Finding a job can be a daunting task, whether you’re looking to stay in science or use your skills elsewhere. Helen Goulding and Sarah Blackford have put together a short series on how to make a great application and excel in an interview, sharing top tips from their talk at EGU 2013. Here are Helen’s highlights…    

Imagine for a moment that you are an employer and that you need to fill a vacancy. You carefully craft an advertisement and send it out to the world. You wait impatiently for the responses to come in. The deadline arrives and you are happy to see a large folder of applications.

You open the first application and scan it for 20-30 seconds. It is densely written, in tiny font and mentions none of the key skills from the advert. Not a good start. You pick up the second application and read a vague description of the applicant’s research interests and one limply enthusiastic sentence about working with you. You sigh and add it to the “No” pile. You pick up the third application and discover that the candidate likes reading, basketball and is PADI qualified. You are unsure how this relates to your vacancy or what he has been doing since he finished his PhD. You sigh; this is going to be a long day…

As an applicant there are simple but effective things you can do to increase the chance of your application / CV going into the “Yes” pile. Here are some brief tips:

1. Make your application easy to read. Most recruiters will spend less than one minute reading it initially. So use a minimum font size of 11 and use subheadings, bullet points, white space and bold font to increase readability. Spell- and grammar check your applications carefully.
2. Make your text match the skills and experience requested in the advert and make sure you provide all the information they ask for. Yes, this does mean you should be writing a different CV / application for every single job you apply for!
3. For an academic job, highlight your research experience, projects delivered, publication record, funding gained and experience of collaboration, teaching and staff management.
4. For an industry job, unless it is a technical science job, take all the science jargon out of your CV. Include your science degree and PhD but never list modules taken or thesis titles – these are irrelevant and off-putting to the non-technical recruiter.
5. If you don’t have much relevant work experience, create a section on skills, with headings to match the skills requested in the advert. Under each heading give a couple of bullet point examples of that skill, saying what you did and the outcome.
6. Edit your draft application brutally and remove all unnecessary information. To maximise the space available for relevant information: a) Use bullet points  b) Put all your contact details on one line c) Delete information on your hobbies, it is irrelevant  d) Write “References available on request” rather than listing full contact details.

Following these steps carefully should significantly increase your chances of being called for interview. Good luck with your job search!

By Helen Goulding

Helen Goulding is Director of Quercus Training, a company that trains scientists and engineers in transferable skills.

Short Courses

Open Access (OA)

Demystifying Open Access – an open discussion for early career researchers tackling how OA can benefit young scientists without compromising their careers. From what it costs to publish an open access paper to how we can measure its impact, all interested scientists are invited to drop in and join us over drinks in a marketplace of discussion.

How to apply for a job. It’s a topic rarely addressed in postgraduate courses, but in this session, career training experts will help you make the most of your strengths and show them off to a potential employer. Pick up some tips about finding the right job for you, preparing a good CV, and writing a targeted cover letter.

The Blogs and social media in scientific research session explores the ways in which scientists can use blogs and social media to communicate their work. Why should scientists blog or use Twitter?  How do they find the time? And what are the benefits? A panel of blog and social media-savvy scientists will talk about their experience before opening the discussion to the audience.

Last year’s communicate your science workshop

If you’re a Geomorphologist, you’ll be set for the week as the Geomorphology division has loads on offer! Pickup skills on dating techniques, project supervision, open access publishing  and you can also meet the master for tips from seasoned academics.

If you’re a Hydrologist, there’s also the opportunity to meet experts in the field in a round-table discussion with established scientists. You can also pick up pointers on writing the perfect hydrology paper.

See the session programme for more short courses at EGU 2013.

Meeting other Geoscientists during the tweet up at last year’s General Assembly.

Networking

The opening reception on Sunday, 7 April is a great opportunity to meet people, network, get to know the Assembly venue. There is free food and drink as well as specific places for Young Scientists to meet up on the Green Level. Tall signs will tell you where to go, so stop by to meet fellow early career researchers, division presidents and the Young Scientist representatives for the EGU (Jennifer Holden and Sara Mynott).

Earlier in the day, there will also be an opportunity for women in the geosciences to attend a networking event run by the Earth Science Women’s Network, for more information and how to register, see here.

Check this post for more details on networking opportunities at the General Assembly.

Have your say!

