PhD Transition Report Podcast

Join Isaiah, Christopher, And Regina As They Discuss The Job Search Strategies For Interdisciplinary PhDs. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews a panel of interdisciplinary PhDs who successfully transitioned to diverse industry careersNext, the expert panel discusses the special skill set that interdisciplinary PhDs possess and gives them an added advantage in industry positions Finally, Isaiah, Christopher, and Regina explore the different career tracks available to interdisciplinary PhDs.  From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs Interdisciplinary PhDs form this umbrella term which is relatively new. Depending on your department, university, or country your PhDs may be classified as social sciences in one location and humanities in another. They often consider themselves second-class citizens when it comes to job search. But in reality, they have a special skill set that gives them an advantage over other PhDs in certain positions as User Experience Researcher.  I am an anthropologist by training but have actually worked at the intersections of social finance and the humanities. I also have a certificate in gender and race studies, and was initially trained by the humanities land team, to be a social scientist. Interdisciplinary PhD is borderless to a large extent as…

Join Isaiah and Alex Woychek as they reveal how to get hired as an Application Scientist or Application Specialist Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah and Alex discuss what the Application Scientist role entails Next, they enlist why this role is growing in popularity in industryFinally, Isaiah and Alex give an overview of how the Application Scientist/Specialist role is different from R&D and sales rep roles and the 5 things you need to get hired for this role From This Week’s Show… Why PhDs Make For Great Application Scientists/Specialists This is one of the most popular positions PhDs are getting into; industry demand for this position is peaking, especially in November and December. This is a No. 1 non-bench position PhDs are hired into, yet most PhDs do not understand it or consider it until someone contacts them about this role. It is one of the fastest ways to get hired from any branch of science. It is the position we recommend you to get into, if you are skeptical about the right position for you, as it is also the easiest position to leave. It is a known transitory position by industry professionals, so even when…

Join Isaiah as he reveals what to expect from the PhD job market in 2021 Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah discusses the reasons behind the trend of year’s end hiring surge  Next, he goes on to enlist what PhDs should do to get hired before the year’s endFinally, Isaiah gives an overview of  the top careers of 2020, the PhD profile that fits these, and the 7 goals every PhD should attain From This Week’s Show… The Year’s End Hiring Surge Already Started We are seeing the largest hiring boom of the entire year. Although the year 2020 has been uncertain, we have been able to stay ahead by watching financial markets, the hiring and spending freezes in academia, and hiring patterns within Global 500 partners.  During the beginning of the year, companies want to focus on staff training, virtual recapping the previous year, financial forecasting, and laying out the plan for the upcoming year: not an ideal time to be hired.  We are going to walk you through a couple of months. What you can do to make sure that you are in the best position to take advantage of all the extra budgets the…

Get Hired By Passing The Data Scientist Interview Exams  Join Isaiah and Kasey Hemington as they discuss the Data Scientist hiring process for PhDs. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews a panel of PhDs who successfully transitioned into Data Scientist careers. Next, the expert panel discusses what it takes to transition from a PhD to a Data Scientist.Finally, Isaiah and Casey explore the intricacies of the data scientist job hiring process, such as building  an impactful portfolio and the seven keys to get hired. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow DSS Associates While dealing with big data, I suddenly found myself intrigued with its importance, which made me rethink my original objective of pursuing a PhD. This rendezvous inspired me to explore and teach myself the technical skills needed for the data science position.  Coming from a background in bioinformatics, I needed to find a position in industry where I could use my skillset. After a lot of soul searching and, following the CSA advice of trying to find my desired lifestyle. I zeroed in on the data scientists arena and then started gunning for it.  I faced initial challenges, especially because I felt I…

Medical Writing is a career safety net for PhDs wanting to transition into industry. Join Isaiah and Evguenia Alechine as they discuss medical and scientific writing careers for PhDs. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews PhDs from different backgrounds who successfully transitioned into medical writing careers. Next, Isaiah and Evguenia discuss why medical writing is a great career for PhDs no matter their background.Finally, Isaiah and Evguenia explore the PhD-level different positions that make part of the medical writing umbrella. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs At first, Medical writing did not jump out as a career trajectory that I would find myself on. After joining Cheeky Scientist’s Medical Writing Organization, I realized that this field would fit my lifestyle and take me to that place where I could actually play a role in changing how people viewed a particular medicine, area of therapy, and give knowledge to patients or healthcare practitioners, among others. One thing that may be surprising for a lot of us is how in-demand medical writing is and what the umbrella term means. Not only do you not need clinical experience. “Medical Writing” is how high-level technical writing is referred…

