TheUniversityofKansasMedicalCenterOfficeofPostdoctoralAffairs&GraduateStudies

ApplyingforaPositionAshleyCarlson,AssistantDirectorMattFalk,SeniorCoordinator

Objectives

• Knowhowtoapproachajobannouncementandanalyzethepositiondescription• Bepreparedtomakeagoodimpressionwithastrongcoverletter• Understandhowreferencesareusedtoreinforceyourqualifications• Befamiliarwithsomeothercommonapplicationmaterials

AnalyzingaJobDescriptionScreeningandinterpretingajobannouncement

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• Analysiswillhelpyou• Weedoutpostingsthataren’tworthyourtime• Identifythebestopportunities• Preparethebestapplicationpossible

• Questionstoanswer• Doyouwantthisjob?• Doyouqualifyandwillyougetthroughscreening?• Willyouhaveareasonableshotatlandingthisposition?• HowshouldItailormyapplicationmaterialstostandoutfromthecrowd?

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• Readmanyannouncements-lookforthemesandidentifyquality• Yourfirstimpression,initialscreening• Aretherequirements/qualificationsappropriate?• Beonthelookoutforscams!• Bewaryoflow-effortannouncements

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• ReadingtheRequirements&Qualifications• Onlyapplyifyoumeetatleasthalf• Educationisahardrequirement- itsverifiable• Importanceisindicatedindescendingorder,toptobottom• ATS:ApplicantTrackingSystemsautomaticallyscreen• Compareotherpostingstoseewherethefluffis• Keepaneyeoutforsoftoruniqueskillsthatcanliftyouabovesimilarlyqualifiedcandidates

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• EvaluatingDutiesandResponsibilities• Thesearegoodindicatorsofthevaluesandworkenvironment/culture• Askyourself:Doyouwanttodothesethings?• Importanceisindicatedindescendingorder,toptobottom

seek

lead

innovate

self-start

listen

teamwork

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• Lookforapplicationinstructions• Beonthelookoutforaquestion- isananswerexpectedinyoursubmission?• Carefullynotewhatisrequiredandhowitshouldbesubmitted

• Knowthecompanythatishiring• Helpstoweedoutscams• Providesusefulmaterialfortailoringyourmaterials

• Considerthesalary• Usesiteslikesalary.comorglassdoor.comtofindcomparablepositionsifthesalaryisn’treadilyavailable

AnalyzingaJobDescription

• Knowthecode• Teamplayer=Workingwithpeople• Strongorganizationalskills=busyworkload• Leadershipqualities=commandandinspirepeople• Additionaldutiesasassigned=beflexibleandwillingtolearn

PracticeActivity

• Getwithoneortwopeopleatyourtable&selectajobannouncementfromthoseprovided• Discussandpracticeanalyzing• Whatthingshelpwithinitialscreening?• Howwouldyouconsidertherequirements/qualifications?• Whatcanyoulearnfromtheduties/responsibilities?• Aretherespecificapplicationinstructions?• Isthereinfoaboutthecompany?• Arethereanycodewords?Whatdotheyreallymean?

• Afterafewminutes,we’llreportout

Thingstolookfor…

• ApplicationInstructions• LowEffort/ScamPosting• SpecificNumberofReferences• HardRequirements• SoftRequirements• SoftSkills• CompanyInfo• SalaryInfo

• CodeWords• EducationRequirements• IndicatorsofCompany

CoverLettersYourchancetomakeagreatimpression

CoverLetters

• Expandsuponandintroducesyourresume• Nomorethan1page,3-4paragraphs• Usestandardbusinessletterformatting• Usethecoverletterto…

• Showyouunderstandandtooktime• Demonstratewritingskills• Highlightandexpanduponskillsandexperience

• Showyouarefamiliarwiththecompany

CoverLetters

• Findthenametoaddresstheletterto• Proofread!• Emailoptions• Briefemailwithattachedacoverletter• Orcopyandpastethecoverletterintoemail

• Removeformattingandkeepitsimple• Omitbusinessletterblocks

• Hardcopylettersshouldbehand-signedalongwithtypedname

CoverLetterBody

• Startwithyourinterestintheposition,howyoulearnedoftheopening• Nameyourcontactifyouwerereferred

• Next2paragraphshighlightskills&qualifications• Thisistheplacetotailoryourletterspecificallyforthisopening

• Finalparagraphsummarizeyourqualifications,reinforceyourinterest,andsaythankyou!

YourAddressBlock

Date

GreetingUseformal- DearMr./Ms./Dr.___:wheneverpossible

CompanyAddressBlockIncludetherecipient’snameandtitlewheneverpossible

Sincerely,SignatureTypedName

BasicCoverLetterBuildingBlocks

Body1. Interest2. Qualifications3. Qualifications4. Summarize

Topportionisyourbusinessletterformattingandagoodplacefortemplateuse

ReferencesReinforcehowgreatyouarewithstrongtestimonials

SelectingtheRightReference

• Relevantexperience• Choosesomeonewhoknowsyourexperienceinparticularareas.• Ex.Whenapplyingforafacultyposition,choosesomeonewhoknowsyourexperienceteachingandyourwritingskills.