What would you like us to do for you? Join us over lunch (food provided!) to find out what the EGU can do to for Young Scientists and let us know what you’d like more of. These will take place on Tuesday 9 April and Thursday 11 April.

Other Sessions

The Medal Lectures, which highlight the work of brilliant scientists. Head on over to the lectures on the Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists (ML4-ML7) and be inspired!

You can also join in a conference call for Young Researchers in Earth Sciences, which aims to promote interdisciplinary research efforts among early career researchers.

The General Assembly can be an excellent source of information for those of you looking for jobs or doctoral positions. Apart from the regularly updated online job postings, the Jobs & Education Market (Hall X, basement) provides a forum for young scientists to meet and chat with potential employers, and to get informed about available positions posted on the nearby notice boards.

If you’re looking to pick up some skills for job applications, why not attend the “How to apply for a job” short course (SC9/EOS13, #EGUjobs) and take home tips on how to best convince your potential employer that you have the right knowledge and skills for the job.

Further, you can brows for jobs or doctoral positions using the jobs portal on the EGU website. Employers may submit their job announcements free of charge here.

Panoramic view of the Austria Vienna Centre (source: Wikimedia)

Interested in working in geoscience education and outreach? We have just the opportunity for you…

EGU Fellowships offer young scientists the opportunity to gain experience in science management and communication at the EGU Executive Office in Munich, Germany. Fellows are strategically deployed to develop new initiatives and capabilities for long-term use by the EGU. The Educational Fellowship will last six months and can be extended for a further six months.

In September 2013, we intend to appoint a Fellow to expand the Union’s educational programme with activities that are targeted directly at school students. These activities will complement our current efforts, such as the Geosciences Information for Teachers (GIFT) workshops, which are aimed primarily at teachers. The Fellow will further assist our Education Committee with an EGU-UNESCO collaboration intended to expand GIFT to Africa.

We are looking for a good team player with excellent interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills to fill this role. The successful applicant will have a masters or PhD in the Earth, space or planetary sciences, experience in science education, flexibility to travel frequently (especially to France), and an expert command of English. Preference will be given to candidates who are also proficient in French, and who are familiar with film or web-based media.

The Fellowship salary is according to the German public service pay scale and can be up to E13 TV-L, depending on expertise and experience.

Applications should include

• A cover letter and CV
• Two writing samples that demonstrate the candidate’s ability to communicate science to a school-age audience (blog posts, magazine or newspaper articles, etc.). An educational video or podcast can replace one of the writing samples
• Contact details of two referees

The deadline for application is 24 March and interviews will be conducted during the 2013 EGU General Assembly, which takes place in Vienna over 7–12 April. Further details about the position and how to apply can be found here.

Feel free to contact Dr Bárbara Ferreira, the Media and Communications Manager, at media@egu.eu or on +49-89-2180-6703 if you have any questions about the position.

We have a vacancy for a science communication or science journalism student in Europe to work at the press office of the 2013 General Assembly, which is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 07-12 April. Applications from geosciences students with science communication experience are also welcomed. The student will join the team assisting the EGU press officer and the journalists at the press centre, and is expected to help run press conferences. Other tasks include writing and/or editing for GeoLog, the EGU blog, and distributing EGU Today, the daily newsletter at the General Assembly.

This is a paid opportunity for science communication students to gain experience in the workings of a press office at a major scientific conference, and to interact with journalists, freelance science writers and public information officers. Similarly to other student assistants at the conference, the successful candidate will receive €600 for the week and will be given support towards travel expenses.

The positions are open to University students or recent graduates in science communication, science writing or science journalism (preference will be given to postgraduate students). Applicants must have an expert command of English and good computer and Internet skills.

Applications should include
* Cover letter and CV (one page each) summarising relevant experience
* Two recent writing samples (published or unpublished, aimed at a general audience)

Application documents (in English) should be submitted by e-mail in a single file to Bárbara Ferreira, the EGU Media and Communications Officer (media@egu.eu). Bárbara can also be contacted for informal enquiries.

The deadline for applications is 1 February 2013.

Press conference at the 2012 EGU General Assembly. Credit: Sue Voice

The European Geosciences Union (EGU, www.egu.eu) is Europe’s premier geosciences organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide. The EGU organises a General Assembly that attracts over 10,000 scientists each year, as well as reporters interested in hearing about the latest research in topics that range from volcanology and earthquakes to climate science, and from solar physics to planetary science.