The unique job search process of international PhDs  Join Isaiah and Brian Getson, JD while they discuss the newest U.S. immigration laws & guidelines. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews international PhDs who have successfully navigated the visa processNext, Isaiah and Brian discuss the immigration landscape during a pandemicFinally, Isaiah and Brian look at how best to handle the process and what to expect From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs During the final days of my PhD, I was applying for jobs and a lot of recruiters did contact me about open positions, but they wanted someone who could start immediately. And I still had to wait for OPD. You just have to let them know that you have a specific date when you can start working, so they can keep it in mind and get back to you after that. You definitely have to follow up with the recruiters. Particularly in my position with my company, I got lucky because they are willing to sponsor me. They do understand the problems of international students.  The way I got this job was through networking. As it is the Cheeky Scientist mantra, you have…

MSL Careers Require A Different Set of Skills Join Isaiah, Elizabeth Thatcher, and Yuri Klyachkin as they discuss an MSL job search blueprint that includes designing a resume and crafting your interview presentation. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews PhDs who have successfully transitioned into MSL positions.Next, Isaiah, Elizabeth, and Yuri discuss the soft skills needed to be an MSL.Finally, Isaiah, Elizabeth, and Yuri review the presentation standards set forth for MSLs. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs [We are talking to] successful professionals in the MSL career path, they’ve made the transition into industry, and there’s plenty of positions out there for PhDs, you’re just invisible to employers. The MSLA group has been really valuable in terms of that network, understanding what the MSL position is, and helping me with the interview. Knowing how to present is key. That’s the number one point that you need to kill in your interview process because the presentation is just absolutely crucial.  The MSL career is slightly different and understanding those different aspects is very important. However, you can get into this role as a PhD, no matter what background you have. You need to…

PhDs Should Negotiate Their Salary To Get Paid What They Are Worth And Be Respected By Industry Professionals Join Isaiah And Don Asher As They Discuss The Negotiation Plan You Should Follow When Transitioning Out Of Academia Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews PhDs who have successfully used Don’s strategies for salary negotiation.Next, Isaiah and Don discuss why it is so important for PhDs to negotiate their industry salary, no matter the industry or position.Finally, Isaiah and Don go over some negotiation scripts you can use to show you are a professional deal maker. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs What would you say are some of the most helpful strategies you’ve learned from Don? If you could look back to the gaps you had in your knowledge in terms of negotiation in every aspect of business, every aspect of your job search, and then how has Don helped you close those gaps? To me, it was never seeing yourself at a cap. Never think “I’m only worth 90” or “I’m only worth 70.” The sky’s the limit. You should see yourself as a resource that has no limit, you keep your value…

No Need To Wait Years For That Management Position. Join Isaiah and Ramya Raman as they discuss 10 Business Skills to put on your resume. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews PhDs who have successfully transitioned into management and business positions.Next, Isaiah and Ramya discuss why it is so important for PhDs to showcase their business skills when looking for an industry position.Finally, Ramya and Isaiah Share some business skills that PhDs should leverage in their job search. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow PhDs Today we are talking about career transitions and how to skip the entry level positions by highlighting business skills on your resume. You need to learn the business language. They don’t care what you’re doing for science. They want science for their product. So, that was a huge aspect that I had to learn going into my current position. Understanding how to translate technical data to business data is crucial. It’s scary for some people because as scientists, we’re trained to look at business people as they just care about money and that’s not true. They care, but we have to guide them a little bit to care about…

Looking to sharpen your business acumen and/or transition into a management consulting career as a PhD? In this episode of the Cheeky Scientist podcast, Isaiah interviews James Wadsworth. He will give you the industry insight you need to transition into a management consulting career. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, hear from PhDs who recently transitioned into management consulting careers Next, Isaiah and James will discuss what is a management consultant Finally, Isaiah and James share exclusive insights on interviewing for management conslutant roles.  From This Week’s Show… Why PhDs Should Choose Management Consulting Roles They generally ask you for your point of view POV and you have to be very fast and sharp. It is normally very time sensitive. It’s very critical for you to answer the moment. We’re really good at reading books and comprehension. It is a strength of all PhDs, or you wouldn’t have got your PhD or come this far. But behaviorally being able to competently make a recommendation on your feet or confidently talk through a problem when there’s pressure is a different story. So go from that data to what does this mean and what does this mean in the context of…

