We Fight For PhDs And PhD Careers

I had a pretty good idea during the last two years of grad school that I wanted to go into industry. I had started searching for jobs during that time and I knew that getting a job as an industry scientist wouldn’t be that easy. I went to the university career counseling program, and a lot of the advice that I got was very fragmented. But when I came to the Association I saw that there is a coherent plan, it’s very intuitive, it’s structured, and most of all putting this plan to work actually helps Associates succeed.

The Cheeky Scientist Association modules were awesome. Especially Modules 1 through 3, where it’s slow and the onus is on us to do the homework. They teach you that no one’s going to do it for you, no one owes you anything. They help you figure out what you want to do. And the group was amazing. Just a great group that helps each other out.

A major thing I learned is that I was not so aware how important networking is. I was doing searches for jobs that fit my profile, then filling out the applications online, uploading my CVs, then waiting and usually not getting answers back. How I found this job now was through targeted networking. I met the CEO a year ago and I nurtured the relationship, and when the time was ripe I was invited for an interview with the CEO and the managing director, already having worked on the relationship in my networking.

It was hard to think of leaving 15 years of hard work and getting into something new. I was browsing and applying online and trying to figure out how to do the job search and I found the Cheeky Scientist Association. I was looking for a community that could provide some guidance, because it’s very hard. I had never looked for a job before, I was recruited immediately after graduation, everything was going smoothly, so it was the first time in my life that I actually had to write a CV or do a cover letter.

The Association really helped me in figuring out who I am. The material just really clicked for me and made sense. Being able to just talk to somebody was great. The Cheeky Scientist Association is really interactive, the people really do care about you.

CSA helped me realize all the transferable skills I had, like writing, mentoring, leadership, and administration. Until it was presented to me in the Association, I didn’t realize what skillsets I had that maybe other people didn’t have. That was huge.

Before joining Cheeky Scientist I didn’t know how I was going to do this. Where do I even begin? So I saw Cheeky Scientist on Facebook and on LinkedIn and I thought, maybe I should give it a shot. It was a leap of faith but I did it anyway, and I’m so grateful I did.

For me the Association was helpful because I was able to see all the different paths available, other than just working in the lab. The private group was great because of all the information there, as well as the support from all the other people facing the same challenges you are.

All the advice from Cheeky Scientist was very very useful. I would get advice that I would never get from anyone else. Nobody was answering my emails and calls and only after joining Cheeky Scientist programs, it was almost like a miracle, something changed all that. I followed all the Cheeky Scientist advice and it worked out.

I’ve gone to so many great meetups where I’ve gotten great pieces of advice that I’ve been able to implement, they’ve introduced me to people who have been crucial in keeping me motivated and focused during my job search. It’s really encouraging, when it’s a difficult time in your career and you’re not sure how to move forward, to have all these people cheering you on.

There were a lot of layers I need it to really work through, the structure of the program addresses those things. You’re really not alone, there was a lot of support in the network.
There was a ridiculously amount of content that’s just so rich, it’s been an enriching experienced honestly. I learned a lot and I know I still have a lot to learn but I’m doing well.

First of all, the resume template that we get from Cheeky Scientist is absolutely amazing. The moment I did that change, I started getting results. I started getting calls from interviewers. Every third or fourth day, I had an interview.

The biggest part was letting go of my publications and presentations. CSA taught me I could turn them into numbers for industry to understand, and that was powerful.

I was very stuck in academia. My mental health was at its lowest point – I had a hopeless mindset. CSA gave me hope that there was more outside of academia. The Association provided a great road map to career success.

I faced constant rejection – inundated with misinformation about my job search. I thought I was supposed to HIDE my PhD on my resume… Cheeky Scientist was exactly what I needed to turn my career around. Now, I work for one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world.