Career Paths in the Life Sciences. Janssens, Summer 2012

Career paths
for Life Scientists

Dr. Barbara Janssens

June 2012

My career path

Playground
network

Graduate school

Teaching Editor
12-Jun-12 Page 3 Barbara Janssens PhD Career Service

Your career path? Today’s aims?
v Students? v Career development

v Topics? v Career Plan A/Plan B

v Aim? v Jobs in the Life Sciences

v Job hunting
Ø Job searches
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing

v Scientific vs soft skills


Career paths in the Life Sciences
v Career development

v Career Plan A/Plan B

v Jobs in the Life Sciences

v Job hunting
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing



Career Development
Concept:

Scientific Life
Beyond the Lab


Career paths

A

Supervisor/Mentor
Advisor B

…

C


DKFZ Target group 900 scientists

120 Masters

550 PhD

300 Postdocs


Career Development
v What to pack in your suitcase for the next step
Ø Initiative and needs come from you
Ø Platform, tools and information

v Destination = Plan A <-> Plan B
(Academic <-> Non-Academic)
Ø Help to develop concrete individual options
Ø Support also after leaving

v Win-win network
Ø Institute raises profile and contacts
Ø Scientist keeps long-lasting benefit

Ø Better take INITIATIVE than KNOWLEDGE & CERTIFICATES


Careers Service Milestones


•  Seminars
•  Students/postdocs invite speakers from industry/
academia for open discussion events

•  Practical workshops
•  Job/postdoc searching, networking, interview training
•  General training and “soft skills”

•  Booklet with “job profiles”

•  Science and Society activities
•  Interest – Engagement - Experience
•  Real PLUS on CV


•  In 2011 100 counselings a max 1h
Ø General orientation
Ø CV check
Ø Application

•  Career lunch on Thursdays
Ø Get together
Ø External guests: Consulting, Roche, P&G, EVI,…

•  Annual Survey


•  Build network
•  At present Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing,
Research Gate,…
•  Facebook 220 „likes“, 300 „friends“
•  Mailing list „jobs-for-phd“
•  Trace and keep track of DKFZ scientists
•  Collaborations and joint calendar


Collaborations
v  Heidelberg Campus
Ø joint CAREER CALENDAR http://tinyurl.com/5wuerfx
-  DKFZ PhD Council and Postdoc Network (PDN)
-  DKFZ Senior Scientists Network (INESS)
-  DKFZ Alumni
-  BioContact
-  HBIGS graduate school
-  EMBL Advanced Training, EMBL Alumni
-  Heidelberg University careers service
-  BtS Biotechnologie studenten initiative

v  International partners
-  Oxford and Cambridge Universities Careers Services
-  Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
-  Albert Einstein College New York, Cold spring Harbor, MIT
-  Institut Curie, Paris
-  Companies (Merck, Bayer, Siemens, BASF, Roche, Springer, Wiley, ..)





v Job hunting
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing
Adapted from Gerd Altmann www.pixelio.de



„Freedom“ in Academia
v Temporary contracts and grants
Ø You have to plan funding for next year

v But freedom is relative


Academia in Germany

Reinhard Kreckel
http://www.daad.de/ID-E_Berlin/media/pdf/postdoc-vortrag-kreckel.pdf published in
http://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/wordpress/?p=9723

For Academia you need passion…

v … and publications


„Safety“in Industry

v Permanent contracts possible (often after trainee)

v But also planning:
Ø Appraisals („Mitarbeitergespräche“)
Ø Projects
Ø Funding
Ø Mergers and restructuring
Ø Moving (Asia…)

v Safety is relative


Trends in Industry - job market

v Understand industry and the market

v Pharma outsources R&D
§ More collaborations
§ Less positions (postdocs etc)
§ But Project Managers needed

v Biotech driving force
§ Scientific entrepreneurs
§ Less certain

v Consulting

Non-academic jobs
v You can do everything!
v Research in Industry (big pharma/small biotech)
v Research/Project Management
v Publishing, medical writing, journalism
v Science communication and public relations
v Patents
v Teaching
v Sales and Marketing
v Consulting
v Clinical trials and applications
v Informatics


DKFZ PhD students want…


EMBL PhDEIPP students do after their PhD?
What do students go…
(Data from students who defended since 01/2004)

Scientific careers
outside research (13%)

18
9
Private sector
Academic
research (7%)
research (80%)
108

Helke Hillebrand, EMBL 2010

EMBL Postdocs go…
What do Postdocs do after EMBL?
(Data from 921 postdocs whose whereabouts are known)

Scientific careers
outside research
(1%)
32
Non-scientific careers (3%)
90
Private sector
research (10%) 13

786 Academic
research (85%)
Helke Hillebrand, EMBL
12-Jun-12 Helke Hillebrand 08/2010Barbara Janssens
12 Page 25 PhD Career Service

Career Aim after PhD at DKFZ


Bioinformatics Career Day
DKFZ, 24 May 2012
www.ebi.ac.uk/training/careerday
Email careers@dkfz.de


