PhD Transition Report On-Demand

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah discusses why companies will try to get you to agree on a verbal salary offer and why doing so is never in your best interest
• Next, Isaiah reveals how you can avoid giving a number early in the interview process: by deflecting salary questions
• Finally, Isaiah gives some examples of how you can deflect salary questions until you get a written offer

Be aware that the company will try to negotiate salary with you before giving you a written offer. Any number you provide in this context will only hurt you; therefore, you should prepare to deflect these attempts.

You may have to deflect these attempts dozens of times with the same person. Yes, dozens. If you get too uncomfortable during this process to continue deflecting, you will not be paid what you’re worth. If you allow your brain to convince you that you did everything you could and agree verbally to an offer or a salary range, you will not be paid what you are worth.

Only discuss salary once the company has decided they want to hire you enough to make you an offer on paper. You only have leverage in a negotiation once you have such an offer on paper. No written offer, no leverage. No leverage, you lose.

You can only come to a win-win deal if you deflect their attempts to negotiate until they give you an offer on paper. I’m stressing this because most PhDs have no experience negotiating, and they get extremely uncomfortable the first time the employer pushes back by saying “We have a salary cap,” “No, we can’t negotiate,” “I need a number from you before we can proceed,” or something similar.

Don’t let those statements derail your efforts or make you tense. They’re just negotiating. The key to deflecting early negotiation attempts is to keep the discussion relaxed and conversational. If you find yourself getting uptight, take a step back mentally and remind yourself, Take it easy. This is fun.

Practice deflecting by answering a question with another question. Approach any question with curiosity and add more curiosity to it. You can lean into any ignorance or lack of experience you have when it comes to negotiating or working in industry. Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room.

For example, if you’re asked about your salary expectations, you can deflect with, “Oh wow, I haven’t thought much about this yet. I’m more concerned with learning about who I’ll be working with and what I’ll be doing. Any reasonable offer will be considered.”

Likely, the conversation won’t stop there, so don’t expect it to. The employer may come back with, “I appreciate that, but I really need a number to take to my boss.” 

Don’t freeze here or get tense. Instead, just say, “Ah, I see what you’re saying. Well, I defer to whatever you think is reasonable. What do you think I’m worth to the company based on what you know right now?”

Maybe they’ll back off, maybe they’ll give you a number, or maybe they’ll say, “Okay, but seriously, I need to know from you what a reasonable salary is.”

Here you could simply reply by asking, “Well, what’s possible?” Very often, after several attempts to get a number and several deflections, the conversation may move to salary ranges. The employer might say, “You’ll have to at least give me a range before we can move forward.”

Here, still, it’s important to remember to stay calm, be curious, play dumb, and keep things conversational. It also helps to add extra transparency by calling out what is going on by saying, “Of course. I just thought I’d ask if it would be possible for us to move forward without setting a range in stone now? I’m asking because I’ve heard that committing to a range now can be used to offer me a lower salary than I’m worth. Is this the case here?”

Hopefully you can see that most PhDs fail in such a discussion by not having the stomach to deflect the employer’s attempts multiple times. Deflecting requires staying calm and sitting in uncertainty and uncomfortableness, but it’s worth it. You are worth it.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Never Accept A Verbal Salary Offer appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah discusses the importance of salary negotiation in industry and some general rules that should convince you to always negotiate
• Next, Isaiah gives advice on the best way to negotiate and what you should consider throughout the interview process
• Finally, Isaiah illustrates the importance of having a walkaway number and why you should set your walkaway number early in the interview process

Failing to negotiate your salary offer is devastating to both your income and to your career. The good news is that industry employers expect you to negotiate.

In fact, if you don’t negotiate, your employer might second-guess your value in industry. They might start to see you as unqualified, desperate, and easy to replace. They might also think less of your character and credibility, and you will have to work harder to prove yourself after getting hired—if you get hired—than someone who negotiates.

All of this is because making deals is a key transferable skill in industry. Those at the top of any company have mastered this skill better than those below them. On a long enough timeline, the only two skills that will matter in terms of being promoted in industry are networking and making deals. These points should empower you to follow the first rule of negotiation: do it.

