Let us rewind and think about the moment we accepted our graduate school applications. How many of us thought at the time that a PhD would open countless doors? I bet a decent number of us. Correct me if I am wrong but during the course of our PhD we all changed, both personally and professionally. We learned to find joys in small successes. We discovered a whole new meaning of patience. We learned how to mentor, write, talk, think, and most importantly, we learned that life was a learning curve, sort of like a moving goal post. We constantly need to update ourselves and keep up with the system. It is a great time to be a part of STEM. However, no matter which stage of our career we are in, we have got to keep chasing that goal post. Else, we fall behind.
There is no dearth of information on STEM careers, whether conservative (read the academic route) or alternate (the whole array of roles from entrepreneurship to policy making). But are these so different? Probably not! