Articles Written By Sarah Smith, PhD

There is no denying the fact that cover letters are becoming less and less popular. According to a survey in Jobvite, 55% of hiring managers say that while cover letters are not important in their job search process, they still recommend that you learn how to nail them. With the advent of social media, recruiters and hiring managers can easily vet a candidate on LinkedIn without even looking at their resume. But here’s the thing… You never know exactly what the hiring manager wants to see, and it can be a huge misstep if you forget this. In a recent…

“Clinical research associate” ranks #84 on CNN Money’s list of the 100 “Best Jobs in America,” and with a median pay of $76k, you can begin to see why. In fact, according to a U.K. government report, industry workers in the life sciences earn more than the average income of those employed in any other economic sector. Despite this, you shouldn’t chalk up the amazing benefits of this career to mere income... From life-saving medical apparatuses to carefully refined treatments for lifelong debilitations, clinical research associates have a powerful connection to innovations in medicine. You'd have a tough time naming…

Did you know that, according to Robert Half, 70% of hiring managers don’t expect job candidates to take the first salary offer? Instead, they expect you to negotiate. Employers are competing over talented candidates just like you, which means you have plenty of leverage for negotiating. That being said, it’s normal to feel anxious. It takes courage to speak up for yourself and ask for something better than what you’ve been offered.But there is no such thing as a professional salary negotiator.You can’t hire someone to waltz into the corporate office and advocate for a better salary on your behalf.If…

No job offers, no network connections, and definitely no industry experience. For 2 months after graduation, I was utterly without prospects. Sitting around with my degree in hand (which was feeling heavier all the time), I was waiting for life to happen to me. It seems ridiculous now, but as a PhD, I came out of my studies thinking I was some kind of industry employer magnet. I thought that if I just filled out a few applications, employers would be pushing each other out of the way in the struggle to hire me first. I probably don’t have to…

If you’ve been selected for an interview, the employer knows you have the skills to do the job. But the interview is the last step - the point where they weed out candidates they don’t want. It’s your final opportunity to shine, so look at your interview strategy. Is it time to change things up?