Applying for Jobs

This is the last step in the career planning process (many people make the mistake of starting here!)

After you have:

  1. identified your skills, interests and values
  2. selected career options that will meet your needs
  3. networked with people working in the organizations you are targeting

Then you will be ready to create a strong targeted resume and cover letter. The most common error postdocs make when creating a resume is to forgo tailoring it –it is incredibly important to take the time to examine the positing and identify all the skills the employer is looking for –including all the soft skills (communication, team work etc.).

Here is a table that outlines the differences between an academic CV and a resume:

Here is a summary of what to include in your cover letter:

The following guides and sample industry resumes will help you to see what kind of information employers in industry are looking for:

  1. https://ocs.yale.edu/gsas-postdocs/resumes
  2. https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/resumes-cvs-cover-letters
  3. https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/resume/
  4. http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/basics#OnPaper