That said, there are right and wrong approaches to salary negotiation, and each stage of the hiring process requires a different approach; therefore, you should learn to negotiate well before you receive your first job offer.

Most PhDs erroneously believe that negotiation only comes into play when the company extends a formal job offer. While it’s true that you should never bring up salary and concrete numbers until you’ve received a written offer, you should know that the entire hiring process involves negotiation.

In every interaction with the company, you should be building the case for why you are the best person for their open position. By doing so, you increase your perceived value and build leverage for later salary discussions.

The most potent lever you have at your disposal during a negotiation—if you set it—is your walkaway number. Recently, my team was hiring a Transition Support Specialist, and because the candidate didn’t have any experience, we offered her a salary at the lower end of the range for this position. To everyone’s surprise, the candidate immediately thanked us and rejected the offer. She was kind, polite, professional—and bold. The candidate knew her worth. 

The first question we found ourselves asking was, Why? What does this person know about their value that we don’t? The second question we asked was, How can we turn this around? We even asked, How can we win this person back? Her bold move, commitment to self, and strength of character—perceived or otherwise—inspired us. By shutting down our low offer, she made us want to hire her more. This is the power of having a walkaway number.

Before interviewing—no, before even applying to a position at a company—decide on a walkaway number and commit to it in advance. Otherwise you will talk yourself into accepting less than you should.

If you don’t set a walkaway number, you will make concessions. You will get emotional and be influenced by the relationships you’ve started to build with the company during the hiring process, or the time you’ve invested in that company, or your overall job search, or even how much you like the company’s facilities and other minor benefits.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Always Negotiate And Always Have A Walkaway Number appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah discusses what you should consider and the questions you should ask if a hiring manager asks you to do an interview presentation
• Next, Isaiah explains the importance of knowing the main message of your presentation and the best way to convey that to your audience
• Finally, Isaiah highlights why you should keep your audience in mind at every step of your presentation

When it comes to creating effective industry presentations, you must consider what your audience wants to see. In this case, your audience is the company. Most often, the hiring manager you’re in contact with will give you a short “brief” to help you prepare for the presentation.

The most common brief is simply: “Talk about yourself, your interests, and your work in ten minutes.” Other common industry interview briefs include: “Discuss your work on XYZ and how it relates to our business model” or “Review a paper/clinical trial report and summarize the findings the way you would for one of our clients/partners.”

If you are asked to give an interview presentation, make sure you ask:

• How much time will I have for my presentation?
• Who will be sitting in on my presentation?
• Is there anything specific that my presentation should cover?

These questions will not only help you prepare for the presentation but they will also show initiative, which is a very positive transferable skill employers look for at the end of the interview process.

Effectively communicating, during an interview presentation or otherwise, comes down to only two root considerations: your purpose and your audience.

When it comes to communicating your purpose, ask yourself, What goal do I want my presentation to accomplish? What is the main message I want to convey?

Your purpose should direct every decision you make about your presentation. It should guide what information you include in your slides, in what order you present your slides, and even how you speak.

Despite its importance, many PhDs fail to set a purpose for presentations, and the consequences of this are painfully obvious. The result is typically a presentation that explores topics and ideas without offering anything concrete to act on.

This is a cardinal sin for any industry role or company. The mantra of industry is “innovate or die.” Ideas, conclusions, and the like must be actionable. 

Remember, if you don’t know what message you’re trying to get across as a presenter, your audience won’t either, and your presentation will fail.

Even the most well prepared presentation will lack impact if it doesn’t resonate with the audience. Unfortunately, many PhDs focus only on what works for them when planning their presentation rather than what is best for their audience. You should account for your audience in every decision you make about your presentation plan, from what time you present to what order you present your slides in.

For example, you don’t want to present right before lunch, even if the timing would be most convenient for you. Your audience will likely be hungry and unable to focus. You also don’t want to cram tons of information into your slides—even if it helps you avoid skipping important details—because it will overwhelm your audience.

