It started as an inquiry with a company that immediately drew my attention. And it turned into a job interview after sending them my resume. This will be my second interview outside of science, and it feels totally awkward and exciting at the same time.
After the first interview I was told in not too unclear terms that I was too old since I was going on 40. The suggestion being that 'old' people don't learn new things very well. I almost laughed out loud and asked the HR person what she thought I did on a daily basis. Guess what: I learn new things EVERY day. It's what I love about my job!
I hope this second interview will go down better. It is an acoustics company, and the job comes with excellent development opportunities. Their website is promising too. Fingers crossed!
Ivory Tower
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
The fast life
In academia it is perfectly normal for the job advertisement and application process to take many months, in some cases up to a year. There are also clear periods in the year when jobs are advertised, so you know when and where to look.
No such thing in business. No way. Job ads are open for 2-3 weeks. Interviews are scheduled the week after the closing date and candidates are made an offer within a week (2 at most) after that. This is the fast life! It still takes me by surprise every time I see an interesting job.
Logistical issues are also plenty. A really nice job is advertised, but the interviews are scheduled in the week when I have a conference. To make matters worse, the conference is in South Africa. Sounds far fetched? Nope, already happened.
Coming back from a 3-week trip with poor internet connectivity a really nice job pops up. Trying to apply it turns out the due date was a week before. Missed it.
I need to clone myself... Or at least think up a way to get the ads into my field of view before they expire.
No such thing in business. No way. Job ads are open for 2-3 weeks. Interviews are scheduled the week after the closing date and candidates are made an offer within a week (2 at most) after that. This is the fast life! It still takes me by surprise every time I see an interesting job.
Logistical issues are also plenty. A really nice job is advertised, but the interviews are scheduled in the week when I have a conference. To make matters worse, the conference is in South Africa. Sounds far fetched? Nope, already happened.
Coming back from a 3-week trip with poor internet connectivity a really nice job pops up. Trying to apply it turns out the due date was a week before. Missed it.
I need to clone myself... Or at least think up a way to get the ads into my field of view before they expire.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Resume rewriting
One of the hardest things I've done in a long time: today I was rewriting my scientific resume into something that makes sense for people not familiar with astronomy. That was TOUGH!!
First of all, cutting out my publication list hurt! Though totally insufficient for a science job, this is the most direct reflection of my work over the last 15 years. And I just had to ditch it. Ouch.
Then I had to get rid of all the jargon. Interferometry is really not an every day term in business. Neither are commissioning and verification. And I doubt there is anyone outside of astronomy who has heard of a project scientist in the way we use it.
Having taken these two steps, my resume was still a whopping 4 pages. Way too long according to the leading information: 2 pages. Max! So I took it down to the core and beyond.
Last but not least, there was the major step of considering my skills. What are the skills I have obtained from my scientific work? Surely I did learn *something*. When I talk to people, there always seems a lot of common grounds between our jobs, but how do I convey that in my resume?
I followed advice given in 'The Human Workplace' blogs. Instead of thinking about skills and making a dry list, I thought of major things I have achieved over the last years, and made a small story around them. What did I do, why did it matter, and what did I learn from it? That really helped me to focus. In the process I also decided to include a set of five keywords that describe me, as a teaser right at the start of my resume.
The result is a resume of just under 2 pages, and I feel it captures most of what a do and my potential. I'll be sending it out to some people for feedback, as I'm sure there is still room for improvement. First real test has also taken place: it has been send to a company with a potential job opening. They didn't come back with a resolute "NO" after reading my not-yet-updated LinkedIn profile, so there's hope.
First of all, cutting out my publication list hurt! Though totally insufficient for a science job, this is the most direct reflection of my work over the last 15 years. And I just had to ditch it. Ouch.
Then I had to get rid of all the jargon. Interferometry is really not an every day term in business. Neither are commissioning and verification. And I doubt there is anyone outside of astronomy who has heard of a project scientist in the way we use it.
Having taken these two steps, my resume was still a whopping 4 pages. Way too long according to the leading information: 2 pages. Max! So I took it down to the core and beyond.
