How do you interview for industry jobs?
What exactly do I say?
A master's student asks—
I saw your advice about salary negotiation, and I have a pretty small question. What exactly do you say when you ask for a higher salary? It feels awkward, and everything I come up with just sounds like “please give me more money.”
Here's a simple template I’d recommend—
"Thank you for the offer. Given that [reasons why you are asking for a higher salary], would you consider a salary of [new number you are proposing]?”
What do I ask for?
A postdoc asks—
I just received an offer for an industry job, and the salary is actually a bit higher than I was expecting. I'm happy just accepting the offer as it is, but I've heard you should always negotiate. How much more should I be asking for?
Should I apply with a resume or a CV?
A third-year PhD student asks—
When an internship posting does not explicitly request a resume or CV, which one should I submit?
Can I apply for 2 internships at the same company?
A master's student asks—
I saw two different internships posted at the same company, and I'm interested in both. Is it appropriate to apply for two internships at the same company at the same time? Or will that make it look like I'm not serious?
Q. Can I get an industry job if I join a lab that doesn't have industry connections?
A first-year PhD student asks—
I just finished rotating with a PI who seems like a really good mentor, and they have a bunch of cool research that I’d be interested in working on. But I know their lab doesn’t have any industry connections, and I’m not planning on a faculty career. Am I making a big mistake if I join their lab?
Q. Who should I put on my thesis committee?
A third-year PhD student asks—
I just finished quals, and I’m thinking about my thesis committee. Who should I be looking for? My PI has some suggestions, but I don’t know many faculty that well.
Q. Will I lose the job offer if I ask for too late a start date?
A fifth-year PhD student asks—
This feels like a stupid question—how honest do I have to be when an employer asks how soon I can start? I’d really like to take a vacation after finishing, but technically I could start right away. Would they rule me out for a job because I offered too late a start date?
Q. Can I ask for a higher title during negotiations?
A postdoc asks—
I received an unofficial offer from a company saying that they decided to extend me an offer but will need to finalize the details before sending the official offer letter. (I had emailed the HR for a follow up since it has been a while since my last interview). In anticipation, I was hoping I could get your input on some negotiation tactics.
Q. Can I apply to jobs that require a PhD if I'm not quite finished?
A fifth-year PhD student asks—
I am applying to positions that require a PhD. I am defending my dissertation soon, but not in time to confer before the hiring date. Do you suggest I still apply or am I truly 'unqualified'?