Instead, make sure every slide makes just one point, includes a single image, and contains as little text as possible. In this way, you will eliminate distractions and add clarity to your presentation. 

Gather and consider all the information you have about your audience ahead of time. How many people will be in the audience? Do audience members have a technical or business background? Are audience members mostly Millennials, Zoomers, or Baby Boomers? What is the nationality of your audience? This information will help you decide what data, stories, and speaking styles will most likely connect with your audience.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Two Critical Factors To Consider For An Interview Presentation appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah discusses why you should always take the opportunity to ask questions during a job interview
• Next, Isaiah details the types of questions you should ask
• Finally, Isaiah gives a list of questions to ask interviewers

The quality of your candidacy for a position in industry is most clearly reflected in the quality of the questions you ask those interviewing you.

You must seize the opportunity in every interview to turn the tables on the interviewer. You must become the interviewer yourself by asking questions that engage the other person and showcase your professionalism, business acumen, and overall understanding of the role, the company, and industry itself.

Asking questions shows you’ve thought about and are committed to the position at hand. Asking questions also allows you to find out whether the position and company are truly a good fit for you.

The key here is to ask questions that the interviewer can answer—and wants to answer. As with your informational interviews, play the role of the curious and positive journalist.

Don’t interrogate the interviewer. Don’t ask heavy-handed, rationale-based questions (e.g., “why” questions, such as “Why is the company doing this?”), technical questions, behavioral questions, or any question that may require the interviewer to reveal something proprietary.

Instead, ask simple, straightforward “how” questions, “what” questions, and questions about the company’s culture. The company’s responses to these questions will paint a picture of what working for the company would look like for you to make it easier to decide if you would thrive there.

As you’ll see, the questions themselves show that you have mentally moved on from academia and understand how industry operates and what is important to a company’s success in industry. When it’s your turn to ask the employer questions during an interview, there are eight topics your questions should focus on, including:

1. Hierarchy – Who will I be reporting to?
2. Mergers and Acquisitions – What collaborations are underway?
3. Restructuring – How is the company being restructured?
4. Career Trajectory – Where have others in this position gone?
5. Emerging Markets – Where is the client base expanding?
6. Sales and Marketing – Which products are creating growth?
7. New Product/Projects – What new products are coming out?
8. Corporate Strategy – What are the company’s five-year goals?

There are many other quality questions related to these eight topics you can ask as well. For example, you might ask: “Who is your ideal candidate?” or “What is the biggest challenge you’re facing, and how can I help solve it?” or “Where is this product line going to be in two years?” or “What would I be working on to start?” or “How do you measure success?” 

As I mentioned previously, you should always end each interview by asking a question that prompts the interviewer to discuss any objections they might have to hiring you, such as, “Are there any reasons why you wouldn’t hire me?” By planning your questions in advance and asking them during your interview, you will further establish your credibility as the best candidate for the job.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Business Minded Questions To Ask Interviewers appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah explains what the STAR technique is and discusses the first component of the answer
• Next, Isaiah lists the two next components of the STAR technique and what you should consider when delivering your answer
• Finally, Isaiah explores the last component of a STAR answer

The STAR technique is a way to structure an answer to an interviewer’s question. It is highly effective and leaves a great impression with interviewers at any organization, whether the organization is a big corporation or small startup, for-profit or nonprofit company, intergovernmental organization (IGO) or nongovernmental organization (NGO). 

When answering an interview question with the STAR method, start your response by describing a specific and relevant situation. You can use an example from your current job, a previous job, education, personal experience, or any relevant event.

Always choose a situation that demonstrates your most impressive results and is relevant to the role for which you are being interviewed. This situation should involve a problem that you had to solve. Give enough detail for the interviewer to understand what was involved in one or two sentences.

Once you’ve outlined the situation, describe your tasks in that situation in one or two sentences. Get specific about the problem. What part of the problem was yours to solve? What were your responsibilities and assignments related to the problem? What had to be done specifically.

