Sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center Beyond Academia

Sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center Beyond Academia: Strategies for Humanities and Social Science Ph. Ds Tuesday, December 8, 2015 12: 00 – 1: 00 p. m. Presenter: Joshua Cracraft, Ph. D '14 Moderator: Alexandra Stephens Associate Director, Alumni Career Programs & Engagement

www. altacadvisor. com

Agenda • Alt-Ac Basics • Finding Your Path • Networking • Resumes, Letters & Interviewing • Five Steps to Take Now

Poll Question #1

ALT-AC SEARCHES: THE BASICS

Adopt the Right Mindset • Be patient • Be confident • Focus on the next 2 -3 years, not the rest of your life • Find a buddy • Don’t feel ashamed

Put Yourself in Employers’ Shoes • Employers hire people to solve problems or make life easier. • Employers want to minimize risk when hiring. • Employers want smart people who can get things done.

FINDING YOUR PATH

15 Skills all Ph. Ds Have • Make and deliver presentations • Synthesize solutions to complex problems • Generate innovative ideas • Make sense of large amounts of information • Analyze qualitative/quantitative data • Explain complex problems to non-experts • Edit and critique written work • Break down complex problems into smaller chunks • Collect data and information • Write clear, concise prose • Communicate effectively with a variety of audiences • Sell your ideas to others • Manage multi-year projects • Complete projects on time (and within budget) • Build relationships with likeminded professionals

Motivators / Job Values money power influence prestige location helping others coaching mentoring having variety day to day doing cutting edge work innovating mastering information or skills leading others collaborating working with young people teaching working with numbers working alone work-life balance working with experts improving systems efficiency synthesizing coordinating others working with words creating things feeling like your work has greater meaning working behind the scenes focusing on details focusing on the big picture running projects teamwork

NETWORKING

Poll Question #2

NETWORKING How the dictionary defines it: NOUN: the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business (Merriam Webster online)

NETWORKING How the dictionary defines it: NOUN: the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business (Merriam Webster online) How most people define it: NOUN: schmoozing; using other people to get ahead or to get what you want

How I Define It: Getting Coffee

Building Your Professional Network • Your academic colleagues • Alumni networks • Facebook • Family • Linked. In Bottom Line: Tell everyone you’re on the alt-ac market

HOW TO MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS Hi, my name is ______, and I’m [grad student, college alum, how you’re connected, etc. ]. I apologize for the cold email, but I found your name on the alumni directory and saw that you’re the [job title] of _______. I’m currently exploring careers in _____ in the greater Boston area and would be interested in hearing more about what you do and your experiences working in the ______ industry. I realize you’re probably busy right now, but I was wondering if you might have some time this week or next to meet and chat for a few minutes. I’d be happy to buy you a cup of coffee or, alternatively, meet you at your office, whichever is more convenient for you.

The Dos and Don’ts of Networking & Informational Interviewing • Don’t ask for a job • Don’t ask anyone what they make • Do ask about their day -to-day • Do ask what skills are important for the job • Do ask why they like doing what they do

RESUMES, LETTERS & INTERVIEWS

Poll Question #3

What No One Tells You About Resumes… • • Are not rosters of jobs Tell a (single) story Are selective, curated Are customized to a specific job • Are works of art

A great resume… • Is easy to read quickly (5 -10 seconds) • Contextualizes key info • Uses bullets to draw attention to – Responsibilities – Value added – Significant projects • Uses action verbs • Quantifies as much information as possible • Is 1 -2 pages, no more

Where to Put Your Ph. D on Your Resume? • In the “Education” section • In the “Professional Experience” section, including your: – Teaching – Research • In the “Skills” section – Technology, language

Cover Letters Should NOT • • Be essays Be long Narrate your resume Wax lyrical about your research, awards, or your awesome-ness • Explain why you aren’t pursuing academia

Cover Letters Should • • • Be addressed to real people Be short and sweet Have a thesis statement about why you’re applying Name-drop connections Highlight reasons why you fit the job description (i. e. the evidence to support your thesis) Whet appetites

Interviews: The Very Basics • Approach each interview as a dress rehearsal • Walk into an interview with the goal of getting another interview • Prepare, prepare • Practice, practice

Interviews Questions Only Ph. Ds Get Asked • Why a Ph. D? • Why not academia? • Why write a dissertation on that? • Are you biding your time until a tenure-track job comes along? • Wouldn’t you be bored here?

How to Answer Those Tough Ph. D-related Questions • Own your Ph. D—be proud! • Be positive—no trash talking • Craft a narrative that puts the position/employer at the next stage of your professional development • Focus on skills, not content • Explain how your skills will help the employer

FIVE STEPS TO TAKE NOW

Five Steps to Take Now • Start networking • Find a part-time job • Know what you have to offer • Write a resume & get feedback • Apply to select jobs

@altacadvisor @joshuacracraft www. altacadvisor. com

Next Steps • Fill out our satisfaction survey and let us know how we did • Register for our January webinar: Goal Setting & Accountability in the New Year Wednesday, January 13, 2016 12: 00 – 1: 00 p. m. EST https: //attendee. gotowebinar. com/register/5594844396120914945 • Join Brandeis University Career Connections group on Linked. In • Brandeis undergraduate students and alumni: – Call (781) 736 -3618 to schedule a free, 1 -on-1 advising appointment with a Hiatt career counselor (in-person, phone, Skype)

Contact the Hiatt Career Center • Alexandra Stephens – Associate Director, Alumni Career Programs & Engagement – Email: astephens@brandeis. edu – Phone: 781 -736 -3618 • Website: alumni. brandeis. edu/careers • Twitter: @Hiattat. Brandeis • Facebook: facebook. com/Hiatt. Career. Center