Graduate Students
Finding the right fit after grad school
Exploring careers in academia
Exploring careers beyond academia
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
Finding the right fit after grad school
Sign up for an appointment with a career counselor
Assess yourself – your skills, values, interests, and more
- Formal assessments
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment is the best known and most widely used personality tool available today. Developed more than 50 years ago, the MBTI assists users in understanding individual differences and uncovering new ways to work and interact with others.
The Strong Interest Inventory® provides research-validated insights to help you in your search for a rich, fulfilling career. The Strong empowers users to discover their true interests so they can better identify, understand, and often expand their career options.
If you are interested in taking the Strong Interest Inventory, please contact Career Services to set up an individual appointment with a career counselor. If you are interested in taking the MBTI, please attend an upcoming MBTI program.
Picking a Postdoc: Read this PDF to understand how to select a postdoc based on the advisor, research group, institution, location and more.
Exploring careers in academia
Finding postdoctoral fellowships
- Approach/email faculty whose work interests you, introduce yourself, and inquire about available postdocs – this is still the most common way people find postdoctoral appointments!
- Search online listings of postdocs
- Finding a postdoc: View videocast from OITE presentation
Academic job search overview: Slides from OITE presentation; View videocast
Data and trends on academic careers in the biomedical sciences: Slides from OITE presentation
Understanding different types of faculty positions and the tenure process
Job search timeline for faculty positions
Finding faculty listings
- Science Careers
- Nature Jobs
- Cell Career Network
- Chronicle of Higher Education
- Academic360.com – includes job listings for all colleges in a given state
- Academic Careers Online
Preparing application materials
- Guide to Resumes & Curricula Vitae
- Guide to Cover Letters
- Job Search Documents for Professional Scientists (slides from a presentation on CVs and resumes)
- Videocast: Job Search Documents for Professional Scientists
- For sample CVs contact Sharon Milgram
- Writing letters of application for academic positions
- Teaching and research statements: Slides from OITE presentation; View videocast
Interviewing for academic positions
- Preparing for academic job interviews: Slides from OITE presentation; View videocast
- Interviewing handout
Negotiating faculty offers
Transitioning successfully from postdoc to faculty: Slides from OITE presentation; View videocast
Exploring careers beyond academia
Career options for scientists
- Sign up for an appointment with a career counselor
- Consider options for PhD-level scientists (Overview from Columbia University)
- Exploring jobs in industry: Slides from OITE presentation; View videocast
- Guide to Science and Medical Communication and an overview of graduate certificate programs in Science Writing & Communication
- Non-bench careers within the NIH: View videocast from FelCom presentation
- Jobs@NIH
- Conduct informational interviews
- Visit Career Center library (2nd floor, Building 2, NIH Bethesda campus)
Getting materials ready
- Guide to Resumes & Curricula Vitae - tips on how to convert your CV to a resume
- Guide to Cover Letters
- Job Search Documents for Professional Scientists (slides from a presentation on CVs and resumes)
- Videocast: Job Search Documents for Professional Scientists
- How to write a cover letter
Job search strategies
- Generate a list of networking contacts
- Networking! Networking! Networking! View videocast of OITE presentation
- Sign up for LinkedIn ; How to Use LinkedIn Effectively
- Join the NIH LinkedIn Group
- Find contacts locally
- Join professional associations in your current field (if known) or field of interest (using the Encyclopedia of Associations, available at your local library, or conducting an online search using area of interest and keyword "association" or "society")
- Attend career fairs
- Apply to jobs directly through websites of specific organizations
- Use job listing websites specific to your fields of interest (see Additional online resources, below)
Interviewing skills
- Preparing for an interview, sample interview questions
- Interviewing Blitz slides from the 2011 Career Symposium
- Schedule a mock interview with the Career Services
Professional development resources from the OITE
Writing professional e-mail
Webinars
- Keeping a Lab Notebook (View the Webinar; Download the slides and a written transcript)
- Attending Your First Scientific Meeting (View the Webinar; Download the slides and a written transcript)