Next, you’ll need to discuss what actions you took to solve the problem. For an interviewer, the action component of the STAR response is the most interesting and important part. It should detail the decisions you made and the steps you took to accomplish the task.

Make sure you provide details about each step you took in order, showing your thought processes, how you reached your conclusions, and the important tasks you completed. How did you prioritize your tasks? What sequence did you complete your tasks in? Why? You may feel as if you are being overly descriptive as you explain your actions. However, the detail you provide will showcase your communication skills and prove that you have real-life experience with the skills and actions necessary for your target role.

The result component of the STAR method is the second most important part of your answer to an interviewer because it proves that your actions were effective.

Talk about what you accomplished, what you delivered in terms of benefit, and what you learned. If appropriate, discuss what you would do differently if you encountered a similar situation in the future. Give evidence to prove your success. This could be in the form of numbers or any positive feedback you received.

Finally, discuss the lessons you learned from your experience and, crucially, why those lessons will help you succeed in the role you are interviewing for. This takes us to the end of today’s Transition Report. As always, remember your value as a PhD and start thinking and acting like a successful industry professional.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post How to Answer Using the STAR Technique appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah discusses the main pieces of information you should find out once your site visit is confirmed
• Next, Isaiah lists the actions you should take to prepare for your site visit one week in advance
• Finally, Isaiah lists the actions you should take a couple of days before the site visit to ensure you are fully prepared

Regardless of which interview types you will be a part of during your site visit, you should prepare extensively by asking the employer specific questions before the interview, researching the company in detail online, and setting up informational interviews with people currently working at the company.

Make sure you find out why they are hiring for this position, what the metrics of success are or likely will be for the role, and what the average salary range is for the position (you’ll need this information to comfortably deflect verbal offers and attempts to negotiate onsite before getting a written offer).

Once you get a confirmation for the site visit, ask about specific details. What is the schedule for the site visit? Who will be interviewing you? What is the goal of the interview? Is a presentation expected?

If you have a week or more to prepare for your site visit, here is the checklist you should follow:

• Read extensively about the company, including any mergers and acquisitions they are involved in.
• Set up informational interviews with people currently working at the company.
• Make sure you find out why they are hiring for this position.
• Ask yourself how you can help the company achieve their goals for the position at hand. Make a list of your answers.
• Research average and top salaries for this position in the city it is located in.
• Determine your “walk-away number,” or the lowest salary you will accept.

As the site visit approaches, you will need to adjust your strategy to focus on the most pressing items to complete before arriving. Here’s a checklist to complete a day or two before you arrive onsite:

• Contact the company and continue setting up informational interviews to find out how you should dress, who you will be interviewing with, and whether you will be giving a presentation.
• If you will be giving a presentation, ask for specifics on what the presentation should be about and who will be in the audience. Then prepare your presentation.
• Set up and execute at least two thirty-minute mock interviews with friends. Practice giving your site visit presentation, if necessary.
• Review your research notes about the company and why they are hiring.

After you have prepared fully, you are ready to show up, impress everyone with your professionalism and knowledge, and get a job offer.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post How To Prepare For A Site Visit appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah tells what a panel interview is and when are you more likely to have one during the interview process
• Next, Isaiah gives some good practices that you should follow during a panel interview
• Finally, Isaiah points out the best way to close a panel interview to increase your chances of getting a job offer

During a site visit or a late stage video interview, you may be faced with a panel of interviewers.

Panel interviews are done because the company wants as many people as possible to see your face and interact with you before committing to bringing you on board.

Once you are told you will face a panel interview, be sure to ask who will be on the panel so you can research each panelist on Linkedin.

During a panel interview itself, make sure you engage with all the interviewers, not just the most outgoing participant.

Make sure you keep track of each person’s name and job title and who asked which question. This is best done by starting your panel interview with a sheet of paper in front of you with each panel member’s name listed. Then you can write shorthand notes for each person’s question under their name as they ask it.

During a panel interview, you should also be prepared for any type of question because there will likely be people from different departments. You might be interviewing for an R&D position, but you’ll likely be talking to someone from human resources, R&D, sales, marketing, and perhaps one or two executives.

