By Sarah Cardozo Duncan, Career Strategist
Networking is often considered to be the key to landing jobs, but few offer advice on how to articulate your story given the chance. As a scientist, how do you effectively convey your journey, experiences, and skills to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression? This article explores strategies for crafting and presenting your career narrative with confidence and impact. To build your career story as a STEM professional, there are five essential pieces of information you need to convey.
Having worked with thousands of STEM professionals, I've observed two common threads:
-First, many knew from an early age that they wanted to become scientists. This passion often emerged between the ages of 3 and 13, reflected in the games and puzzles they played, their curiosity about how things work, and their interest in building things. This interest was frequently nurtured or sparked by a teacher or a class during middle school, high school, or sometimes even in college.
-Second, any time a STEM professional describes a project, they begin with the word “so”. Therefore, when communicating your career story, start with “...So, I was the kid that was curious…”. If you are speaking with another scientist, this will create commonality which equals connection.
As STEM professionals, it is crucial to communicate your training effectively. Share the schools you attended, the labs you worked in (including the name of the Principal Investigator), the projects you participated in, and any resulting publications. Detail your undergraduate degree, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral work.
Training and Transition: Your training and transitions play a crucial role in shaping your career trajectory. Here’s how to incorporate them into your story:
● Training: Graduate programs, postdoctoral fellowships, professional development workshops.
○ Example: "I've received formal training through graduate programs, postdoctoral fellowships, and professional development workshops, honing my scientific skills and expanding my knowledge in key research areas."
● Transition: Reflect on pivotal moments, career shifts, and future aspirations.
○ Example: "My career journey as a scientist has been marked by several transitions, each driven by a passion for discovery and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific advancements. From academia to industry, I've continuously adapted and evolved to pursue my research interests and make a lasting impact in the scientific community."
Project Stories: Project stories are powerful tools for showcasing your scientific expertise and achievements. Here’s how to structure them:
● Project 1:
○ State the project.
○ Describe the actions you took.
○ Present a quantifiable result.
● Discuss the scientific focus of the project, the technical and scientific tools you used, and your problem-solving approach. If you worked on a team, mention their areas of expertise. Reflect on what you learned and the colleagues you remember well—these insights can be invaluable for networking within the scientific community.
Style: Your unique style as a scientist is shaped by a combination of skills and traits. Here are four key areas to consider:
● Leadership: Collaborative, innovative, results-driven, mentorship-focused.
○ Example: "My leadership style as a scientist is collaborative and results-driven, fostering innovation and mentorship to drive impactful research outcomes."
● Vision: Forward-thinking, problem-solving, research-driven, future-oriented.
○ Example: "I approach scientific challenges with a forward-thinking and research-driven mindset, constantly seeking new solutions to advance knowledge and address critical issues."
● Communication: Clear, precise, data-driven, collaborative.
○ Example: "My communication style as a scientist is clear and precise, rooted in data-driven evidence and collaboration to effectively convey complex scientific concepts."
● Interpersonal Skills: Empathetic, supportive, team-oriented, diplomatic.
○ Example: "I prioritize building strong relationships and fostering a supportive team environment, leveraging empathy and diplomacy to navigate scientific collaborations and partnerships."
Career Journey: Your career story as a scientist is shaped by your experiences, expertise, and education. Here’s how to structure it:
● Titles Held: Research Scientist, Principal Investigator, Project Lead, Laboratory Manager.
○ Example: "I've held titles including Research Scientist, Principal Investigator, Project Lead, and Laboratory Manager, each contributing to my multidisciplinary skill set and scientific leadership."
● Industries: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Academic Research, Government Agencies.
● Education: PhD in Molecular Biology, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry.
○ Example: "My educational background includes a PhD in Molecular Biology and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry, providing me with a strong foundation in scientific principles and research methodologies."
Crafting and presenting your career story as a scientist is an essential skill for networking and professional advancement. By structuring your narrative around project stories, highlighting your scientific skills and unique style, and reflecting on your career journey, you can effectively convey your value and leave a memorable impression on others. Are you ready to tell your career story as a scientist with confidence and impact?