Transferable Skills
open toolkit
Introduction
Mentor Interviews
Introduction Video References
- Langin, K., In a first, U.S. private sector employs nearly as many PhDs as schools do, Science, 2019.
- Moore, M., The Changing Landscape of tenure-Track Positions, HigherEd Jobs, 2019.
- Sinche M, Layton RL, Brandt PD, O’Connell AB, Hall JD, Freeman AM, et al. (2017) An evidence-based evaluation of transferable skills and job satisfaction for science PhDs. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0185023.
Reflection Prompts
- How could you approach this conversation with curiosity?
- What are some transferable skills/aptitudes of your mentee? How could you help them see these abilities as transferable skills?
- How could your mentee practice these skills in other settings, beyond academic research?
Additional Resources
Read
- Langin, K., Amid pandemic, U.S. faculty job openings plummet, Science, 2020.
- Woolston, C., Seeking an ‘exit plan’ for leaving academia amid coronavirus worries, Nature, 2020.
- Kruger, P., Why it is not a ‘failure’ to leave academia, Nature, 2018.
- The Transferable Postdoc, Kendall Powell, Science, 2014.
- Transferable skills for industry, Courtney Chandler, 2021, ASBMB Magazine.
- 11 Reasons to ignore the haters and major in the Humanities, Max Nisen, 2013, INSIDER.
Watch
- Invest in your strengths, Marcus Buckingham, YouTube video.
- 3 Steps to Identify and Articulate Transferable Skills, UC Davis Internship & Career Center, YouTube video.
- Identifying and Articulating Transferable Skills, PHutures, John Hopkins University, YouTube video.
Listen
- How to uncover your unique strengths, Let’s Fix Monday Podcast.
- Relationship Building, Transferable Skills, and Professional Growth with Penny S. Edwards, Faculty Factory Podcast.
- Coaching and Strength-based approaches to keep us progressing with Rachel Salas, Faculty Factory Podcast.
Act
- A Simple Matrix to Self-Assess Career Planning Preparedness, Sarah Blackford, BioScience Careers.
- Clement, L., Dorman, J.B., and McGee, R., The Academic Career Readiness Assessment: Clarifying Hiring and Training Expectations for Future Biomedical Life Sciences Faculty, Life Sciences Education, 2020. The ACRA tool is available on UCSF’s website.
- How to talk about your strengths and weaknesses in an interview, Tim Hodges and Bailey Nelson, Gallup, 2022.