Dr. Alina Brown, Director of Consumer and Design Research, Global Strategy & Business Development,
Geely Design Global
1. Your career may not be a straightforward path, but more like a jungle gym with twists and turns until you find the best fitting job. Even though the first job you accept may not be the perfect fit, do not worry, that special place is out there and you will find it.
2. Don’t easily accept a “NO” “you can’t” or “NO” “you are not ready.” Work on your skills and build your passion for the position for which you were rejected and come back with a better, stronger proposition.
3. Make sure that you are visible. Always keep your network profiles up to date with accurate descriptions of your portfolio and research interests.
This panel discusses different tips on how to achieve and be successful in both industry and academia. The panelists come from distinct backgrounds with academic and professional business experiences.
Department of Consumer and Design Sciences : Organizational skills are essential for consistent and continual growth. It is very important to know where you are going and have a plan on how to get there. Backwards planning is more realistic in terms of plotting out how to do things, as well as planning time commitments. One good tip is using to do lists to keep organized. Another tip is being realistic; know your time commitments, as well as your own skills and knowledge. Set your boundaries and learn how to say no. Another tip for organization is tracking time; time tracking helps with being realistic in setting goals. Once goals are set, ensure that your planning includes buffers for when things might not go according to plan.
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management : Take advantage of the current resources your university or department offers. It is essential to surround yourself with knowledgeable people, people that you aspire to be like. Ask a lot of questions, even if they might seem silly. Push through that uncomfortable phase, it will help you grow and learn. Try to develop your critical thinking skills. Based on my experience, networking is like a domino effect, you will constantly meet new people that might offer you opportunities and introduce you to other people who can be helpful.
Department of Human Development and Family Science : Build your brand and take opportunities that come your way that align with your brand. Build diverse outlets, such as social media and a personal website, to showcase your abilities and your work. It is very important to constantly update your CV and social profiles. It also is very important to develop marketable skills. For those interested in teaching, research how to develop better teaching skills, or look into how to give engaging presentations. It is valuable to be honest with your advisors, tell them about your experience and needs. Networking also matters and can open doors for future opportunities.
Department of Consumer and Design Sciences : It is of high importance to constantly update your CV and ensure it is organized. When applying to jobs the match between what is presented on the CV/resume and the job opportunity is key. It also can be valuable to create an e-portfolio that contains all the presentations you made at conferences, including posters, and uploading all your publications. Sign up on different platforms, such as LinkedIn and HigherEdJobs, for future position searches. Perfect interview skills by recording yourself to observe your presentation style and take advantage of resources at the University Career Center for interview preparation. Finally, identify people who can write strong recommendation letters and describe your strengths –make sure you have the right people writing letters for you.
Panel Presentation by Dr. Wis Kwon (CADS), Dr. Alicia Powers (NDHM), and Dr. Cory Cobb (HDFS) at the 2022 CHS Graduate Student Research Symposium
| Academic Partners | Community Partners | Industry Partners | Balancing Community/Industry Work with Academia | Impact on Community/Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do the work on papers and other projects to demonstrate your skills, contributions, and work ethic | Determine their and your priorities and what is negotiable and nonnegotiable | Take initiative and reach out to potential industry partners | Integration of roles – connect what you do in research, teaching, outreach (e.g., offering student fellowships that engage students in your research/outreach) | Obtaining funding that can be used to engage community/industry partners |
| Start now making a vision and connections for your academic career | Be clear what’s in it for the community partners | Do the work to initiate and facilitate building a positive relationship | Find ways where one activity can satisfy multiple goals you have (e.g., building collaboration, writing a publication, mentoring a student) | Speak at industry conferences or meetings |
| Seek senior mentors who have an established network and can make introductions | Be an asset to any group with whom you collaborate; know your strengths and assets you can bring to the partnership and bring these | Think of creative ways to engage – e.g., Hack-a-thon competition for students | Be intentional and strategic in your commitments | Social media (LinkedIn, particularly) is a good way to disseminate insights that can help the industry |
| When attending professional conferences – review the work of others you would like to meet and then connect during the receptions and other networking opportunities | Communication, compromise, and transparency are critical components for a mutually beneficial partnership between campus and community partners | Learn what’s in it for the industry partners and make sure that is part of the partnership | Take care of health and personal life – make this a priority so you have the energy to be a highly productive professional | |
| Ask for help connecting | Communicate clearly what value you are bringing to the industry partners | Determine the type of setting you want for your career so it fits well with your life and your goals | ||
| Connections yield connections | Start with asking for a small thing (e.g., a 5-minute call) and increase the depth and kind of collaboration as trust is established | |||
| Be ready to work harder than any other members of the team. Collaboration is not to divide the load but to do greater things that you wouldn’t be able to do by yourself | ||||
| Communicate clearly upfront what role each member of the team plays (i.e., what value you and each of the other members of the team brings to the table) and continue communicating openly evolving/changing roles |
In this session, students discuss perspectives and strategies to apply to graduate studies. Clarity of goals and envisioning future career options are covered, as are steps to making the most of opportunities during one’s graduate program. Connecting with supportive colleagues and mentors is emphasized.
Grantsmanship is a core skill that most CHS graduate students will need in their future careers. The Grantsmanship Basics session covers the key elements of grantsmanship. Please see powerpoints provided by Tony Ventimiglia and Christine Cline, Office of Proposal Services and Faculty Development, for more information.
Grantsmanship Basics 2021From teaching to research to outreach/extension, taking a team approach often enhances the activities being undertaken and often is essential to achieving desired goals. This session addresses the value of collaboration, selecting good partners and ensuring good communication across team members.
E-Portfolios permit online presentation of accomplishments, interests, and expertise. E-Portfolios contain artifacts that document accomplishments and experiences, and incorporate thoughtful reflection about the content presented. E-Portfolio introduction sessions, workshops, and courses are available.
ePortfolios Project
Purpose: To understand what to emphasize in the curriculum vitae (CV) and letter of intent.
Importance: Your CV and cover letter provide documentation of your competencies and accomplishments. Often these materials are the first introduction people have to who you are as a professional – before meeting you or hearing you present your work. It is important to ensure that these documents reflect your strengths and your fit with the position.
Next Steps: After this one hour session, you will want to take time to look at models of CVs and cover letters. Most faculty members have their CVs posted on their faculty web pages. Invite your major professor and other faculty members to look at your materials and provide feedback and suggestions.
Additional links:
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Make Your Resume FAT
www.quintcareers.com/covres
Curriculum Vitae
CV Example #1
CV Example #2
CV Example #3
CV Example #4
CV Example #5
CVs of Faculty Early in Their Careers
CV Example #6
Cover Letter
Coverletter Tips
www.quintcareers.com/covres
This session addresses preparation for the interview, preparing and practicing job talks, and other tips for a successful interview experience. For nonacademic positions the Auburn University Career Center has partnered with the Graduate School to offer sessions addressing resume preparation, interviewing, and job negotiation.
This session offers tips for and examples of well written teaching and research statements. Strong teaching statements effectively address: Why do I teach?; What do I teach?; How do I teach?; and How do I measure my effectiveness? A research statement is a summary of your research accomplishments, current work, and future direction and potential of your work.
Teaching and Research Statements
Teaching and Research Statements Worksheet
Example Research Statments
Example Research Statement #1
Example Research Statement #2
Example Research Statement #3
Example Research Statement #4
Example Teaching Statements
Example Teaching Statement #1
Example Teaching Statement #2
Example Teaching Statement #3
Example Teaching Statement #4