STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers

CAREER MANAGEMENT (also: Personal Leadership, Career Planning)

In general

Definition:

Mentors may, through the course of their careers, lose sight of the fact that many mentees have not had proper career training, and “Dr. YouTube” videos (like it or not, a source of information for many younger mentees) are very general, failing to provide specific guidance for mentees planning careers in STEM.^[1] For mentees pursuing careers in academia, the quest for actual information is even more difficult—high-quality resources may exist for various topical areas (e.g., CV writing, writing letters of motivation, applying to a postdoc position), but they can be extremely difficult for mentees to locate. The resources below shine light on these well-conceived materials for mentors. 

[1] View sample results found using basic “STEM career planning” search in YouTube (16.7.2020): https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stem+career+planning

Useful general Career Management resources:

Fuhrmann, C.N, Hobin, J.A., Lindstaedt, B., & Clifford, P.S. (2020). myIDP Science Careers Individual Development Plan. https://myidp.sciencecareers.org/

Created by scientists for scientists, this four-stage career planning tool was specifically created for doctoral students and postdocs contemplating their futures—both within and beyond academia. Mentees can create a report that can be shared with others, including mentors. Mentors can ask mentees to generate and share a report, and the tool additionally allows creation of a completion certificate. Includes assessment of skills, interests, and values; career exploration (consider career fit, read about careers, attend events, talk to people, choose a career path); goal setting (career advancement, skill, and project goals); and considering and implementation plan (articulating mentoring team, creation of summary, and certificate).

The Wellbeing Thesis. (2020). Planning for the World After. https://thewellbeingthesis.org.uk/planning-for-the-world-after/

Self-paced reading on the topics: What Matters in Your Career, Tomorrow Isn’t Forever – A Career in Steps, The Skills and Knowledge of a Doctor, and The Importance of Planned Happenstance.

Tags: All IPS; all PSR; all IAL; CompQ

Peer Review: None

Table of contents:

3.0. In general

3.1. Language training

3.2. Leadership and teamwork
3.2.1. Managing for researchers
3.2.2. Project management
3.2.3. Decision making: crucial factors, processes and approaches
3.2.4. Conflict management
3.2.5. Self-efficiency ("independence") and academic perseverance
3.2.6. Social responsibility/taking on responsibility
3.2.7. Sustainable mobility strategies based on international cooperation
3.2.8. Intercultural collaboration skills: acting successfully in an international academic environment (includes international awareness, international communication)

3.3. Tenure process
3.3.1. Getting promoted
3.3.1.1. Managing your “habilitation” / academic advancement and promotion

3.4. Placement and job searching/seeking

3.4.1. Non-academic positions
3.4.1.1. Applying for non-academic jobs
3.4.1.2. Interview techniques for non-academic positions
3.4.2. Academic positions
3.4.2.1. Applying for academic jobs
3.4.2.2. CVs and cover letters
3.4.2.3. Application essays and other (teaching, research) statements
3.4.2.4. Interview techniques for academic positions
3.4.2.5. Pitch training in preparation for interviews
3.4.2.6. Salary negotiation
3.4.2.7. Qualifications/skills documentation and verification
3.4.2.8. Skills gap identification and development
3.4.3. Leaving academia: career planning for doctoral candidates

3.5. Self-promotion
3.5.1. Showcasing: Steps to raising research profiles
3.5.2. Networking for researchers

3.6. Where academia & the private sector intersect
3.6.1. Basics in business administration, accounting, budgets
3.6.2. Entrepreneurship & startups (includes: innovation, commercialization)
3.6.3. Knowledge transfer, patenting, legal and business standardization
3.6.4. Intersectoral awareness and experience (internships/"real world” work experiences, experiential learning)

3.7. Wellness/wellbeing & personal effectiveness
3.7.1. Personality & self-management
3.7.2. Controlled by stress or stress under control?
3.7.3. Emotional intelligence: personal and social competence
3.7.4. Strategies for problem solving when things go wrong

3.8. Funding opportunities for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers
3.8.1. Funding for PhD candidates
3.8.2. Funding for postdoctoral research in academia

 

Author: Stephanie Krueger

Peer Reviewer(s): None

Last Updated: October 28, 2021