If you want to pursue a career in project management, here are the do’s and don’ts:
The bad news: Don’t get your hopes up for a project manager position in industry. Academics straight from the bench stand little chance. Industries do not employ academics fresh from the bench for this sort of position; they have rigorous standards.
The good news: Do apply to project manager positions in academia—we call them transitional project management positions. Start within your organization. Every so often there are calls for these spots at organizations such as Life Arc in the UK, or within the A*STAR in Singapore. Transitional project manager positions offer the opportunity to explore the commercial aspects of science and gain the experience to be considered for project management positions in industries later on.
The absolute extra you need in your CV: When you apply for transitional project management positions make sure to use a functional CV (https://careersinscience.co/2020/07/27/a-recruiters-tips-to-nailing-your-cv/) and showcase any extra experience that shows you deserve to be considered. As we mentioned earlier, you have tough competition, so include volunteer projects you have done outside the bench to demonstrate your genuine interest in the position and commitment to start the switch from the bench. Hands-on volunteering activities are even better. It can be volunteering at local scientific activities like Biotech Connection.
Here at ImagenScience, we want to add that project managers have many roles and we are trying to scout them all.
]]>Tony is currently a PhD student at Imperial College London. Prior to starting his doctoral journey, he worked as a research officer at University College London (UCL) and then went on to join a recruitment firm called Hays. His unique experience as a scientist-cum-recruiter has given him valuable insights into what industrial employers look for from applicants in the life sciences. Here, he is happy to share his top five tips for a strong, compelling CV if you are looking to find a job outside of academia:
Most of the time, employers are less interested in knowing which labs you have worked in and for how long a time. Rather, they are keen to learn about things you have done and skills you have picked up at each stage of your professional journey. While an academic CV focuses on chronological progression of education achievements, work experience, publication record and conference attendance history, a functional CV is tailored to highlight your skill-set and capabilities. List what you can do rather than the order in which you have done things. In this way, you are able to highlight your strengths and help the employer understand what you can bring to the table.
*Include one abstract with bullet points.
On average, employers filter through hundreds of CVs for a single position and a major challenge is to make your CV stand out at first glance. Include a short abstract or blurb with no more than eight bullet points to summarise your capabilities (similar to the LinkedIn summary section). The idea is to highlight your strengths and achievements succinctly, in a manner that urges them to read through the rest of your CV.
Together with highlighting your strengths, it is also important to feature tough situations that you have overcome. In doing so, you show the employer that you are resilient when things get sticky and persevere to reach the other side. Include an example of a problem you have solved during your time in the lab—for example, did you help your lab save money? did you pioneer a new technique that was previously unsuccessful? Did you use a new piece of equipment that nobody else had experience with? Did you help train other colleagues?
Use words that anyone can understand and relate to, including HR. If you are applying to a medium-big company, the HR department will most likely filter your application. HR personnel might have a background in science, but not enough to know very specific terms and details. If you are applying to a specific job post, include the words used in the post and avoid using synonyms. This helps tailor your CV to the employer’s requirements and keeps focus on what they are looking for.
Every employer looks for an agile team player who can fit their company’s culture. In this regard, it is always important to underscore your soft skills together with technical skills. Include extracurricular achievements, volunteering experiences and additional courses you’ve taken. These are essential components to your personality that show your motivation, ability to think outside of the lab space and integrity in working with others. One cannot stress enough how this will boost your CV—more on this tip next time!
You can reach out to Anthony Monteza Cabrejos via LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-monteza-cabrejos-a4a7a2a4/via LinkedIn.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of ImagenScience.
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