What are we looking for when hiring (and selecting students)?
Nov. 2024 entry
I now find myself on the other side of the hiring process and realise what is, for me, truly important in candidates: a genuine interest in the position. I am therefore glad to see that this view is widespread both in Academia and Industry, dispelling the misbelief that a high level of confidence is key. I still remember the numerous times I have been told to show off my skills and sell myself in applications and interviews. It didn't feel right with me, but I tried to convince myself that it was part of the game. I now realise that this is actually not a good advice. It can easily lead to overconfidence and exaggeration, two attributes we want to avoid!
The two articles from Nature Career shared below resonate with me and I encourage you to have a look. The content is relevant for any level of application, even when looking for an internship. As you'll see, a word that comes many times is 'genuine'. 95% of the emails I receive from prospective students and postdocs state that their interests align with my research, without giving further detail. Such statement cannot appear genuine as it is a formulation copied and pasted in every email sent. If I have one advice to give, it would be: Stay away from ChatGPT to write cover letters and application emails! ChatGPT emails are empty of all substance making your enquiry the opposite of genuine. Why should I take time to answer to a Chatbot?
Skills can be acquired. Interest and passion for a subject cannot. If I find a genuinely interested student or postdoc, I am ready to fight a lot for them, as I know they will be dedicated. - Julie Euvrard
How job-seeking scientists should walk the line between high-calibre and humble
Want a new job in science? Six charts to help you land it
What does a career look like in Industry?
Sep. 2023 entry
It is difficult to get an idea of what industry careers look like when one pursues PhD and postdocs in academia. This article gives a glimpse of what type of jobs you could be doing, and some tips to shape your career. - Julie Euvrard
Promotion pathways: how scientists can chart their industry career trajectory