Highlights


Bioinformatics positions
v Academic v System Analyst / Engineer
Ø Research (publish!)
Ø Service/Core facility v Technical Support

v Training v D a t a b a s e Designer /

v IT Administrator

v Software v Applications Analyst

v Biostatistics -> industry v Programmer

v Topics v Marketing
Ø Medical/clinical research
v …
Ø  S e q u e n c i n g / h i g h
throughput screening

Tips for a career in Bioinformatics

v Join excellent discussion groups on LinkedIn
Ø Bioinformatics Computing
Ø Bioinformatics Geeks
Ø Bioinformatics Job News
Ø Etc…

v Do what you like
Ø Try out things
Ø Develop your skills

v Talk to people!
Ø Yann Abraham, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland
Ø Matthias Scherf, Genomatix, Munich
Ø Alexander Zien, Molecular Health GmbH, Heidelberg


Missed the event? Check online...
v http://www.ebi.ac.uk/training/careerday

v http://www.slideshare.net/phdcareers/presentations

v http://www.prezi.com

v www.facebook.com/phdcareers

v www.linkedin.com/events/xxx

v www.ebi.ac.uk/training/postdoc/ESPOD

v www.embl.org/phdprogramme /postdocs /jobs


Yann Abraham Novartis, Basel

http://prezi.com/ugn43malcumr/dkfz-careers-in-bioinformatics-day-2012/





v Job hunting
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing



How do you apply for jobs?

v Search jobs, portals v Interesting place

v CV/application v Spontaneous application

v Selection v …

v Interview

v Negotiations
v Notice time
v Hired!


Job search sites
Int. DE
v www.naturejobs.com •  www.stepstone.de
v http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org •  www.monster.de
v www.newscientistjobs.com •  www.jobvector.de
v www.chemjobs.net •  www.scitec-career.com
v www.jobsdb.com
•  www.gate2lifesciences.de
v http://jobsearch.monster.com
•  www.absolventa.de
v www.biotechjob.com
•  http://jobs.zeit.de
v http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess
•  www.berufsstart.de
v http://www.stepstone.com
•  www.drarbeit.de
v www.eurosciencejobs.com
•  www.jobware.de
v www.bcejobs.nl
•  www.pharmajobs.com
v www.labojobs.be


Job hunting…

Richard Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute?


Networking!

v Start now! Look for INFORMATION

v Learn to present yourself

v Ask people about their work/life

v Make info dates for 10 minutes

v Send a personal „thank you“ so people remember you

v Work on your skills – more important to take INITIATIVE than
increasing KNOWLEDGE


Life/work Planning L/W-P

It´s easier to act yourself
v France: Daniel Porot into a new way of thinking,
Ø www.porot.com
than it is to think yourself
Ø www.careergames.com
into a new way of acting.
v Germany: John Webb
Ø www.life-work-planning.de Richard Nelson Bolles
Ø www.lwp-seminare.de

v US: Richard N. Bolles
Ø www.jobhuntersbible.com

v DKFZ WORKSHOPS
Ø Sat 07.07.2012 English (John Web)


CV writing starts with... CV reading

Richard Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute?


How employers recruit

REGULAR TRACK ASAP - TRACK
Ø Inform Human Resources Ø Inform Human Resources
Ø HR posts job internally Ø Let‘s see…. Who do I know?
Ø HR posts job externally Ø Invite connections to apply
Ø Wait for application deadline
Ø Select CVs from 1253+
Ø HR finds date for interview
Ø Interviews one months later
Ø Second round
Ø Third round Ø Interview
Ø Negotiations Ø Negotiations
Ø Position filled Ø Position filled


How often do you update your CV?


CV writing starts with... CV reading

v Typical CV workshop

v You have 12 minutes to select one candidate

v Which criteria do you use?

v What attracts you in a cover letter?

v When do you spot what is important?

v -> YOUR list

v …THIS is the list of CV writing tips

When is a CV NOT selected?

v No cover letter
v No motivation
v Unclear
v Not interesting
v No extra skills
v Not matching job description
v Perfect but boring (standard without extra)
v The person behind this CV does not appeal
v …


Why is a CV selected?

"Be yourself. Everyone else is
already taken." - Oscar Wilde


Selection is not rejection

v If your CV is good and there is no match…

v … this is a matter of personal preference, not quality

v … the next recruiter can be the one

v … but make sure you know what he/she wants

v … and that you make your skills visible


Serial position effect: most important first!

Serial position effect

Drain needs
Recall

unblocking!!

... Mustn’t forget
to do the shopping
I’m hungry...

t
Primacy Recency
Deese and Kaufman, J. Exp. Psychol. 1957, 54, 180-187."
Murdock , J. Exp. Psychol. 1962, 64, 482-488."
12-Jun-12 Page 47 Barbara Janssens PhD Career Service © Andrew Moore




v Job hunting
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing

Ø Spend time efficiently
Ø Skills, Business, Society

No time to lose…

v … but think of the future NOW!

v Efficient thinking rather than procrastination

v Take time to
Ø Develop skills
Ø Take part in extracurricular activities
Ø Involve in Science&Society
Ø „Think“ of your future
Ø Make lists of contacts, possible career goals, actions,,...
Ø ….. is 30 minutes per week too much?...


