It takes too long to write a specific cover letter for every application.

A fifth-year graduate student asks— 

How long should a cover letter be?

A fourth-year graduate student asks— How long does my cover letter need to be?

Do I have to write a cover letter?

A postdoc asks— Do I really have to write a cover letter? Most of the applications I’m looking at make it optional. What’s the point in just writing out my resume in paragraphs?

Should I include hobbies on my resume?

A fifth-year graduate student asks—

What do I say? I don't know what I want to do!

A fifth-year PhD student asks— I did an informational interview and part-way through the person asked me what I’m interested in doing. I used to be really interested in infectious disease research, but after a rough time finishing my PhD, I don’t think I want to do that anymore. I froze and didn’t...

Where can I find job security (other than the tenure-track and government work)?

A mid-stage postdoc asks— I came to UCSF focused on finding a faculty job (and that is still my main plan), but I am realistic enough to know that finding a tenure-track position isn’t a sure thing. Job security is very important to me, so I had been considering working at a federal agency as a...

Do I need to meet every qualification on a job posting?

A 5th year student asks— When I’m looking at job descriptions, the ones that are most interesting to me often have some key responsibilities that are things I haven’t done before. I think I probably could learn, but I don’t have any direct experience to show. How do I know if it is even worth my...

We had a coffee chat- what do I do now?

A first-year postdoc asks—

Is it too soon to start applying for jobs?

A PhD student asks -  I’m planning to be done December 2026. I know I’ll need to apply for jobs, but I don’t want to apply too soon. When is a good time to start?

I've only worked in academia, how do I answer these interview questions?

A postdoc asks -