the most important aspect of facing rejection is resiliency Next, make sure you’re being your own biggest advocate Finally, organization can provide mental peace My job search broke me Isaiah, I need a break. I made it to the site visit and I just got a rejection. This job was perfect for me. What should I do? I hear this all the time from highly intelligent people with very valuable degrees and it’s heartbreaking every time. Searching for a job can be a challenging and emotionally taxing process,…

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn you can’t hit a target you don’t set so make sure you start by defining your career goals and the type of job you’re seeking Next, set a goal to apply for a certain number of positions each day or week. 2-3 applications per day is key Finally, follow up – because following up is not stalking; it’s a key transferable skill Are you a recent graduate or someone with a degree actively seeking employment? Landing a job in 30 days or less is a realistic goal with…

“I had a recruiter reach out to me, Isaiah, and after I gave them my resume and answered their questions, they never got back to me. What should I do?”  I hear this a lot.  I also hear, “Isaiah, I was on the phone with a recruiter and as soon as they heard that I needed a visa, they hung up” …”or as soon as they heard I had no industry experience, they hung up.”  Man, I personally hate this. What a waste of time. The recruitment industry is broken.  The good news is its being devoured by Artificial Intelligence,…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn how to avoid technical issues by over-preparing Next, you’ll learn that lighting your face is the key to building trust Finally, don’t underestimate the destructive power of a bad background If you can’t manage your internet connection, why should we put you in charge of managing anything else. This was actually said to someone I know when they’re wifi kept dropping and buffering during a video interview. They were at one of the later stage rounds with a very busy executive. Needless to say, they didn’t get the…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn the difference between a resume headline and resume professional summary Next, you’ll learn tips on writing a resume headline Finally, you’ll learn why having a proper resume headline will help capture the attention of recruiters I had someone write in recently asking me what’s the difference between a resume headline and a resumes’ professional summary. A resume headline, also known as a resume title, is a brief statement – typically 3-8 words that appears at the top of your resume and serves as a concise introduction to your…