Detbra Rosales, Melanie Jackson, Chih-Hsien (Michelle) Lin

To go to grad school or not go to grad school that is the question”, every student has at some point of his or her life. Is graduate school required to get you that dream job in marine science or any science in general? This all depends on what career path you want to take. In high school, guidance counselors would advise you to take a career test to help you decide on what career you should focus on. Key words such as dolphins, ocean, and swimming might have led you to follow a career in Marine Biology.

Once a graduate career is started many struggle with grants and proposal writing. The key points in grant writing are outreach and having a multidisciplinary approach. The foundation for STEM research is based on multidisciplinary background and according to analysts, women are needed in research to increase the range of inventions and breakthroughs (NationalGeographic).

A career in science is not like the board game “life”, where kids mimic real world struggles of having a career, family, and buying a house. A career in science is more like the board game “monopoly”, where scientists have to make strategic plans on deciding a career path (ScienceCareers). There are many choices we can take such as a job in academia, the private sector, or federal government; But how do we know what path is the right for us? One way is to volunteer, get involved in what you are interested in, attend meetings and seminars, and get yourself exposed. Talk to people in the field ask them questions about their jobs and responsibility’s, this may help you narrow down your choices.

What happens when you finish your degree? As Michelle pointed out in class there are too many PhD degrees out there and not enough jobs for all of us. Where do we search for jobs and how do we get one? If you want a job in academia you can directly look at the Universities' websites, look at the available positions and start tracking down the jobs at least one year before you graduate. When applying to governmental jobs, make sure you have all the skills that they have listed in the job description, because they usually have a specific person in mind. Improving your CV/Resume and cover letters can make you stand out and help you get that job you want. When writing a resume make sure to add all your accomplishment, your motivations, do not falsify any information, and make sure you tailor your resume for each job you apply to. Analytic capacity, communication, and people skills are also important skills to have when applying to a job. Once you get an interview, do your homework, ask the right questions, and tell them what you can do for them. Now go out into the world young jedis and succeed in your field!

References:

• Hobin, Jennifer. A. "You Need a Game Plan." Science Careers. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Web. 6 May 2015.
• Giudice Marguerite. Del. “Why it’s Crucial to get More Women Into Science.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web 7 May 2015.
• Image 1 - Conyers, Grace. “Driving Force.” Your Career Is Your Journey, Some Advice. 6 May 2015.
• Image 2 - “The Career Path of a Marine Biologist.” Words in MOcean. 20 Apr. 2015. Web.6 May 2015.
• Image 3 - “PHD Comics: What Do You Want to Be?” PHD Comics: What Do You Want to Be? 6 May 2015.