Applied training for work inside and outside the academy

1. Applied training for work inside and outside the academy Darcy Hannibal, Phd Brain, Mind, and Behavior Unit California National Primate Research Center University of California Davis

2. Academics and athletes have much in common Photo: Register Guard Small percentage make it from college to professional Hard work and talent is no guarantee Stochastic events play a role in shaping success

3. The importance of constructing a diverse skill set • Myth: Academic focused preparation is sufficient for applied jobs • Your Plan B is someone else’s Plan A • Preparing for both will make you a more competitive contender for applied jobs • Lack of preparation is a glaring mistake in application and interview

4. Mistakes I See in Applicants • Letter and CV tailored primarily for academic job • Need to highlight skills over accolades • Stunned or saddened demeanor during interview • Applicant views this as a low point • Trouble making connections between academic preparation and fit with applied focus • Making this connection is what can move you to the top of the list • Has not done homework on primate centers, our center, the species we work with, or the research done in our lab • Unfamiliar with basic terminology in applied contexts

5. My core interests Data and analyses Watching Monkeys Writing Photo: Hannibal (Rhesus macaque monkey, Cayo Santiago Puerto Rico)

6. My Preparation (in Hindsight) • Data and analyses • Research assistant position in a general social science lab • Worked with data from a wide variety of field and sources • One statistics course was all that was expected, I took four • Data consulting between PhD and current job • Monkeys • The most common species in captivity is rhesus macaques • Chose as the study species for my dissertation • Primate center experience at two primate centers

7. Data and Analyses Unexpected Benefits: Contribution appreciated and valued Learning new methodologies

8. How to build a plan • Start with what you love to do • Not the academic version, the practical version • Outside of academia, where is this valued most? • What applied jobs are the best fit for you • Important considerations to learn more about: • Public versus private sector • Non-profit versus for profit • Before ruling it out, consider your next best alternative • Where can you accumulate skills and knowledge? • Both inside and outside your department • Course, assistantships, internships, or other work

9. The Value of the Applied Job • Myth: PhD is only useful for strictly academic pursuits • Increasing demand for advanced degree applicants • Better than a job unrelated to your field or no job at all