Interviewing

Your value as a PhD stands on its own, and all you want is a chance to prove it by getting in front of the right person. The reality is that you can take the perfect, handcrafted resume to follow up on your diligent networking and personal job referral, and finally land your industry interview with a job you really want… and still blow it. It won’t matter how impressive you look on paper if you show up to your interview dressed inappropriately and looking unprofessional. The impression you give hiring managers when you walk through that door determines how…

We all know the power of first impressions. Everyone has had an experience where a strong first impression was a make it or break it moment. In a competitive industry job market, your resume is your first impression on hiring managers and recruiters, and it holds the power to lead you to success or destroy you in your job search. You need a tailored resume for every job you apply to. You need to perfect it so it creates an unforgettable first impression that makes managers and recruiters want to invite you to an interview and meet you in person.…

In the middle of your industry interview, you may be asked to disclose your current salary. Not only is it an uncomfortable question, it’s an inappropriate one — and if you answer, you may reduce your value and your salary offer before you even get a chance to negotiate for what you deserve. The bottom line is, you don’t have to, and shouldn’t, disclose your current salary. Doing so will only work against you. Managing the question should revolve around focusing on the value you can provide the company. This will increase your odds of a fair salary negotiation for…

Non-STEM PhDs have highly sought after transferable skills for industry jobs that many are not aware of. It is important to recognize and develop the skills you have gained during your PhD and highlight them in your industry job search. Set yourself apart from other job candidates by demonstrating these five transferable skills and you will become even more valuable to recruiters and hiring managers.

Industry jobs are ripe with opportunity. Whether you move into an industry job with a small company or a large one, there are pros and cons to each one that you need to be aware of before you interview. Both have unique opportunities and a corporate culture that might suit one PhD but not another. Whether you want more focused work or like to wear many hats, the private sector has a job for everyone. Here are five important differences between small and large industry companies.

Interviewing is the most crucial and time-consuming aspect of the hiring process. You have proven your skills on paper and now your interview preparation is about doing your homework to be able to give the best answers for the hiring team’s questions. The final missing piece that many PhDs miss is coming prepared with their own questions to ask back. The market and your expertise allow you to be selective and assess if this is the best job for you, given your future career aspirations. Go to your next industry interview armed with these 6 questions to land the perfect…

An effective job search strategy has core fundamentals that set apart the best candidates. Learning how to build relationships and communicate effectively with recruiters to build career-long partnerships will give you an advantage in your industry job search. Knowing how to present yourself, your transferable skills, and your career goals to recruiters while avoiding these 5 mistakes will help you get the job you want that much faster.

PhDs leaving academia often find their first industry interview unnerving. It’s nothing like a postdoc interview. Your resume and published work might have advanced your career in the past, but these items alone will not be enough to get you hired into industry. Top industry recruiters have a predetermined set of guidelines for how PhDs should approach industry interviews. By following these interview preparation tips, you will increase your chances of getting hired into the position of your choice. Here are 7 non-academic interview tips according to top industry recruiters.

Interviewing for a job you’re really interested in is nerve-wracking. One wrong answer and you can completely fail the interview. The only way to set yourself up for success is by being well-prepared with answers to all the types of questions you will be asked during an industry interview. Being prepared with answers to these questions will not only help you diffuse pre-interview nerves, but also set you apart from every other PhD job candidate.

Having a job search strategy is the only way a Life Science PhD will be successful in landing a top industry position. Without a strategy, their experience in academia merely translates to an entry-level job working for someone with half their qualifications. Getting a top job in industry means investing in an organized, consistent approach to prove you are worthy of the industry job you deserve. Here are 5 strategies that will help you transition into a top Life Science position in industry.

Getting an industry interview isn’t easy. When you’re offered an interview, it means you’ve put your resume into the hands of a decision-maker through a referral or through other means. Now, it’s all on you to prove that you’re more than just your achievements on paper. It’s all on you to prove you’re the right person for the job and the right fit for the team. This means performing well during an industry interview and avoiding the 5 biggest industry interview mistakes. Here’s how.

Being invited to a site visit means you only have one or two other job candidates in between you and getting a job offer. During your site visit, you must convey your valid interest for the position. The only way to do this is to prepare the right questions to ask before, during, and after your interview. Asking the right questions impresses hiring managers and also helps you assess your fit for the position and company. Here’s how.