Should I get a PhD?
When I speak to undergrads, I always get asked: “Should I go straight into industry with just my Bachelor’s degree, or should I get a PhD first?” This was a […]
Musings on a lame staff meeting (AKA: Valuable leadership lessons)
Several years ago I spent about eight months in an engineering group that had a very ineffective manager. His inability to provide strong leadership for the group was most apparent […]
So, what do you do?
I talk about networking quite a bit, because it’s critical to building a rewarding career. Building real relationships that you maintain through your entire career will bring tremendous value. These […]
Big company or small company. Where do I fit best?
People often ask me: “Should I look for a job at a big company or a small company?” This is an important question, as people tend to be wired to […]
Finding a job is like dating…
No, really. It’s true. Let me illustrate this with a story: Earlier this week I was at a local networking event. I was talking with a few guys I know […]
Five reasons why giving back is awesome
People often ask me why I enjoy working with students and early career professionals as much as I do. I tell them that it’s so unbelievably rewarding to share what […]
It’s all about Telling Better Stories!
Yes! Just as I emphasize in my ‘Telling Better Stories with the Same Facts” workshop, stories make your experience come alive! http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2017/01/tell-story-your-life
5 great industry jobs for a physicist:
If you are a physicist looking to build a career in industry, it can be hard to know what types of jobs to look for. Here are five great industry […]
Tell better stories with the same facts
Many early career scientists and engineers wanting to build a career in industry approach it with some trepidation because they worry that their experience working an a university research lab […]
Good data analysis skills are rare
I’ve been very surprised how rare good data analysis skills are in industry, even among those trained in technical disciplines. Scientists are groomed to perform in-depth data analysis well because […]
Three types of jobs
Broadly speaking, there are three types of jobs: A job where your task is to do what someone else tells you to do. These jobs are typically paid by the […]
Learn to determine what matters and what won’t…
One very important piece of advice given to me by Ashok Balakrishnan is that in industry you have to learn to figure out quickly what really matters and what doesn’t. […]