As a pandemic falls upon the earth and we are increasingly confined to our houses, there are some of you who would like to use this time to build your network. There are arguments about whether this is a time to be productive or not,
Informational interview questions–AKA–coffee with strangers I came across the “50 cups of coffee” idea right as I was at my wits end in academia. I knew I had to leave but didn’t know where to start. The “50-cups-of-coffee-strategy”—not unique to academics but recommended for anyone
One morning in December, I put the call out on Twitter that anyone with an advanced degree looking to build a career should join the new Master’s and PhD LinkedIn group—Roostervane—Careers for Advanced Degrees. (If you’re in the same boat you’re welcome to join!) Plus,
I sat in on a how-to-get a job seminar in the second year of my PhD that stressed the importance of networking for non-academic careers. I nodded and took notes. The instructor looked us in the eye and said, “Don’t wait until you’re done. Start
I started my altac career just before I finished my PhD. I was in final revisions with my supervisor, and I got a job running projects for a think tank. Getting the job added a few months to my thesis, since the revisions sat unfinished
This may seem like either an over-simple or too-difficult instruction depending on whether you’re extroverted or introverted. But I want you to think for a few minutes about your friendships. I believe that we become the people we hang out with. A lot of academics
Knowing how to network is a vital life skill–and it’s not usually taught in degree programs. But networking is stressful, isn’t it? When I think about networking, I imagine standing in a roomful of people trying to talk to strangers. Every time I’ve ever tried
The power of LinkedIn for PhDs I was scrolling through my old LinkedIn messages today, and I came across my reach-out that got me my first non-academic job with my PhD. This is what I wrote in the message: Hi NAME. My name is Chris
