How to translate your skills into language employers can understand 14/05/16 How to translate your skills into language employers can understand Chris Humphrey, PhD In this presentation I teach you a method for articulating your skills to employers. © Jobs on Toast 2016

14/05/16 Introduction 'Academics, researchers and HE staff are often anxious about moving into the private sector – fearful that somehow they will lack vital skills or not be taken seriously. In fact, many private employers are crying out for the skills developed by those in HE. It is a matter of being able to clearly articulate those skills and illustrate how they are relevant to the commercial world. And of having the confidence to try.’ How To Tailor your CV for the Private Sector by Lisa Carr 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Agenda By the end of this presentation I want you to be able to: 14/05/16 Agenda By the end of this presentation I want you to be able to: Identify your core skill set Analyse the skill set that’s implicit in a job advert Articulate your relevant skills using the employer’s language 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Intro: What is a skill anyway? Something you do to turn one thing into something else: The ability to create an output from diverse inputs (e.g. a conference) Or contributing to a whole performance (e.g. co-teaching a course) Employers want skills … what skills have you gained as a researcher? A transferable skill just means taking a skill you’ve used in one work context (higher education), and using it in a different work context (charity, business, industry or government). 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Let’s list 20 skills gained during your PhD (1) Project skills: Entrepreneurship: Project management Thought leadership Managing budgets Innovation Team working Bidding for funding Problem solving Networking Organising conferences & events International experience 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Communication skills: Knowledge & information skills: Let’s list 20 skills gained during your PhD (2) Communication skills: Knowledge & information skills: Writing Research Public speaking Teaching and training Publicity and PR Managing information Stakeholder management IT applications Web, email and social media Writing reports 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Warning: This is how academic labour sounds … ‘So tell me more about your experience with organising events’ … ‘I’m the President of the Graduate Society. I organise regular social events and careers sessions during the year. I started a campus newsletter to keep in touch with dispersed researchers. The number of graduate students in the society (paid) has doubled during my reign. The end-of-term event was a big success and I got a personal thanks from the Vice-Chancellor. I’m being consulted on how the university can improve its services for PhDs and post-docs.’ 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

How to learn the language of your next employer Don’t use academic language when applying for jobs outside academia! Instead, learn to speak the employer’s language by: Taking a job advert and identifying the skills / skill set required Articulating your own equivalent skills and associated experience, reflecting the employer’s language as closely as you can Using your results to ‘tailor’ your online profile / résumé / interview answers for that job and for others like it 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Two real-life examples to show how this works Job 1: Researcher - Westminster Forum Projects Job 2: Product Innovation Associate – athenahealth First, analyse the advert to determine the skill set implicit in the role … then articulate your own skills using the employer’s language. Black text = candidate requirement from job description Blue text = your matching skill and/or experience 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Example 1: Researcher – Westminster Forum Projects Quick learner who can hit the ground running = higher degree Some solid work experience – in policy, conference production, journalism, public affairs or similar = organising events, work experience Passionate about helping achieve our mission of providing policy makers with the context to make best decisions = research, teaching, publications Excellent communication, organisational and time management skills = project management Able to assimilate information quickly, identify key issues from a range of stakeholder views = research, writing reports Clear, stylish accurate writing is essential = writing, social media, publications 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set for Westminster Forum job Key skills and experience for Researcher role: Organising events Research Teaching Writing reports Writing Social media Higher degree Publications Work experience outcomes 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set matrix – Westminster Forum Employer’s version My short version My long version Organising events Some solid work experience – in policy, conference production, journalism, public affairs or similar Track record of delivering successful and well-regarded international conferences. In my role as Conference Manager, I successfully delivered three successive annual conferences for 500 delegates, one of which led to the formation of the … Research and teaching Passionate about helping achieve our mission of providing policy makers with the context to make best decisions Providing materials to policy makers that support informed decisions about strategy and investment. In my role as a subject matter expert, I advised at a national level on decisions for investments in X. I organised a round-table session to generate options for … 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set matrix – Westminster Forum Employer’s version My short version My long version Project management Excellent communication, organisational and time management skills As a professional researcher with multiple projects on the go, I maintain very high standards of communication and organisation at all times. I assisted X organisation to improve the way that they … Research and writing reports Able to assimilate information quickly, identify key issues from a range of stakeholder views Adept at identifying and drawing out key issues from stakeholder audiences. In my role as stakeholder manager for the X project, I was responsible for surveying the views of the managers of all Y departments nationally. The resulting data and report changed the way that … 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Example 2: Product Innovation Associate – athenahealth Proven track record of measureable business results = work experience / research outcomes / awards + grants Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree welcome = got one of those! Leadership with the ability to influence = leadership Excited to innovate in a fast-paced, but sometimes intense, rapidly-expanding company = working in a cutting-edge research centre Enthusiasm, idealism, creativity, dedication and an open mind = your reason for doing your PhD research project ! Demonstrated ability to assume sole and independent responsibility for various projects = project management 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Example 2: Product Innovation Associate – athenahealth Ability to work collaboratively to get results = teamwork Strong problem solving, analytical, and quantitative skills = problem solving Proven record of translating business and/or client needs into user requirements = organising events / analysis Effective verbal and written communication skills with diverse audiences = public speaking / writing / social media Experience with at least one software development life-cycle and associated processes = ICT skills / social media 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set for athenahealth job Key skills and experience for Product Innovation Associate role: Leadership Project management Teamwork Problem solving Organising events Public speaking Writing ICT / Social media Research outcomes Awards won Work experience outcomes Motivation / reason for PhD Higher degree Working in cutting-edge research 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set matrix - athenahealth Employer’s version My short version My long version Leadership Leadership with the ability to influence Track record of influencing and leading key stakeholders. I created the three-year plan which opened up a new area of opportunity for my organisation. My proposal, which I successfully presented to the heads of department and to the national steering committee, led to the release of $ funds for my project. Teamwork Ability to work collaboratively to get results Collaborative working style, achieves results through others. I was a key member of the project team working on X new discovery, responsible for delivering Y aspects … 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set matrix - athenahealth Employer’s version My short version My long version Public speaking / Writing Effective verbal and written communication skills with diverse audiences Excellent written and oral communication ability, confident across a range of media and audiences. I’ve written impactful material for a range of audiences, from scientific journals to science communication websites to grant applications. For instance, my … I’m confident in face-to-face communication, skilled at getting my point across with enthusiasm and clarity. I met the President / Queen / Taylor Swift and … 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

Skill set matrix - athenahealth Employer’s version My short version My long version ICT / Social media Experience with at least one software development life-cycle and associated processes Coordinating inputs for software development and managing go-live. In my role as X on Y project, I was responsible for input on the design and development of the technology component. I worked closely with the software team, coordinating requirements capture, design, demonstrations to users, testing and release planning. Problem solving Strong problem solving, analytical, and quantitative skills Excellent analysis and problem solving skills, using a range of methods. While working on X project, we hit a blocking issue relating to the Y aspect of the system. I successfully led the team in diagnosing and resolving the … 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

More resources – speaking the language How To Tailor your CV for the Private Sector by Lisa Carr ‘100+ Skills That Translate Outside of the Academy’ – Chapter 60 of The Professor Is In by Karen Kelsky Speaking the Language, Getting the Job by Joe Fruscione and Allessandria Polizzi Your job options after a PhD – in a diagram by Chris Humphrey Applying for jobs outside academia – from PhD to fellow professional by Chris Humphrey 23/05/16 © Jobs on Toast 2016

For more great advice on PhD careers … Visit my blog Jobsontoast.com and follow Chris Humphrey on Twitter.