Per ersp spect ectiv ive e fr from a om a R Rece ecent nt - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Per ersp spect ectiv ive e fr from a

• m a R

Rece ecent nt Gr Gradua aduate te

AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting Seattle, Washington

Genna R. Cohen, PhD gcohen@mathematica-mpr.com

June 2018

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My Background

• PhD in Health Services Organization and Policy from

the University of Michigan

– Focus on organization studies; health IT

• Joined Mathematica Policy Research Oct. 2016

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Agenda

• Searching for a job
• Interviewing for my job
• My decision process
• Impressions to date
• Words from the other side

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“The Search”

• Conducted an open search
• Used conference resources
• Job Boards (especially for academic institutions)
• Booths (especially for non-academic institutions)
• Strategically attending presentations
• Contacted people in my network
• Professors in my department
• Alumni at other universities
• Faculty I’d met at prior conferences

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(my experience with)

Mathematica’s Hiring Process

1. December 2015: Apply online (basic packet) 2. February 2016: Email with HR 3. March 2016: Phone interview with two researchers 4. April 2016: In-person interview

Met with about 15 people in different group sizes

5. April 2016: Took a very long nap 6. May 2016: Job offer!!! 7. May 2016: Follow up conversations 8. May 2016: Accept offer 9. May 2016: Took another very long nap

• 10. July 2016: Defend dissertation

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Why I Chose Mathematica

• Applied broadly

– Multiple schools (public health, medicine, health professions) – Multiple types of positions (faculty, post doc, researcher) – Multiple regions (Northeast, Southeast, PNW, Midwest)

• Tried to imagine different dimensions of my life

– Professional – Personal – Family

• Chose to pursue

– Collaborative work environment – Breadth of topics – Location in DC

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20 Months at Mathematica

• Slow ramp-up
• Big adjustment
• Research aims for contract vs. investigator initiated work
• Workflow in a collaborative environment
• Taking ownership without being the owner
• Settling in and looking forward
• Carved out work I’m interested in (primary care! Health IT!)
• Negotiating future

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Job Search Advice

• Be ready for a potentially disruptive job market
• Every application is different and there are first mover advantages
• In-person visits are exhausting (and I’m an extrovert!)
• Get a flu shot
• Be honest with yourself about must-have vs nice-to-have
• Salary
• Location
• Work style

Don’t apply for anything with a deal breaker

• Pack an emergency kit (lozenge, energy bar, chocolate, mint)
• Have fun!