The interests of every panel member will vary, and you need to meet each person’s interests individually, as well as the collective interest, to build rapport. Keep in mind that every person on the panel will have a say in whether you move to the next interview round.

To close the panel interview successfully, ask a question like, “Is there any other information you would like to hear from me?”

Look directly at the camera when asking this question (or when responding to any question). Try to avoid looking down at the panel members’ faces the entire time because this is a very negative posture and comes across as negative or like you’re fabricating your answers.

Another great question to ask at the end of a video interview is: “Do you still have any doubts that you would like me to address before we move on to the next phase of the interview process?”

This question encourages them to address any doubts they may have while you’re still present and can help them overcome these doubts or get them to confirm they have no doubts. Either way, if done properly, your interviewers will now feel a stronger pull to extend a job offer to you to maintain consistency with their acknowledgment that their doubts were resolved or that they didn’t have any doubts in the first place.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Mastering Group Dynamics During A Panel Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah explains the basics of a video interview
• Next, Isaiah gives some tips on how to prepare the location where you will take the video interview
• Finally, Isaiah goes through some technical considerations that will increase your chances of success

The video interview commonly follows the phone screen and is the next step in the interview process.

In this step, you need to consider the technology you will be using, how the interviewers see you, and what you need to do to come across as a professional candidate.

One of the biggest keys to executing a video interview successfully is knowing how you look on the other side of the camera.

A great way to prepare for this is to ask the company who’s going to interview you, how many people will show up, and where the interview is going to be held.

This is a normal question to ask before a video interview or a site visit. You need to consider how you’re going to look during the interview; assume that you’re going to be on a large monitor in a large room.

This means that your image and your background will be much larger than what you see on your computer screen and that the microexpressions on your face and the movement of your hands are going to be much more dynamic than you might think.

Before participating in any video interview, you need to not only do your homework on the organization but also build a video set for yourself. You must test the equipment you will use during the interview and create a well-lit set.

You should dress head to toe in the clothes you would wear to a site visit because they might ask you to search for or grab something, and you will have to move. Having a full professional outfit instead of just the top part also gives you more confidence during the interview.

You must ensure that you’re comfortable and that the interviewers can see you and hear you clearly. The only way you can do this is by testing everything.

For both the phone screen and video interview steps, you should do several mock interviews with another person.

For video mock interviews, this should be a full dress rehearsal. Wear what you’re going to wear and have everything set up the way you’re setting it up for the interview to make sure you come across professional.

Make sure to check the sound, the visuals, the lighting, and the background ahead of time so that you can make adjustments for the real interview if needed.

Most PhDs forget to ensure they have enough lighting on their face. Ideally, you should get a lamp and shine it right at your face and eyes.

When it comes to audio, make sure that your microphone and speakers are connected to the computer. You don’t need a Bluetooth device going in and out, disrupting the conversation.

You should avoid huge headsets but having something that you can connect to the computer without being too distracting is ideal because it will ensure you have good audio.

You will also want to connect the computer you will use for the interview to a hardline internet connection like ethernet or similar. Try to avoid using Wi-Fi even if it means buying an ethernet cord and an adapter for your computer.

You will not get a second chance for the video interview if your Wi-Fi fails. Poor Wi-Fi is not an excuse.

Finally, you may want to add your notes to the computer screen, so the interviewers can’t see them.

During the interview, you will tend to look at the image of the interviewers on the screen, but you should try to look at your computer camera most of the time as this gives the impression of eye contact.

This extra effort will make a big difference, especially if you are projected on a big screen.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post How To Dominate A Video Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah lays down some facts that should convince you of the importance of your first impression during a job interview
• Next, Isaiah gives some advice on how to prepare ahead of time to give a good first impression every time
• Finally, Isaiah discusses how to answer the two questions that get asked during the first 90 seconds of a job interview

When it comes to executing an industry interview, a typical interview round can last anywhere from fifteen minutes for a phone screen to forty-five minutes for an individual meeting during a site visit.