30 minutes to…
v Read what INTERESTS you
Ø Nature news
Ø Science careers
Ø Laborjournal
Ø Magazines…

v Search the WEB
Ø Events
Ø Info, Offers

v NETWORK
Ø Facebook, LinkedIn, Research Gate,…

v TALK to people
Ø Friends, colleagues, alumni, visitors, …
Ø Use your coffee break to ask around!


Which skills do you need?

v Soft skills -> project management, communication,
management, professionalism, networking, self-
promotion, leadership, …
Ø http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday_article.aspx?id=16697

v Skills assessment
Ø Scientists often not aware of their experience or lack of
Ø Myers Briggs
Ø http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/publications/competencies

v Courses are good, DOING something 100x better
Ø Find examples and stories in your life (e.g. L/WP method)
Ø Organise events, supervise students, take INITIATIVE


Get your profile!
National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Core Competencies Self-Assessment Checklist
Rate your current level of development in each of the following, with 1 being "Needs attention" and 9 being "extremely competent."
For more information on these competencies, please visit www.nationalpostdoc.org/competencies.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 n/a
1 Discipline-Specific Conceptual Knowledge
Analytical Approach to Defining Scientific Questions
Design of Scientifically Testable Hypotheses
Broad-Based Knowledge Acquisition
Interpretation and Analysis of Data
2 Professional/Research Skill Development
Literature Search Strategies and Effective Interpretation
Experimental Design
Statistical Analysis
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Laboratory Techniques and Safety
Principles of the Peer Review Process
3 Communication Skills
Writing
Speaking
Teaching
Interpersonal
Special Situations
4 Professionalism
Workplace
Institutional
Collegial
Universal
5 Leadership & Management Skills
Leadership-Strategic Vision
Leadership-Motivating and Inspiring Others
Management-Project Management
Management-Data and Resource Management
Management-Research Staff Management
6 Responsible Conduct of Research
Conflicts of Interest
Data Ownership and Sharing
Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship
Identifying and Mitigating Research Misconduct
Research with Human Subjects (when applicable)
Research Involving Animals (when applicable)


Get active!
Ø http://bts-ev.de Biotechnologie Studenten initiative
Ø http://www.yebn.de Young European Biotechnology Network


Get a certificate!?
European Business Competence Certificate
v www.ebcl.eu
v www.ebcl.info/international
v in 24 languages
v 40 to 60 hours preparation
Ø Books and e-learning
Ø Courses
v Level A: Business Basis
Ø Business objectives
Ø Accounting
Ø Costing and pricing
Ø Business law
v Level B: Business Planning


Level A Business Basis

v Business objectives
Ø Profitability, return on equity/investment
Ø Liquidity, cash ratio, cash flow
Ø Productivity, return on sales
v Accounting
Ø annual financial statement (balance sheet, P&L account)
Ø assets side: fixed/current assets
Ø liabilities side: equity/borrowed capital
Ø Profit and Loss Account (P&L)
v Costing and pricing
Ø fixed costs degression
Ø Shortterm and long-term break-even price
v Business law
Ø personal unlimited Liability, joint and several liability
Ø http://www.ebcl.eu/accounting-scandals/

Science & Society

v Why is Science & Society relevant?
Ø Think and discuss
§  YOUR role as a scientist
§  Science in a broader sense
§  Ethical issues
§  Talking to the public
§  Engaging in voluntary projects

v What does this have to do with your career?
a.  It should be a moral duty for every scientist
b.  The real plus on your CV is your
§  Interest – Engagement – Experience


Science & Society
Ø Dublin ESOF – European Science Open Forum
§ http://esof2012.org/
Ø Seminars in Heidelberg (EMBL, Uni, DKFZ)
§ http://www.embl.de/aboutus/science_society
Ø Mentors
§ https://www.life-science-lab.org
Ø Used equipment
§ http://adequationgermany.embl.de
Ø Group
§ http://www.facebook.com/Phdcareers/scisoc


Other Career Information

v www.prospects.ac.uk/careers
Ø Free registration -> download
§ Career planning : decision time
§ Case studies- people's stories
§ CV - Tips for CVs and covering letters
§ Flexible working: (dis)advantages, options
§ Interview - Tests and exercises info and tips
§ Job hunting : how, when, where?
§ Job options and requirements by subject
§ ….


Books


More books

v See list




??


v Job hunting
Ø Networking
Ø CV writing



Thank you!

"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."

- Oscar Wilde
v For questions:
Ø B.janssens@dkfz.de
Ø careers@dkfz.de
Ø Tel +49 6221 422146
Ø www.dkfz.de/phd/Careers.html


LIKE this page! www.facebook.com/phdcareers


Career Paths in the Life Sciences. Janssens, Summer 2012

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Career Paths in the Life Sciences. Janssens, Summer 2012