Path to Career Resources
Vanderbilt is now an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
Mar. 11, 2016—As part of its commitment to supporting and expanding diversity, Vanderbilt University has become an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. The NCFDD is an independent organization dedicated to professional development, training and mentoring, helping faculty make successful transitions throughout their careers. It comprises more than 80,000 graduate students, postdocs and...
50 Most Common Interview Questions (great blog post from Glassdoor)
May. 1, 2015—Prepping for a job interview? Courtesy of Glassdoor, here's a list of 50 common interview questions you should be ready to answer in your interview.
Guest Blog Post: So you want to be a science writer?
Jan. 13, 2015—While moving away from the bench toward a science-writing career can feel daunting, it is possible (and as this collection of science writer origin stories shows, lots of folks have done it). When you’re interested in any career, whether it’s one at the bench or not, the best way to eventually get the job that...
PhD Jobs: How To Transition From Academia Into Business
Sep. 17, 2014—“I sent resumes to over 200 companies during my last year of graduate school and heard back from exactly zero of them. It was embarrassing. And confusing. I guess I just assumed that big corporations would fall all over themselves trying to hire me once I had a PhD. Not so much. Getting my PhD turned...
How do I tell my PI?
Apr. 21, 2014—Grad students and postdocs are often apprehensive about talking to their faculty adviser about their career interests, especially if their interests lie outside the “traditional” career path of becoming a tenure-track professor at a university. But did you know that only ~15% of biomedical sciences PhDs go on to become tenure-track professors? That’s right… 85%...
Is your job search out of control?
Feb. 11, 2014—“Career Mojo: Is your job search out of control?” by Dana Manciagli, The Business Journals What is your job search like? I’ll bet, like so many others, you’re applying to lots and lots of positions, you’re following up on just a few (and only once for those,) and you’re not doing “precision networking.” Read more…
Resume 101
Jan. 10, 2014—Sponsored by the BRET Office of Career Development and led by Dr. Kim Petrie. Thursday, January 30, 9:30-11am Monday, February 3, 1-2:30pm Thursday, February 6, 9:30-11am 350 Light Hall In this seminar, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling résumé that showcases your professional skills and accomplishments. We’ll discuss the differences between CVs and résumés,...
Postdoctoral opportunities at the NIH
Dec. 4, 2013—The NIH Office of Intramurual Training & Education maintains a list of available NIH postdoctoral positions on their website. As in academia, however, not all NIH postdoctoral opportunities are advertised! If you are interested in a particular lab at the NIH, you should reach out directly to the potential postdoctoral mentor even if there is...
New Beyond the Lab video series interviews VU PhD alumni about their career path
Nov. 11, 2013—Check out our new Beyond the Lab video series showcasing the careers of our PhD and postdoctoral alumni! In Beyond the Lab, the BRET Office of Career Development interviews Vanderbilt PhD and postdoctoral alumni about their career path since leaving VU. Each 10-20 minute video features a different alumnus describing his or her job and providing advice...
Ten Take-Aways from the Career Symposium
Aug. 7, 2013—Your professional journey will be unpredictable and unforgettable. Begin your journey by understanding your strengths. Strengths Finder 2.0 is a great place to start. (Linda Distlerath) Have a good dose of humility. In your first job, find a buddy who can help guide you through the unwritten protocols and etiquette of your workplace environment. (Linda...
An Introvert’s Guide to Getting the Most from a Conference
Jun. 26, 2013—“An Introvert’s Guide to Getting the Most From A Conference” by Dharmesh Shah Ideas fly around the room. Informal teams form and mutate and re-form. Decisions are quickly made and un-made and refined. Plans are drawn and re-drawn and perfected. Three hours later, you and a room full of incredibly talented people have used your...
Path to Career: A Compendium of Interview Questions
May. 1, 2013—Check out the full article on Insider Higher Ed.