However, no matter the overall length of the interview round, studies show that the interviewer decides whether or not they will recommend hiring you within the first ninety seconds.

The same studies found that 55 percent of your impact comes from the way you dress, act, and walk through the door; therefore, you should prepare to make a good first impression.

Much of this impression comes from nonverbal cues. Did you dress professionally? Did you have a firm handshake? Did you smile during the interview? Does your body language portray confidence?

It’s a lot easier to manage your nonverbal cues and portray confidence when you have established a plan for some of the standard interview logistics ahead of time. Start planning for these by addressing the following questions well in advance of your next interview:

• Where will you keep a copy of your resume so that you can easily get to it for a phone screen?
• Where will you take calls for your phone screens so that you are not distracted?
• What will you wear to your video or in-person interview? Does the professional attire you selected require any care to look its best (e.g., dry cleaning)?
• Where do you plan to take your video interview? (PhD Pro Tip: Make sure it is a place that gives you good lighting and has reliable internet access.)

In general, there are only two questions that are asked within the first ninety seconds. These questions are the same for every interview type and interview round.

The first of these questions is “How are you today?” Don’t start the interview by giving a lukewarm response like “Good, thank you” or similar, and certainly don’t taint the interview from the outset by talking about how bad the weather is, how nervous you are, or any other random or negative observation.

Instead, simply say “Perfect.” Replying with “Perfect” keeps your answer clean and to the point, which will keep the conversation moving forward and eliminate the urge to ramble about whatever you did that morning on your way to the interview.

The second question you will be asked is, “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?”

The best way to answer this question is by delivering your elevator pitch, which should succinctly explain who you are, what you want, and why they should care in one minute or less.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post The First 90 Seconds Make Or Break Your Interview appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah explains the differences in timelines between academia and industry and what that means for your job search
• Next, Isaiah explores the best way to research a company so you’re always prepared for an interview
• Finally, Isaiah talks about one of the worse habits PhDs pick in academia and how it can jeopardize your chances of getting the industry job you deserve

Industry time is not like academic time. Things move much faster. For instance, new job postings receive their first application within two hundred seconds of being posted. 

Things move even faster later in the hiring funnel. You must be ready to say “yes” to a phone screen request at a moment’s notice if your dream employer asks if you’re free to talk about your experiences.

You must be prepared to reply right away to their LinkedIn message requesting more information about your candidacy.

You must be highly responsive with your phone, email, and LinkedIn notifications turned on so you can seize the moment before the employer moves on to the next candidate.

The goal of every step of the interview process is to convince whoever is interviewing you that you are the best candidate for the position and a good fit for the company.

You will find selling yourself during an interview easier if you lay a strong foundational mindset for approaching your interviews. You should research every company to which you apply; that allows you to demonstrate interest and commitment during interviews.

Hiring managers notice when a candidate has done this homework, and it always leaves a good impression. Here are a few questions your research should answer:

• What are the company’s values? What is their mission statement?
• Has the company gone through any recent mergers and/or acquisitions?
• Why do they need to fill your target position?

You should also prepare questions to ask your interviewers. Most importantly, show up to every interview prepared to convince the employer that you are the best person for the job and that their company is at the top of your list.

As a PhD, whether you know it or not, you’ve picked up some bad habits in academia that hinder your performance in industry interviews. The worst of these habits is avoiding confirmation bias at all costs.

Of course, when it comes to work, especially data and information that can directly or indirectly affect patient lives, scientific funding, etc., you should avoid confirmation bias. But in your job search, you should be as biased as possible toward yourself.

You must do everything you can (short of outright lying) to convince employers you are the best possible candidate for the job. You must find every angle and leverage every turn of phrase that can make you seem, even momentarily, to be the better candidate.

Once you’re hired, you can prove yourself and reassure them you were always the best choice—but you must get hired first. While all PhDs regularly express uncertainty in their work in sharing things like error values and the limitations of the research approaches, there’s no place for this when it comes to pitching yourself as the ideal candidate for an industry role.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

The post Academic Values Versus Industry Values appeared first on Cheeky Scientist.