Project Management roles are estimated to increase 33% by 2027. Join Isaiah and Orly Levitan as they discuss 9 recession proof project management skills and tools. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah discusses what is project management and why PhDs are perfect for this career.  Then, Isaiah and Orly talk about the skills you need to get a project management position.Finally, Isaiah and Orly share the top tools project managers are using today. From This Week’s Show… What is Project Management? Today we are talking about the nine recession proof, project management skills and tools to save your PhD career with a senior industry project manager, Orly Levitan.  And then there is a really big aspect that we don’t encounter so much in academia is managing people. Being able to manage a project in academia does not necessarily mean you can manage a project in industry. This [project management]  is a great transition point. Not just because you can get into any career path after being a project manager, it’s literally the one role that requires the skills required for every other role in industry.  It’s also in very high demand; 33% worldwide increase in project …

Research and Development encompasses a lot more careers than you may think.  Join Isaiah and Elliot as they discuss 11 research scientist & project management roles PhDs can get into within the R&D umbrella. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews a few PhDs who’ve successfully transitioned into R&D careers. Next, Isaiah and Elliot dive into the many career paths that PhDs can follow in the R&D field. Finally, Isaiah and Elliot discuss the major project management roles. From This Week’s Show… Advice From Fellow R&D Associates Today, we are going to talk about 11 research scientists and project management careers for PhDs. Research and Development is a rapidly growing market. It was predicted to grow at 8.7% after the pandemic. It’s predicted to grow at 21% or beyond, depending on the metrics you look at. The first thing I had to just overcome was that I was capable and able to get an industry position. Then I took the next step and started learning how to speak the language. You might be invisible to employers, but you’re very valuable. Focus on the broader transferable skills, your ability to do research and analysis. I have always had…

Data Scientist is a surging career track for PhDs, even during the recession, but you have to be able to navigate the unique hiring process in order to transition into this field. To get the inside information on the data scientist hiring process, join Isaiah as he interviews Shobeir Mazinani, PhD. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah interviews a few PhDs who’ve successfully transitioned into data scientist roles. Next, gain vital advice on what it takes to become a data scientist.Finally, Isaiah and Shobeir walk you through the data scientist hiring process. From This Week’s Show… Advice From A Data Scientist I’m very excited about today’s show. We’re going to bring on a panel of data scientists to talk about this exciting career track. You can get hired into a data scientist role and learn on the job. So one of the biggest things I did was I chased the technology at the beginning. The biggest help came from one comment. She basically told me don’t follow the technology, follow the principles.  I would say, talk to people who are more experienced because they have made a lot of mistakes that you don’t need to do and…

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah shares with you the 9 interview questions that PhDs transitioning today are being asked. Next, Isaiah discusses Jeff Haden’s article ‘6 Interview Questions to Start Asking Every Remote Work Job Candidate (Covid Edition)’Finally, Isaiah offers some inspiration and hope to those struggling in the job market right now. From This Week’s Show… The 9 Interview Questions PhDs are being asked We’re talking about interview questions that PhDs are hearing right now. These questions have changed quite dramatically since six months ago.  Employers want to know that you’re open to either working remotely or onsite or in any fashion that might come up in the future. They want to know that no matter how the working environment changes, no matter what new regulations occur, that you are willing to do that. They want to know how you manage your productivity.  Tell me about a time you’ve been lonely on the job? I think as PhDs, certainly we can handle working alone autonomously, but there are those times when you need some sort of interaction. Is there some work life balance that you could discuss to show them that you aren’t going to…

If you’re a PhD who loves writing, working from home, and earning a high salary, maybe you should consider medical writer as a career path. Still not convinced this is the career for you? Join Isaiah as he interviews Alejandra Viviescas, PhD about her journey to Medical Writing. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Alejandra shares her story and how she transitioned into medical writing. Next, Alejandra and Isaiah discuss a day in the life of a medical writer. Finally, Isaiah and Alejandra consider why PhDs are paid so much to work at home as medical writers. From This Week’s Show… What is Medical Writing? Today, we’re focused on how to get into a medical writing career, which is an umbrella term for many different job types. And I’m very excited to have with us Alejandra Viviescas, PhD, who is a medical writer. So I would say anything that has some relationship with communication and science as is going to fall into this medical writing term. It’s a position that can serve as a safety net for almost every PhD. I started to search for other opportunities. I had to contribute some way to the world and just find…