The EGU is seeking to appoint a Communications Assistant to work with the EGU Media and Communications Officer in maintaining and further developing media-related and science information communications between the EGU and its membership, the working media, and the public at large. The position will be based at the EGU Executive Office in Munich, Germany.

More information about this vacancy, including main tasks, requirements, application materials, and salary and starting date, is available in PDF format or on the EGU website.

Informal enquiries about this position can be made to the Media and Communications Officer, Dr Bárbara Ferreira (media@egu.eu, +49-89-2180-6703). Applications should be submitted by e-mail in a single file to Dr Bárbara Ferreira by 15 November.

Do you know anyone who might be interested in this position? The EGU would be grateful if you shared this opportunity widely.

The General Assembly can be an excellent source of information for those of you looking for jobs or doctoral positions. Apart from the regularly updated online job postings, the Jobs & Education Market (Hall X, basement) provides a forum for young scientists to meet and chat with potential employers, and to get informed about available positions posted on the nearby notice boards.

The Jobs & Education Market area will also play host to a variety of presentations on work and study related topics.

Further, the EGU website has a newly launched jobs portal, which you may browse for jobs or doctoral positions. Employers may submit their job announcements free of charge here.

Panoramic view of the Austria Vienna Centre (source: Wikimedia)

We are currently looking for science communication or science journalism students interested in working at the press office of the 2012 General Assembly, which is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 22-27 April. The students will be assisting the EGU press officer and the journalists at the press centre, and are expected to help organise and run press conferences. Other tasks include writing and/or editing for EGU Today, the daily newsletter at the General Assembly, and for GeoLog, the EGU blog.

This is a paid opportunity for science communication students to gain experience in the workings of a press office at a major scientific conference, and to interact with journalists, freelance science writers and public information officers. Similarly to other student assistants at the conference, the successful candidates will receive €8 per hour and will be given an extra €150 for travel and accommodation expenses.

The positions are open to University students or recent graduates in science communication, science writing or science journalism (preference will be given to postgraduate students). Applicants must have an expert command of English and good computer and Internet skills.

Applications should include
* Cover letter and CV (one page each) summarising relevant experience
* Two recent writing samples (published or unpublished, aimed at a general audience)

Application documents (in English) should be submitted by e-mail in a single file to Bárbara T. Ferreira, the EGU Media and Communications Officer (media@egu.eu). Bárbara can also be contacted for informal enquiries.

The deadline for applications is 10 February 2012.

The EGU (www.egu.eu) is Europe’s premier geosciences union, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the geosciences and the planetary and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide. The EGU organises a General Assembly that attracts over 10,000 scientists each year, as well as reporters interested in hearing about the latest research in topics that range from volcanology and earthquakes to climate science, and from solar physics to planetary science.

In response to EGU members’ requests individually and at Town Hall meetings at the General Assemblies 2010 and 2011, the European Geosciences Union is trialling a mentoring scheme for members. Initially this will be for female mentees (mentors can be of either gender).

The mentoring scheme is designed so that face-to-face contact is not vital and is meant to be an enriching experience for both the mentor and mentee. Guidelines will be issued to both parties before the start of the mentoring process. You can be both a mentor and mentee in the same cycle of partnerships. Mentees can be from undergraduate level and above, mentors can be masters students and above. We encourage applications from mentors from all sectors of the Geosciences e.g. industry, government, academia.

To ensure your inclusion in this exciting initiative, please submit your details before the 31 October. The sign up forms for Mentors and Mentees are online. Information on the scheme is online via the EGU webpage. Mentoring partnerships will be provided with guidelines and agree a partnership contract concerning types and frequency of meetings and the topics to be covered.

We will try to consider all of your requests when assigning mentoring partnerships. If you have further questions, please email Jennifer Holden.

The EGU is seeking to appoint a Science Communications Fellow to start in January 2012. The successful candidate will work on the EGU Newsletter and assist the Media and Communications Officer in developing media-related and science information communications. The post is initially for six months and can be extended for a further six months.

Informal enquiries can be made to the Media and Communications Officer, Dr Barbara T. Ferreira (via email or on +49-89-2180-6703). Further information about EGU Fellowships can be found on the EGU website .

Applications should be submitted by email in a single file to Dr Barbara T. Ferreira.

Review of applications will begin on 15 October 2011 and will continue until the position is filled.