Getting Experience

• Read at least 10 job descriptions for the job title you are interested in or actively seeking. Make a list of the common skills and experiences required and preferred by employers.
• View LinkedIn profiles of professionals in those careers. What skills do they emphasize in the bullet points for their current positions? Also read their previous positions to see what experiences may be valued for career progression.
• Talk to people! Ask alumni, connections, and colleagues (or professionals you meet) for informational interviews about the skills and experiences that ideal candidates possess. Read tips for Building Your Professional Network, and use UCSFConnect to find people who are willing to talk with (and maybe even mentor!) you.

Did you know that your time as a PhD student or or postdoc counts as work experience? That means you've got five or more years of valuable skills and knowledge under your belt. But just as important as acquiring these skills, is the ability to explain them to hiring managers, recruiters, and others who may not share your expertise. The sooner you identify the skills you already have, the earlier you can practice talking about them! 

• Read about how your scientific toolkit of problem solving, critical thinking, and project management skills prepares you for success in other careers, an article by ScienceCareers.
• Read about describing your abilities and strengths to employers, article by The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Read about how to gain leadership skills by volunteering at a professional organization, article by Addgene.
• Join a local or national society to learn about interests, trends and goals of professionals in that field.
• Search UCSF's database of Registered Campus Organizations to participate in a group focused on policy, business, communication, investment, entrepreneurship, and others.

If you're having regular meetings with your PI about your career goals, great! If you're not, you'll want to schedule a meeting dedicated to this topic. This is an important conversation, and we can help you prepare for it.

• Head over to Having a Career Conversation with Your Research Mentor, part of our Manage Up series. We have a live program and a slide deck to help you understand what goes into having this conversation.
• Make a 1:1 counseling appointment with us to discuss questions or concerns you have about having this conversation.

• Identify 10 organizations that offer jobs like the ones you're looking for. Follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, or your preferred platform of choice. Set aside 15 minutes a day to look through what they post. This is a great way to learn the new vocabulary and social norms of the community you're hoping to join (not to mention a great way to hear about any upcoming job openings). 
• In informational interviews, ask where you should be looking for professional conversations online. There may be a secret Slack community you can join, or an unlisted LinkedIn group to which you can be invited. Listening in on professional conversations is a great way to pick up perspectives that will come in handy for interviews and job applications later. 
• Your chosen career path may have a regional conference you can attend, or a monthly happy hour. This is a great way to expand your network so that you already feel like part of the community.