There is an overwhelming amount of information on the internet, and sometimes you just don’t have the time to read our weekly Best of Transition article.   Not to worry, this week Isaiah brings to you the best industry transition advice on the web; a digest of  Best Of Transition: PhD Jobs & Job Search Strategies, August 1, 2020. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah introduces this special podcastNext, Isaiah reveals last weeks top industry transition advice from the web as picked by team CheekyFinally, Isaiah discusses some of last week’s best transition articles from the web From This Week’s Show… The Top Overall Industry Article In today’s show, we’re doing something special. We are doing a digest of the best information that’s out on the web about how to transition into industry. This is specific information that’s relevant to PhDs. If this is all brand new to you, if you go to our website, cheeky scientist.com, and you look under the resources page, this is where you can find our best of transition articles, which include these categories: networking, CVs and resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. The top article overall…

Job searching is an infuriating full time job and can be very stressful. However, following Isaiah’s 42 job searching steps can streamline this process making it more enjoyable. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah discusses how to choose the right career track for youNext, Isaiah reveals key concepts in the intricacy of applying for jobsFinally, Isaiah walks you through universal techniques to master for a successful job hire – from phone screen to closing the deal. From This Week’s Show… Prioritizing Your Job Search  We have a very special show for you today, understanding your job search from A to Z.  The United Nations had just put out a new article or a new release with the numbers of job losses that occurred in the second quarter of 2020; 400 million is the amount. If you’re a PhD, like most PhDs, you have not been surrounded by people that are working in industry careers or in nonacademic careers in general.  You’re in the academic bubble, or you spent a large part of your life there. And no matter what you’ve read online, you are more influenced by the people that you’ve been around.  It’s about the…

What is the difference between an academic scientist and an industry scientist?  Find out in this week’s podcast where Isaiah interviews former senior scientist at Genentech, Elliott Brecht, Ph.D. Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… Join Isaiah as he conducts an informational interview with a fellow Cheeky: Elliott Brecht, PhD.Elliot discusses the role of a scientist in industry research and how it differs from academia.Elliot shares his challenges in transitioning into industry and how to overcome them. From This Week’s Show… Research In Academia Vs. Research In Industry I’m very excited for today’s show because we have a former senior scientist at Genentech. So for those of you who are considering being a research scientist or a researcher in industry, and you’re wondering what the differences are between doing research in academia and in industry, he is the perfect person to talk to.  When I started applying and started interviewing and started actually touring different industry sites and going to them, I realized that they were conducting way more research in industry than I was in academia. You’re basically starting to take on more of that PI role and you are then in charge of usually multiple different…

Do you love communicating, networking, traveling, and what to stay on the technical side of research but out of the lab?  Then Join Isaiah as he interviews fellow Cheeky Scientist: Alex Woychek, PhD, MPH. You might just discover the perfect role for you! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… Join Isaiah as he conducts an informational interview with a fellow Cheeky: Alex Woychek, PhD, MPH..Together they will discuss what an application scientist is and what they do. Finally, Isaiah and Alex will dive into what personalities are perfect for this role, and the ideal qualifications needed to secure a job as an application scientist. From This Week’s Show… The Day In the Life Of An Application Scientist Today we are going to be learning about the application scientist position sometimes called a field application scientist or field application specialist. We are very lucky to have Alex Woychek, PhD, MPH. She is an application scientist currently at Chemo Medic. Very broadly you as an FAS or even as an application scientist, you are the interface between your customers and the company. There are so many different facets, you’re working closely with the sales team, but you also are going to…

Wouldn’t it be great to control every aspect of the job search, to have complete certainty in your career path? The truth is we can’t control everything no matter how hard we try. Join Isaiah as he shares with you 7 things you can’t control in your job search and gives you 9 aspects you can to focus your job search efforts.  Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode… First, Isaiah shares two stories on how mindset can drastically change the outcome of your career.Next, Isaiah discusses 7 things you don’t have power over in your job search and you need to stop obsessing over.Finally, Isaiah gives you 9 areas you can control and should focus your energies on for a better job search. From This Week’s Show… Why Are You Obsessing Over Something You Can’t Control? Today, we’re talking about what you can and can’t control in your job search.  What you’ve learned to do is research, no matter your domain, whether you’re STEM or non STEM, whatever your background is. This is what analysis is all about. And those are those two key transferable skills you have as a PhD that make you so valuable in industry…