• Discussyouroverallcharacter• Youwillwantsomeofyourreferencestoabletodiscussitemslikeyourworkethic,positiveattitude,etc.

• Internalreferences• Theyprovideaninstantconnectiontowhereveryouareapplyingto.• Especiallyhelpfulinlargerworkplaces.

ReferenceEtiquette

• Howtoask• Askforpermissionfirst.• Inpersonorphonecall.

• Keeptheminformed• Updateallreferenceswhenyouapplyforanewpositionandtheyaskforreferencecontactinfo.• Sendthemtheactualjobdescription.

• Wheretolistyourreferences• Somepositionsmayaskforthemupfront,whileotherswillwaituntillaterinthesearchprocess.

Lettersofrecommendation

• Whenleavingaposition,itcanbeappropriatetoaskforaletterofrec.• Thesedifferfromareferenceinthatyoucanusetheseforfuturepurposes.• Givesyouadditionalcredibilityanddoesnotforceareferencetorecalldetailedexperiences.

OtherapplicationtipsMoretoconsider

Researchproposalsorstatements

• Summaryofresearchaccomplishmentsandfuturegoals• Commoninacademia,butalsootherresearchfocusedroles• About2pagesunlessotherwiseindicated• Highlightmainthemestoyourresearchandyourskills• Providesomespecificexamplesofpastsuccess• Describethefuturedirectionofyourresearch,getpeopleexcited!

Personalstatements

• Generally,firstpersonvoiceisappropriate• Bemindfulofwordlimits- ifnotprovidedgenerally250-500words• Startwithanintroduction,catchthereader’sattention• Usethefollowingparagraphstoanswerapplicationquestionsandargueyourfitfortheposition• Considerincludinggoalsandfuturedirection• Finishwithasummarythatwrapsupyourpointsintheearliersections

Teachingstatementsorphilosophy

• Astatementinnarrativeformatdescribingyourunderstandingofteachingandlearning,yourteachingmethodsandstyle,andexplanationofwhyyouusethesemethods• Generally1-2pageslong,usuallyinfirstperson,presenttense• Useapproachable,commonlanguage-avoidjargon,butconnecttoyourdiscipline• Beyouruniqueself,standoutfromthecrowd

Applyingforapostdoc

• Someusestandardpostingandapplicationprocess,othersrequireunsolicitedemailstoPI• Don’tblankettheworldwithgenericemails!

• Customarytoincludelettersofrecommendationwithapostdocapplication• MaysubmitapaperpacketifyouhaveunpublishedmanuscriptstosubmitorindicatependingpublicationsordraftsonCV• Consultyournetwork- faculty,postdocs,alumniforhelpgaugingthisslightlynebulasapplicationarea

Federalapplications

• USgovernmentjobsareallfoundonUSAjobs.gov• ProvidesaUSAJobs ResumeBuildertool- definitelyconsiderthis!• YoucanstilluploadyourstandardresumeorCVaswell• Mostapplicationswillincludeanonlineselfassessmentquestionnaire• Oftenrequirestranscripts

Recap

AnalyzingJobDescriptions

• Weedoutanduseyourtimewisely• Knowifyou’requalified• Learnaboutthepositionandthecompany• Applycorrectly• Decipherjobadcode

CoverLetters

• 1page,3-4paragraph,businessletterformat• Expanduponandintroduceyourresume• Findanametoaddressittoandproofread• Usethe4paragraphprotocolforthebody:• Interest• Qualifications• Qualifications• Summary

References

• Choosethosewithrelevantexperiencelistedinthejobdescription.• Shouldbeabletodescribeyouroverallcharacter.• Internalreferenceshelpimmensely.• Askforpermission• Keepeveryoneinformedthroughoutthesearch• Neverlistyourreferencesuntilyouareaskedto• Askforlettersofrecommendationwhenleavingaposition

Otherapplicationmaterials

• Researchproposals/statementstellaboutyourresearchsuccessesanddirectionsforthefuture• Personalstatementsanswerquestionsanddescribeyourfitfortheposition• Teachingphilosophy/portfolioshouldbeuniqueanddescribeyourmethodsandjustificationsinpresenttense• Postdocapplicationsarediverse- useyournetwork!• Federalformatcanhaveextrarequirements,considerusingtheUSAJobs ResumeBuilder

Questions?

Thankyou!ContactAshleyCarlsonatacarlson5@kumc.edu orMattFalkmfalk@kumc.edu withquestionsorforfurtherhelpVisittinyurl.com/KUMCASCENDforupcomingdatesandmoreinformationSavethedate:November9- CVandResumeWriting!