Biophysical Society Newsletter
6
january
2014
“I am attending the BPS Annual Meeting
and am newly in the job market. How can
I make the most of the Meeting to assist
with my job search?”
Many different resources are available during ev-
ery Annual Meeting. These are listed in the on-
line program schedule before the Meeting even
takes place and at the beginning of the program
book given out at the registration desk. Some
of the events require signing up ahead of time
so it’s a good idea to know which sessions you
want to attend before you get there. The online
program can be viewed here:
.
org/2014meeting/Program/
The Career Center workshops cover many dif-
ferent topics including networking (
Networking
Now: How to Maximize Success at BPS 2014
),
how to interview (
Ten Tough Industrial Inter-
view Questions and Ten Pretty Good Responses
,
Selling Yourself to the Life Sciences Industry
) and
career opportunities outside of academia that
capitalize on your scientific background (
Beyond
the Bench: Preparing for Your Career Transition
in the Life Sciences
).
Having a well written CV is crucial for any job
search, so take advantage of the expert advice
available during the meeting. At the Career
Center, you can sign up for one-on-one sessions
with an executive coach and a contract recruiter.
Both have extensive experience with the hiring
end of the equation and will help you improve
your CV. These sessions fill up quickly, so sign
up early and don’t forget to bring a printed
copy of your CV with you.
You can also use the Job Board, available every
year in the Career Center. Simply upload your
CV so that employers can take a look, both on-
site during the Meeting and online afterwards.
Dear Molly Cule
Professor Molly Cule is delighted to receive comments on her answers and (anonymized) questions
at
, or visit her on the BPS Blog.
At the Meeting, the Career Center posts many
job opportunities on the job board, organized
by postdoc, faculty, and industry positions.
Post your CV early so that interested employ-
ers will know you are available!
org/2014meeting/CareerCenter/OnsiteJob-
Board/tabid/4306/Default.aspx
If you are interested in a faculty position, sign
up for the
Postdoc to Faculty Q&A: Transitions
Forum and Luncheon
. Sit in with faculty who
have gone through the process of getting a
position and ask them any questions you
might have. The luncheon is limited in size
(sign up early!) and the smaller size makes it
easy to have useful and in-depth discussions.
You may also want to attend the
Career Oppor-
tunities at PUIs: Finding a Job and Finding Suc-
cess
session for advice on obtaining a faculty
position.
Start perusing the career sessions to see what is
being offered this year. For example, the Early
Careers Committee is organizing two panels
this year highlighting
PhD Careers Beyond the
Bench
and
Moving on from Your Postdoc Posi-
tion
. The goal of the Early Careers Committee
is to help people like you, in the early stages of
their careers. Use them as a resource year-round.
I’ve tried to highlight in this limited space
just a few of the resources available to you at
the Meeting, but remember that one of the
best ways to make the most of the Meeting is
to talk to the people in your field. Networking
will be an important aspect to your entire
career, not just when you are looking for a
job. Walk up to the leaders in your field and
introduce yourself. Ask a question. Start a
discussion with them. The Annual Meeting
brings all those people to within easy walking
distance. Take advantage of it!
