Graduate and PhD holders have a unique set of skills that can be very valuable in the job market. However, many graduates have a false belief that they haven't developed many specific skills during their time in academia that are relevant for jobs elsewhere. As a result, they end up listing generic skills on their resume, which can be unhelpful when it comes to competing for jobs and demonstrating the value of their time in academia. To succeed in the job market, it's important to identify the unique skills that you've developed during your time in academia, and to communicate them effectively.
To start, it's important to brainstorm the unique skills that you can offer. This can be done by asking yourself a few key questions. First, reflect on the most challenging situation you faced in academia. This might be a tense interaction with collaborators, lab results that didn't meet expectations, supervision of problematic students, or a period of financial insecurity. Think about how you handled it, what creative solutions you found, and how it influenced your work and professional development. This will help you identify valuable skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, and resilience.
Secondly, think about someone you admire professionally, or someone who holds the kind of job you want. What are the characteristics that you particularly value in them? Do you share any of these characteristics? This will help you identify skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork.
Thirdly, reflect on whether you've implemented your own idea and carried it through to completion. What strategy did you employ to make it happen, and how did you convince others that it was a good idea? This will help you identify skills such as initiative, creativity, and persuasion.
Lastly, consider asking trusted colleagues to describe you and what transferable skills they think you can offer. This will give you some new ideas and might also give you a much-needed boost of confidence if you have a tendency to undersell yourself.
Once you've identified your unique skills, you'll want to pick and choose which ones you put on your resume when you're applying for certain jobs. It's important to tailor your resume and highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job and the organization. For example, if you're applying for a regulatory role at a government agency, you might want to mention that you're good at navigating bureaucracy and that you're comfortable critiquing others. And if you're applying for a role as a science communicator, you might want to mention that you can quickly adapt to different audiences.
In conclusion, graduates have a unique set of skills that are valuable in the job market. It's important to identify these skills and communicate them effectively on your resume and during job interviews. By doing so, you can demonstrate the value of your time in academia and stand out among other applicants. So, be proud of your skills and tell a story around them during the interview!