Last but not least, there was the major step of considering my skills. What are the skills I have obtained from my scientific work? Surely I did learn *something*. When I talk to people, there always seems a lot of common grounds between our jobs, but how do I convey that in my resume?
I followed advice given in 'The Human Workplace' blogs. Instead of thinking about skills and making a dry list, I thought of major things I have achieved over the last years, and made a small story around them. What did I do, why did it matter, and what did I learn from it? That really helped me to focus. In the process I also decided to include a set of five keywords that describe me, as a teaser right at the start of my resume.
The result is a resume of just under 2 pages, and I feel it captures most of what a do and my potential. I'll be sending it out to some people for feedback, as I'm sure there is still room for improvement. First real test has also taken place: it has been send to a company with a potential job opening. They didn't come back with a resolute "NO" after reading my not-yet-updated LinkedIn profile, so there's hope.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Don't be shy
Since I decided in the beginning of this week to actively start looking for jobs, I have been talking to a lot of people about it. Really. A. Lot! It is amazing how much you can learn by just asking someone if they have a suggestion.
HR managers for example are a treasure trove for finding out about small businesses and the lesser known methods to search for jobs. I've spoken to a few other people with huge networks in the region, and they volunteered their help at any stage, should I need it. Announcing my intent on Facebook and starting this blog has triggered very useful discussions, good advice and tons of heartwarming support.
Sometimes it's not even that difficult, and people will throw opportunity in your lap as soon as you mention you are looking for another job. To quote yesterday's interaction: "You use <insert programming language name here>? Please send me your CV!"
Right. One CV coming up.
HR managers for example are a treasure trove for finding out about small businesses and the lesser known methods to search for jobs. I've spoken to a few other people with huge networks in the region, and they volunteered their help at any stage, should I need it. Announcing my intent on Facebook and starting this blog has triggered very useful discussions, good advice and tons of heartwarming support.
Sometimes it's not even that difficult, and people will throw opportunity in your lap as soon as you mention you are looking for another job. To quote yesterday's interaction: "You use <insert programming language name here>? Please send me your CV!"
Right. One CV coming up.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Motivational speach
I guess I'll have to pin this to my wall, on my computer screen and next to my bed. I easily slip into trying to make things better in my old situation. It is time to focus on the future.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
The Big Step(TM)
Being a scientist is not just a job, it is a way of life. Changing that is so extremely profound, it can take people years to decide to move out. Some even continue to try to get science jobs long after academia has spit them out and kicked them while lying on the ground.
Science is addictive. First the sacrifices are small. Just one more proposal to finish before midnight, just one more paper to write during a holiday. You do it because you think you have to. Because this may be your one big break.
This evolves until you think it is perfectly acceptable that you missed your baby's first steps because you had a grant interview, or that you weren't at your grandparent's funeral because you had to present your work at the other end of the world.
Jobs are rare, so scientists will do anything to beat the competition. They will work for ridiculously low salaries. They will move away from their partner. They will even move away from their children. Temporary, yes, of course, until the one big break. The addiction is relentless.
I have stumbled along in a very non-standard science career for many years. My big break never came. Though science defines me to the core of my being, I have decided to start taking the Big Step and move towards an alternative career. I may even start my own business, that remains to be seen. Like any addict I am convinced I can never live without science, but I may well have to.
Science is addictive. First the sacrifices are small. Just one more proposal to finish before midnight, just one more paper to write during a holiday. You do it because you think you have to. Because this may be your one big break.
This evolves until you think it is perfectly acceptable that you missed your baby's first steps because you had a grant interview, or that you weren't at your grandparent's funeral because you had to present your work at the other end of the world.
Jobs are rare, so scientists will do anything to beat the competition. They will work for ridiculously low salaries. They will move away from their partner. They will even move away from their children. Temporary, yes, of course, until the one big break. The addiction is relentless.
I have stumbled along in a very non-standard science career for many years. My big break never came. Though science defines me to the core of my being, I have decided to start taking the Big Step and move towards an alternative career. I may even start my own business, that remains to be seen. Like any addict I am convinced I can never live without science, but I may well have to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)