Career Planning for Research Bioscientists E-Book

Sarah Blackford

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 402

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Career Planning for Research Bioscientists is an essential careers guide for bioscience doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. It contains a wealth of information and resources specifically targeted at research bioscientists, with practical strategies to enhance career success in an increasingly competitive job market. Advice on how to write a winning CV together with examples adapted for different jobs is presented, as well as practical exercises to assist with skills analysis and decision making. Profiles of PhD-qualified bioscienstists in a range of professions including academic research, industry, science communication, management and consultancy provide valuable insights into how others have managed their careers, and tactics such as networking and using social media demonstrate how new opportunities can be discovered. The content of this book is aimed primarily at research bioscientists, however much of the advice and information will be a useful reference for other students and researchers looking for an effective career planning strategy.

A companion website with additional resources is available at www.wiley.com/go/blackford/careerplanning and you can visit Sarah Blackford's blog at www.biosciencecareers.org for more information.

Leseprobe

Contents

Author’s note

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1 Introduction

Who is this book for?

The process of career planning

Helping you with your career planning

Content of the book

How to use this book

CHAPTER 2 Planning your career

The importance of career planning

What is career planning?

Career planning in action

Conclusion

CHAPTER 3 Self-awareness

What is self-awareness?

Practical ways to analyse your ‘self’ and increase self-awareness

Conclusion

CHAPTER 4 The job market

Career sectors

Examples of job advertisements

Analysis of job advertisements

Self-employment

Where are the jobs?

Conclusion

CHAPTER 5 Enhancing your employability

The changing nature of work

Taking responsibility

Taking a proactive approach

Planned happenstance

Personal and professional development

Conclusion

CHAPTER 6 Making applications

Employer perspective

Presenting a professional image

Methods of application

Conclusion

CHAPTER 7 Successful interview technique

Types of interviews

Interview content: what questions will you be asked?

Answering the questions

Thinking of questions to ask the interviewer

Preparation

If you are offered the job

If you are not offered the job

Conclusion

CHAPTER 8 Decision making and action planning

Careers in research

Other career options

Decision making

Taking action

Turning decisions into action

Conclusion

Afterword

APPENDIX 1 Career narratives

Summarised list of career narratives

1. Michel: professor, US university

2. Teresa: research fellow, Austrian university

3. John: lecturer, UK university

4. Andrew: lead scientist, protein design team, large agribiotechnology company

5. John: scientific team leader, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), global contract research organisation

6. Joanna: product and R&D manager, small biotech company

7. Petra: scientific adviser, protein interaction services company

8. Ann: president and chief executive officer, small immunoreagent company

9. Yfke: senior medical writer, medical communications agency

10. Carol: freelance science editor, writer and training consultant

11. Mary: features editor, Teaching Tools in Plant Biology (learned journal)

12. Linda: teacher training co-ordinator, public research institute

13. Ruth: freelance science journalist

14. David: research associate, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences; Outreach Committee Co-chair, AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition

15. Edward: clinical trial co-ordinator, university cancer trial centre

16. Miguel: patent examiner, European Patent Office

17. Florent: scientific officer, Marie Curie Actions, European Commission

18. John: healthcare analyst, self-employed partnership

19. Annie: technology consultant, international technology consultancy

20. Ian: sound engineer, production services provider

Conclusion

APPENDIX 2 Social media

Blogs

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Social media snippets

Using social media: a personal perspective from Dr Anne Osterrieder, Oxford-Brookes University

APPENDIX 3 Example CVs

Example Job advertisements

Example CVs

Analysis and explanation of CVs

Covering letter

APPENDIX 4 Support and resources

Doctoral and postdoctoral support organisations

Women in Science support

Web resources

Further reading

Index

COMPANION WEBSITE:

This book has a companion website:

www.wiley.com/go/blackford/careerplanning and you can visit the author’s blog at www.biosciencecareers.org for more information.

This edition first published 2013 © 2013 by Sarah Blackford

Blackwell Publishing was acquired by John Wiley & Sons in February 2007. Blackwell’s publishing programme has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical and Medical business to form Wiley-Blackwell.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Blackford, Sarah.Career planning for research bioscientists / Sarah Blackford.p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4051-9670-3 (pbk.)1. Biology–Vocational guidance. 2. Career development. I. Title.QH314.B53 2013570.23–dc23

2012016866

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

Cover image: Tom Donald (http://clearwood.co.uk)Cover design by Steve Thompson

Author’s note

Career planning is as vital to researchers as planning experiments. To produce ­successful results, you need to be familiar with the career landscape, know how to promote yourself and be skilled in your techniques. Competition for permanent academic posts is fierce and to be successful you must manage your career ­carefully to maximise your chances of success. As doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, numerous career options are available to you but navigating your career path can be challenging. This book aims to assist you in this process whether you are planning a career within or outside academic research.

As a qualified careers adviser working in an international bioscience learned society, having previously worked in scientific research and publishing within ­university bioscience departments, I am well aware of the particular career issues faced by researchers. For my own part, my career track has been far from straightforward. Having realised, during my first 3-year contract, that research did not suit me (and, following a few mishaps in the lab, I did not suit it!), I changed careers into journal publishing, as I had enjoyed communicating my work. This editorial role was more suited to my skills and personality and was a convenient stepping stone out of the lab. However, my desire to help and support people was still not realised and it was only when, by chance, I saw an advert for a careers adviser post that I considered the prospect of changing career paths again. Although I didn’t get this job, the insights I gained into the sector during the interview process acted as a catalyst for further action. Through volunteering, networking and then, later, formalising my qualifications with a Master’s degree, I secured two successive careers advisory posts, ultimately arriving at my current role as the head of ­education and public affairs of the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB). My career path may seem rather disjointed but it is not uncommon for people to ­experience two or three different careers during their working life. I am using many of the skills I developed during my previous jobs and even publishing research papers derived from my careers work.

Since taking up my role at the SEB, I have been delivering career workshops for research bioscientists at career conferences, in universities and during ­international scientific meetings. In addition, I offer one-to-one career coaching and guidance to individuals. This book communicates this advice and knowledge in one ­complete compendium, which you can refer to at your convenience. I hope you enjoy ­reading it and find it a useful guide for your career. To keep it as accurate as possible (all information was up to date at the time of the book’s submission in 2012), I ­welcome any suggestions (via my blog or Twitter - see following page) for further resources which you think would be helpful to readers of the book.

Acknowledgements

At the risk of reading like a Hollywood acceptance speech, I have many people I would like to thank who helped me turn this book from an idea into a reality.

For their invaluable input and contributions to this project, I would like to acknowledge the following researchers, academics, careers advisers and associated professionals: Dr Tennie Videler (Vitae), Dr Teresa Valencak (Veterinary Medicine University, Vienna), Dr Barbara Tigar (Liverpool Hope University), Dr Jenny Sneddon (Liverpool John Moores University), Dr Sara Shinton (Shinton Consulting), Professor Dale Sanders (Director, John Innes Centre), Dr Marie Reveiller (NYU Langone Medical Center), Dr David Proctor (independent contractor), Dr Jeremy Pritchard (University of Birmingham), Cathee Johnson Phillips (Executive Director, National Postdoctoral Association), Charlotte Lindsay (freelance editor), Dr Calum Leckie (University College London), Dr Alison Kingston-Smith (IBERS, University of Aberystwyth), Dr Hilary M. Jones (University of York), Sarah Jones (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry), Clare Jones (University of Nottingham), Dr Anne Forde (University of Cambridge), Professor Tony Farrell (University of British Columbia), Dr Gordon Dalton (University College Cork), Dr Simon Cutler (BBSRC), Dr Anne Borland (University of Newcastle) and Dr Alun Anderson (­former Editor-in-Chief, New Scientist). Not forgetting also, all those whose Career Narrative is featured in Appendix 1.

I would especially like to acknowledge Dr Irene Hames (editorial consultant), who inspired me to start the book and gave me the benefit of her time and ­expertise during the writing process. My thanks also go to those who were involved in the production of the book: Holly Regan-Jones, Suvesh Subramanian, Kelvin Matthews, Carys Williams and Ward Cooper of Wiley Blackwell.

For their support and encouragement, I am indebted to my friends and family. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Society for Experimental Biology, with whom I have worked for over 10 years and who champion the professional development of bioscientists. In particular, my thanks go to Professor Bill Davies (Lancaster University), who initiated the SEB’s education programme and has been a much-valued mentor during my career.

Sarah Blackfordwww.biosciencecareers.org@bioscicareer

Believe in yourself and anything is possible

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Who is this book for?

Are you a research bioscientist looking for help with your career? Do you want to know where to find out about jobs? How to write an effective CV? Improve your interview technique? Or learn more about how to take control of your career? If so, this book should help you. It contains advice and information specifically ­tailored to the needs of research bioscientists. It offers you strategies to enhance your chances of success, following a recognised theoretical model for effective career planning. It contains information about research and non-research jobs, funding and courses, how to present yourself in a CV, enhance your employability and be successful at interview. Also included are less tangible, but highly important, aspects of the career planning process such as self-analysis, decision making and action planning.

The world of work has changed and will alter even more rapidly in the future. The concept of a ‘job for life’ has long gone in many professions in most countries, replaced by a relatively insecure employment culture. However, as highly qualified and skilled researchers, you have the opportunity to forge a successful career in many occupational fields. Whatever ‘successful career’ means to you, it will be your actions and your purposefulness which get you there. Don’t rely on your supervisor or manager to organise things for you; you need to be proactive and plan your career strategy. This book aims to help you to succeed by providing you with the information, tools and resources which will assist you with your career planning.

Planning your career can be challenging as not all career choices are within your grasp. You may not know in which direction you want to take your career or how to do it. Career plans and career direction vary from one person to another. If you are considering an academic career path, it may not turn out to be possible. Competition for permanent academic research positions is notoriously harsh in many countries. Statistics show that only between 7% and 14% of postdoctoral researchers will achieve a full academic career and secure a tenured position (Bradley 2009; Kirshenbaum 2008; Newman 2007). The situation is worse for women (see Chapter 5, Box 5.5). Therefore, it is advisable to keep your options open and have more than one career plan. Maybe you are considering other career options, such as a job in industry, science administration, policy or communications work. Some of you may be unsure about what you want to do. Personal ­circumstances change throughout the course of your life; sometimes you will be fully flexible and able to relocate, while at other times personal considerations may compromise your career decisions.

Box1.1Definition of terms used in this book

Research bioscientist

This term refers to researchers working across all subject disciplines within the field of the (primarily lab-based) biosciences and includes physiologists, ­microbiologists, molecular biologists, animal and plant scientists, bio­chemists, ­biomedical scientists, geneticists, ecologists and pharmacologists. It excludes vocational bioscience-related disciplines such as medicine and associated fields such as physiotherapy, pharmacy, veterinary science, dentistry and ­clinical careers as these can have significantly different career structures.

Doctoral student

For the majority of this book, I use ‘doctoral student’ to refer to those who are studying for a PhD (or D.Phil) by research. Equivalent terms more recognisable to some are postgraduate student, postgraduate researcher, doctoral candidate/scholar and PhD student. The programme of study is normally 3–6 years in length (but can be up to 8 years in some countries). PhDs are accredited by ­universities and are carried out there, in research institutes, industry, hospitals and government agencies.

Postdoctoral researcher

The term ‘postdoctoral researcher’ refers to a PhD-qualified researcher who is employed to conduct academic research. Equivalent terms more recognisable to some are early-career researcher, postdoctoral associate, postdoc, post­doctoral, research associate, postdoctoral scholar and contract research staff.

Career planning

Career planning is a life-long learning process which involves personal ­development, the ability to make informed career decisions, self-manage and ­ultimately ensure your employability. Career planning and associated terms, such as career management and career development, are used interchangeably in this book.

Employability

Employability does not mean ‘employment’. There is no single definition but here it is defined as a set of personal aptitudes, skills and abilities which will enhance your chances of securing and maintaining employment.

As research bioscientists you have things in common which make this book relevant to you (see Box 1.1 for a definition of terms).

Research bioscientists wishing to pursue an academic career are exposed to a highly competitive market. This book suggests ways in which to maximise your chances of success.

Leaving academic research, although a common activity amongst research ­bioscientists, can be a tough decision to make. This book showcases a range of career options for you to consider as well as providing further resources to investigate.

Many researchers define themselves by their subject discipline or research ­project. But who are ‘you’? Self-knowledge is integral to finding a career which suits you and this book will help you to recognise your strengths and areas you need to develop.

Once you are more informed about the job market and your skills and abilities, strategies are put forward to enable you to harness new opportunities.

It would be an impossible task to write a careers book with advice and information tailored specifically to every person’s situation (that is the preserve of the individual careers interview). Equally, the entry requirements for different professions can vary at the international level, so what is true in one country does not necessarily hold for another. Research is an international endeavour with researchers working in multinational groups all over the world. My own careers work has been centred primarily in western Europe, and the UK in particular. However, work cultures in the majority of countries in the developed world are sufficiently similar nowadays that the content of this book will be relevant to all research bioscientists seeking advice with their career planning.

The process of career planning

There is more to career planning (see Box 1.1 for a definition of terms) than ­looking for jobs and making applications. Many people are not clear about what they want to do next. Those who have a specific career goal in mind need to think carefully about how to achieve their aim. Even when you know what you want to do, circumstances can intervene to change your career direction. The process of career planning involves taking control and managing your career so that you are making the most of your current post in preparation for your next career move or ‘transition’. This means knowing when to take advantage of opportunities, being strategic and proactive, making informed decisions and being aware of your own particular strengths and weaknesses. Consider some of the following questions.

How well are you managing your career?

What are your career plans for the near and more distant future?

Looking back over the past 3 years, what experiences, skills or knowledge have you acquired that has contributed to your personal growth?

How happy are you with the progress you have made over these years? Could you have done more?

Are there gaps in your experience which could hinder your career progression?

Helping you with your career planning

In my role as a careers adviser working on behalf of a bioscience learned society, I have developed a repertoire of career development workshops aimed at ­bioscience doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, which I deliver in universities, independently and during scientific conferences. Similarly, other organisations, policy and funding bodies do the same, and many universities and research ­institutes employ staff and offer career programmes designed for their research staff and students. The existence and visibility of these development programmes vary across university departments, institutions, countries and continents. In Europe, the European Charter for Researchers (2005) and The Concordat (2006) provide guidance on good practice for higher education institutions, research institutes and other organisations employing postdoctoral researchers. In the US, the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate (CID) worked with doctoral training departments to restructure their programmes to better prepare doctoral candidates after the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine concluded that more funding should be made available to support the career development of postdoctoral researchers (Golde & Walker 2006; Walker et al. 2008). Furthermore, bodies such as the European Universities Association Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE 2012) advise on the ­continuing improvement and development of doctoral education and research training programmes.

The aim of this book is to transmit the information, guidance and advice from these career development programmes in order to provide a useful and convenient compendium to refer to. This book discusses the many complex factors which exist within the career planning process, enabling you to find effective strategies and make considered decisions for a successful career.

Content of the book

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter establishes the aims and objectives for the book and its content. The importance of paying attention to your career is discussed in the context of initiatives already in place to assist doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers to capitalise on their personal and professional assets.

Chapter 2: Planning your career

Theories of career development and planning underpin the information and ­guidance in this book. This chapter focuses on two key career planning models and establishes a structure for the book.

Chapter 3: Self-awareness

How well do you know yourself beyond your research interests and technical skills? How will you decide which careers are suited to you? This chapter contains exercises to help you examine self-awareness dimensions, such as your skills, ­personality and values, so you can make informed decisions about your career and write effective job applications.

