Join Millions Of PhDs Who Use Our Job Search Resources Annually

In this interview with Yuri Klyachkin, PhD, he tells us about how he overcame self-doubt and unemployment to land his dream job as a Medical Science Liaison. The CSA job search blueprint and a whole new approach to networking were ultimately what enabled him to transition out of academia and into a top industry company.

LinkedIn is a great platform to find and connect with industry professionals. It allows you to reach out to people who work at the companies you are interested in that you would not have had access to otherwise. To make the most of LinkedIn as a way to connect with people at your target companies, you can use the LinkedIn search feature, get introductions from people in your current network, and look at the company website to find specific people you want to reach out to. For the most effective use of LinkedIn, you should use a combination of these strategies. And always remember, in any networking situation, you must add value first. Never begin a conversation by asking for something. Give the new connection a reason to want to talk to you. If you can do that, then you are on the right track to building a solid professional connection.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

Your LinkedIn profile is the professional impression that you are giving to the more than 500 million people who use the LinkedIn platform. And, within those 500 million users, there are many recruiters and hiring managers. 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find job candidates (Jobvite). What do those recruiters want to see? Well, for starters, including a photo on your profile results in 36 times more message replies (LinkedIn). And, including your location on your LinkedIn profile will cause a 23-fold increase in your appearance in search results (Money). The more you understand about how LinkedIn works and what employers are looking for, the better your profile will become. And, to earn a high-level industry position, you must have a LinkedIn profile to match. Is your LinkedIn profile worthy of earning you a PhD-level job?

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

In this interview, Aparna discusses how she knew she didn't want to stay in academia but needed help transitioning into industry. She talks about how she found the detailed networking information, available in the Cheeky Scientist Association, most helpful for successfully transitioning into her current role as a Medical Writer. Congratulations Aparna!

There are 546 million people using LinkedIn (LinkedIn). That is an astounding figure. It’s wonderful that LinkedIn creates a place for you to be able to connect with so many people. But, how can you stand out in the sea of 546 million people? How can you get noticed by the people within your target industry and location? By using keywords. 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find job candidates (US News). And, keyword searches are the most common way to find the right job candidates. Recruiters rely on LinkedIn’s algorithm to show them the most relevant profiles based on their keyword search. As a job seeker, it’s your responsibility to make your profile keyword optimized so that you show up in these search results. Without a keyword strategy, your LinkedIn profile will be lost in the crowd.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

According to Jobvite, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to screen candidates. These recruiters use LinkedIn to judge not only your qualifications, but also how you would fit into the company. Your professional profile is your first impression on new connections and potential employers. A study at Cornell University, as reported by Science Daily, found that first impressions, although formed in seconds, can alter the way you are perceived even after 6 months. In other words, there is really no overcoming a bad first impression — you must do all you can to make the best first impression possible, which includes having a high quality professional profile. Don’t ruin a potential job opportunity with a bad professional profile.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

In this interview, Myriam discusses the struggles she faced with funding as a postdoc in academia. She talks about how she became fed up with the long hours and job insecurity associated with her postdoc and how she used the CSA materials and network to transition into industry.

You can leverage the new LinkedIn changes to increase your profiles' visibility so that employers and recruiters will start contacting you or will contact you even more. 96% of all employers and recruiters find candidates online (Jobvite). And specifically, 87% of these employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to find job candidates, especially for high-level, PhD positions. 122 million people have gotten interviews from LinkedIn and a further 35.5 million have been hired by someone they connected with on LinkedIn (Statistic Brain). LinkedIn is a powerful tool in your job search. Don’t neglect it and miss out on an amazing opportunity.