The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

▶
the what why who the what why who the what why who the
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jul 30, 2023 376 likes •588 views

The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Successful Career Successful Career Successful Career

slide-1
SLIDE 1

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 1

The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, The What, Why, Who, Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Where, & How of a Successful Career Successful Career Successful Career Successful Career

Tammy Kolda Sandia National Labs

tgkolda@sandia.gov

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

slide-2
SLIDE 2

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 2

Acknow ledgments & Disclaimers

  • I’ve been fortunate to have many excellent mentors

and role models over the years

– Dianne O’Leary

  • I’ve taken a lot of the central ideas in this talk from

similar presentations

– In particular, a presentation by Rosemary Chang at the IMA in 1996

  • These are only my opinions

– I could be wrong – I don’t represent Sandia

slide-3
SLIDE 3

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 3

Your Success Depends on…

  • What are your core

competencies?

  • Why is your work

significant?

  • Whom do you know?
  • Where next?
  • How are you going to

move forward?

What? Where? How? Why? Who?

slide-4
SLIDE 4

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 4

The five questions in The five questions in The five questions in The five questions in detail detail detail detail

slide-5
SLIDE 5

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 5

What are your core competencies?

  • Knowledge and experience comes

from your

– Thesis research – Master’s project – Summer internships – Past job experience

  • Includes skills as well as

knowledge

– e.g., programming

  • Depth in thesis area
  • Breadth can be useful too!
  • Evidenced in technical papers
  • Your essence!

What?

slide-6
SLIDE 6

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 6

Why is your w ork significant?

  • Most people do not know your

“What” directly but instead know your “Why”

  • Questions to ask yourself. How

does your work relate to…

– Other work in your sub-field – Your field (e.g., math) at large – Applications (even potential) – Science at large

  • Important to explain during

seminars to “hook” the audience What? Why?

slide-7
SLIDE 7

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 7

Aside: What is an Elevator Speech?

  • An elevator speech is a commercial

for your work

  • Can you explain your work?

– In less than 5 minutes – To an expert

  • e.g., a mathematician or computer

scientist

– To a non-expert

  • e.g., a physicist

– To a lay person

  • e.g., student or relative
  • You really will use this in

elevators…

slide-8
SLIDE 8

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 8

Aside: Giving a Talk

  • A talk is an infomercial for your work
  • Target the right audience

– Ask before you write the talk

  • Plan a high-level “take home” message

– Don’t present your work chronologically

  • Tell what you’re going to say, say it, then tell

what you’ve said

  • Use lots of images because they stick in

memory longer

  • Practice, practice, practice
  • Join Toastmasters to beat nerves
  • I have a talk on this…

http://csmr.ca.sandia.gov/~tgkolda/abstracts/giving-a-talk-snl-2001.html

slide-9
SLIDE 9

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 9

Who do you know ?

  • It really is all…

– Who you know – And who knows you

  • You are identified with your

connections

– Student of… – Collaborator of…

  • Invest time in making

connections

– With “big wigs” – With your peers

  • Service is a great way to

expand your network What? Why? Who?

slide-10
SLIDE 10

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 10

Aside: Netw orking 101

  • Whenever you meet someone, put

yourself in context

– Your name – Your school or workplace – Your advisor or mentor – What you do (see Elevator Speech)

  • Follow up - it helps reinforce the memory

– Email with all of the above – Plus a reminder of the conversation

  • Shy?

– Make a list of people to meet in advance – Network within your peer group

slide-11
SLIDE 11

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 11

Aside: Who are you?

  • Control the information you provide online

– Personal information: age, marital status, pictures, religion, etc. – Professional information: goals, research interests, links to papers – Connections: people, places, more…

  • Is your online identity saying what

you want it to say?

– Online gamer? – Poet? – Hiker?

  • Google your name and see what the internet

says about you…

slide-12
SLIDE 12

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 12

Where next?

  • Ask yourself…

– Any interesting applications to purse? – What other topics intrigue you? – Who do you want to collaborate with in the future?

  • Be opportunistic in your career

– Ready to jump on the next research/funding bandwagon!

What? Where? Why? Who?

slide-13
SLIDE 13

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 13

How are you going to move forw ard?

  • Remember that you are about

more than just your What

  • Lay the groundwork for the

future…

– Read, read, read – Go to lots of talks – Network

  • Find role models

– Emulate them – Ask their secrets

  • Have confidence in your ability

to continue to grow! What? Where? How? Why? Who?

slide-14
SLIDE 14

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 14

Applying the five questions Applying the five questions Applying the five questions Applying the five questions to the job search to the job search to the job search to the job search

slide-15
SLIDE 15

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 15

The Application Packet

  • Letters of Reference = Who

– Most important aspect of the application packet! – Critical to get at least one

  • utside letter
  • Long-term visitor
  • Internship mentor
  • Other contact

– Provide the letter writers with information on your what, why, and where – Ask for a strong letter

  • Do you know me well

enough?

  • CV = What (and Who)

– Keywords – Papers ** – Talks ** – Institution and advisor

  • Research statement = Why

and Where

– Written elevator speech

  • No equations
  • No subfield jargon

– Future research goals – Get someone outside your field to read it

  • e.g., a physicist

** You should have these before your graduate

slide-16
SLIDE 16

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 16

Applying & Interview ing

  • Deciding where to apply =

Where and Who

– Future objectives determine appropriate institutions – Interning and visiting in advance can help you with your decisions – Network to find open positions

  • Use your advisor’s network

too!

  • Interview Seminar = Why and

What

– Clarify your specific contributions

  • One-on-one interviews =

Where (and Why & What)

– You are trying to determine if the place will fit your where – Interviewer is trying to assess if you intersect their where…

  • Show interest in the

interviewer’s work

  • Try to match future interests

– May get some detailed questions about your work to assess your why and what as well

slide-17
SLIDE 17

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 17

A Few Interview ing Secrets

  • What: Few people have the skills you have

– You are a commodity!

  • What & How: Be ready for applications & interviews!

– Submit at least one paper before application season (Oct-Dec) – Finish core proofs and computations before interviews (Jan-Mar) – Write your thesis after interview season (Mar-May)

  • What, Why, & Who: Few interviewers will have time to read your papers

– That’s why explaining the why and getting good letters is so important

  • Where & Who: Many jobs are not advertised or even created until the right

candidate comes along

– Use your network to find them

  • Who: Let your contacts know when you apply to their institution

– In general, the screening and interviewing process is haphazard

slide-18
SLIDE 18

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 18

And to tell you w hat I And to tell you w hat I And to tell you w hat I And to tell you w hat I said said said said… …

slide-19
SLIDE 19

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 19

Remember the 5 questions

  • Know your core competencies
  • But also…

– Be able to explain why your work is significant – Network – Know where you’re going – And you have a plan to get there!

What? Where? How? Why? Who?

slide-20
SLIDE 20

Tamara G. Kolda, April 29, 2005, University of Maryland

  • p. 20

Thank you!

Tammy Kolda tgkolda@sandia.gov http://csmr.ca.sandia.gov/~tgkolda/

  • Sample resources

– PhDs.org – Young Mathematician’s Network – General and academic interviewing guides – A Ph.D. is Not Enough by Peter J. Feibelman (book) –

  • U. Cetintemel, On the Academic

Interview Circuit: An End-to-End Discussion, ACM SIGMOD Record 30(4), Dec. 2001, http://www.acm.rog/sigmod/record