Industry Transition Spotlight: Hayley Maynard, PhD
What is your name and job title?
Dr. Hayley Maynard, product support manager
If you could go back in time, to before you received your job offer, and give yourself one piece of advice or encouragement, what would it be?
It took me so long to find a job in industry that I started to doubt myself. I would love to go back and tell myself “It’s not you — you’re awesome. Keep it up. The right opportunity is out there. You just have to keep looking.” I’m so glad I didn’t cave and take a low-ball offer (I was offered a number of roles at salaries less than a third of what I make now). People told me to just take them. But, I’m so glad I didn’t. So glad.
What is the most memorable moment for you (so far) as a Cheeky Scientist Associate?
I’m not sure I have just one moment. I have people who MADE many moments — Laura Anderson and Cathy Sorbara. Seriously, though, those two.
How can the Association and the Association’s members help you continue to achieve your career goals?
CSA is the best. It is such a supportive network. I honestly wouldn’t be in my current role without them! The network alone is huge. But also, having a forum where I can ask any questions and get objective advice is priceless! Laura and Cathy worked with me on EVERYTHING. Literally, they edited my LinkedIn messages and coached me on what to say. They gave me feedback and advice on when to reply to emails and what to answer in interviews.
Now that you’ve spent some time working in industry, what is the biggest takeaway(s) you’d like to share with those who are still executing their job search?
Academia is filled with exceptionally bright, driven individuals. In my personal experience, this has not been the case for industry. As PhDs, we can thrive in industry, because we are intelligent, capable, assiduous, and adaptable. We enjoy challenges and are constantly seeking to better ourselves. We are one of a million in academia, but in industry, we are one in a million. I would hire a PhD any day.
To learn more about how you can transition into an industry career like Hayley, including instant access to our exclusive training videos, case studies, industry insider documents, transition plan, and private online network, get on the wait list for the Cheeky Scientist Association.
