Getting into Industry
Are you a scientist hoping to transition from academia to industry? You probably know that the first step is to put together a resume. But do you know how a resume and your academic Curriculum vitae (CV) differ? Resumes and CVs are not the same, though the terms are often used synonymously. They are truly different documents used for different purposes in different situations.
CVs are used for academic positions. They are often long documents focused on the nature of your research, your teaching experience, your awarded fellowships, and funded grants, and your academic pedigree. These things are most relevant to teaching positions and faculty research.
While a CV generally lists your positions and perhaps contributions, it does not communicate information most relevant to a hiring manager in industry.
This is because what’s largely important for academia isn’t as important in industry. You may have gotten conflicting information from your advisor or P.I. about how to write a resume. For instance, while receiving funding is impressive, it’s not as relevant for an industry position. Teaching experience is also valuable for academia, but less so as an entry level scientist. Industry prizes innovation, productivity, and teamwork over teaching ability and grant writing skills.
Reworking a CV into a resume can seem like a daunting and exhausting task but it is absolutely worth your time and should be done sooner than later. Your resume is your introduction to a potential employer. It is where you make your first impression—make it a good one! Hiring managers often get hundreds of resumes submitted for each position. They can’t look deeply into each one so, if they don’t see what they are looking for in the first minute, they won’t keep reading. Reading is a passive activity, not one where they evaluate each resume to determine your odds of being able to do the job.
Rather than make your resume vague and generalized, focused only on skills you can use, learn to identify who you are as a scientist and target positions where you can apply your skills quickly. Identify results and contributions you have made (not just papers), while noting the importance and skills you used. How do you do that?
What types of things are important to an industry-hiring manager? How do I demonstrate (not just list) my skills? How do I communicate that I am productive, innovate, collaborative (apart from papers)?
We at www.ScientificResumes.com address these questions and more. We have files to help you create an industry-relevant resume that will present your background, education, and skillset appropriately. Let us help you get your resume ready to apply for, and secure, an industry position. Our website was created by scientists for scientists to help people like you make the transition from academia to industry. Our worksheets and examples will help you build a resume to get your industry career rolling. There is even a helpful option to have your resume proofread and returned with comments. Let the experts at www.ScientificResumes.com help you get your industry career started today!
Once you have developed an industry-friendly resume, check out nearly 200 “no previous industry experience required” positions HERE to see if there is a good match for you!
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