Chapter 4: The job market

Where are the jobs and how do you engage effectively with the job market? With so much competition, how do you stay positive in your job search? Which careers should you consider? This chapter analyses a range of jobs and looks at how you can discover the ‘hidden’ job market through networking.

Chapter 5: Enhancing your employability

In Chapter 5, suggestions for personal and professional development to enhance your employability are put forward, including ways to extend your experiences beyond your core research work.

Chapter 6: Making applications

There are a number of ways in which to apply for a job. The most commonly used are the application form, curriculum vitae (CV) and resumé. Usually sent via email or an electronic submission system, it is vital that the documents adhere to guidelines and present your information convincingly. This chapter gives advice about how to make effective applications and is supplemented with example CVs.

Chapter 7: Successful interview technique

This chapter provides advice on techniques and strategies you can use before, ­during and after your interview to achieve a successful outcome. Sample questions give you the opportunity to consider how you would answer them effectively.

Chapter 8: Decision making and action planning

Based on a recognised coaching model, this chapter brings together the information gathered from previous chapters (especially Chapters 3 and 4) to enable you to make informed decisions about your career.

Appendix 1: Career narratives

Appendix 1 comprises 20 career narratives from research bioscientists working in a range of professions. Each case study describes the person’s job, how they ­successfully moved into this profession and includes a commentary on their career strategies.

Appendix 2: Social media

Chapters 4 and 5 are supplemented by Appendix 2, which describes how researchers can make use of social media to enhance their employment prospects and access the ‘hidden’ job market through networking.

Appendix 3: Example CVs

Appendix 3 supplements Chapter 6 and provides six example CVs, demonstrating how they have been adjusted to six different job advertisements and their corresponding specifications.

Appendix 4: Support and resources

Appendix 4 consists of a comprehensive list of support groups, web resources and a bibliography for further information.

How to use this book

Much of the information in this book is generic and is a useful reference for ­anyone looking for an effective career planning strategy. For example, changing patterns of work as a result of a global economy, models of career planning and the capacity for self-reliance apply to everyone. However, as research bioscientists, you possess a particular set of skills and experiences which have been used in the book to illustrate how you can capitalise on them. Example CVs and career profiles are based on research bioscientists working in a range of professions. Job vacancies, sources of support and further information are primarily bioscience related.

The way you use this book is up to you. You can read it from cover to cover for a full overview of how to plan and manage your career. You may prefer to dip into particular ­chapters, or perhaps you are searching for specific information such as how to write an effective CV or improve your interview technique. However you make use of it, this book aims to provide you with concepts and information, ­practicalities and tools to assist you in performing one of the most important experiments of your life – your career.

References

Bradley M. (2009) Contractual obligations. Sciencebase. Available from: www.sciencebase.com/contract_research_assistant.html.

European Charter for Researchers. (2005) Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/eracareers/pdf/am509774CEE_EN_E4.pdf.

European Universities Association Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE). (2012) Available from: www.eua.be/cde/.

Golde C, Walker G. (2006) Envisioning the Future of Doctoral Education: preparing stewards of the discipline – Carnegie essays on the doctorate. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Kirshenbaum S. (2008) Plight of the postdoc. Science Progress. Available from: http://scienceprogress.org/2008/06/plight-of-the-postdoc/.

Newman M. (2007) Postdocs embittered by lack of career prospects. Times Higher Education Supplement. Available from: http://bit.ly/ta9Qel.

The Concordat. (2006) The Concordat: to support the career development of researchers. Available from: www.vitae.ac.uk/concordat.

Walker GE, Golde CM, Jones L, Bueschel AC, Hutchings P. (2008) The Formation of Scholars. Rethinking doctoral education for the twenty-first century. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

CHAPTER 2

Planning your career

The importance of career planning

Much of a researcher’s time is spent planning and managing. You carry out a whole range of tasks, such as designing and conducting experiments, analysing data, problem solving, multi-tasking, supervising others and reading research literature. Activities such as communicating your research, networking, self-development and self-motivation all work together to extend your skill-set and can ultimately determine your career direction. If you apply these broad skills to the wider areas of your life you will, effectively, be managing your career.