Preparing for Life after Graduate School Yolanda Gil (panel moderator) Yigal Arens Irene Langkilde Geary Lauri Grier ISD Retreat October 4-5, 2001

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Preparing for Life after Graduate SchoolYolanda
Gil (panel moderator)Yigal ArensIrene Langkilde
GearyLauri GrierISD RetreatOctober 4-5, 2001
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Preparing for Life after Graduate School

• Yes, there is life after graduate school!
• And it will be a much better life if you prepare
  for it NOW
• What kind of job will make you happy?
• What qualifications should you have in order to
  get that job?
• What will make you stand out from a crowd of
  hundreds of applicants?

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Sending Job Applications

• Before or after graduation?
• A good strategy 1) plan 2) be aggressive
• Pick the top 10 places youd like to work on
  (based on people you meet, publications,)
• Make sure enough people there know you well and
  understand your research/skills
• Intro yourself at conferences, meet visitors,
  send papers
• Send them a killer letter/CV that is
  personalized/customized follow-up calls
• A not-so-good strategy hmm, who is hiring today?

NOW!
NOW!
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Your Application

• Cover letter should state
• Your research interests (next 5 yrs)
• Why your research fits their needs/focus
• CV should highlight
• List your research accomplishments
• Publications (conferences and journals)
• References
• 5 people that know you and your work well

NOW!
NOW!
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And now for some good practical advice

• Lauri
• making your CV stand out, human resource issues,
  what you convey in an interview
• Yigal
• what your employer has in mind, how to prepare
  your interview talk
• Irene
• interviewing a view from the trenches