Grad15: 4 tips to help graduate students find a job during a recession
Large-scale disruptions to economies and industries like the COVID pandemic or the Great Recession can make entering the job market even more daunting for graduate students than usual. To help students prepare for a job search during times of upheaval, the Graduate College hosted a panel of four ASU doctorate program alumni, who entered the job market during the 2008-2009 Great Recession to provide real-world advice they gained navigating their job searches during a time of great upheaval. The event also inaugurated the Graduate College’s new Career Navigators programming initiative.
Panelists
Sydella Blatch, Program Manager at NIH
Waleed Khalil, Associate Professor at the Ohio State University
Darren Ruddell, Associate Professor at University of Southern California
Natalie Wilkens, Associate Professor at Arizona State University.
L. Maren Wood, PhD, founder of the graduate professional development content platform Beyond the Professoriate, moderator
Four tips for landing a job during a recession for graduate students
Be flexible and open to multiple options
The key to riding out economic uncertainty is being open to creative career pathways. Several panelists were specifically looking for tenure-track jobs in academia but ended up taking positions as postdoctoral scholars. Others started out in teaching positions only to transition to the private sector once the economy settled and industries began hiring again.
Go ahead and apply for tenure-track or private positions, but simultaneously apply for postdoc appointments or explore other sectors where your skillsets are relevant. Alumni panelists noted that while academic positions were still posted, it was not uncommon for searches to be canceled mid-stream or to take up to a year. In an already highly competitive academic job market, some panelists recommended taking a postdoc position. Doing so allowed them to bolster their research and publication records and continue honing their professional credentials – factors that helped set them apart on subsequent job applications. It’s important to have a fallback plan – or multiple fallback plans, if possible.
Position yourself by understanding how your field is evolving and preparing yourself to fill a niche
In times of wide-spread upheaval, it is not unusual for entire industries to shift rapidly, and that can be an opportunity for those entering new careers. Both academia and industry will have to shift to meet the new societal needs that are emerging. For graduate students, that means the focus and areas of career growth within their disciplines may be evolving somewhat quickly. Reflect on what that means for your field. In the Great Recession, for instance, a greater need arose for those with advanced degrees in government positions. During the current pandemic, research positions, both within academia, but also government and industry, may see an increased priority. Anticipating emerging opportunities or trends within your field and taking appropriate steps to best position yourself to fill these new niches will help you make the most of these shifts.
Be proactive and prepare yourself to be the best candidate possible
Under the best of circumstances, job markets are competitive, and it’s not good enough to be ‘good enough’. Our alumni all emphasized the importance of finding ways to stand out during graduate school or in your postdoc appointment. Whether that means exploring career pathways through the Graduate College’s Preparing Future Faculty and Scholars (PFx) program, rounding out skillsets such as teaching, scholarly presentations or research methodologies, or bolstering your publication record, it’s important to hone your scholarly and professional skillsets now.
More than one alumnus pointed out that graduate school is a great opportunity to learn additional skills and master new tools – data analysis, GIS and grant writing were examples of “extracurricular” efforts that paid off later. Panelists emphasized the importance of seeking out resources you need to supplement your data and technology skills. One panelist advised that you ask for training even if you can’t find it. Some faculty will be willing to help you customize your learning.
Think carefully about the non-academic soft skills that will help you advance or stand out on a job application, such as diversity certifications or leadership/management endorsements, too.
Finally, it’s important to approach your job candidacy thoughtfully and be ready and able to talk about how well qualified for a position you are. An alumni member currently in a management position with a governmental research agency noted that she sees many graduate student and postdoctoral scholar applicants who may be qualified, but have not taken the additional step of articulating their knowledge, goals and skills in a way that truly demonstrates their qualification and fit for a position.
Don’t forget – network
Panelists remarked that even though it may make many graduate students feel uncomfortable, networking is important in a tight job market. They expressed regret that they had not actively networked more while still in graduate school or in their postdoc position.
Establishing connections and a reputation within your field will give you a competitive advantage. Taking on a departmental committee or service work (especially hiring committees, if you’re able to), becoming a reviewer or active committee member for your discipline’s professional organizations, and publishing and presenting at conferences are all essential ways to begin building a professional reputation that precedes you into the job market.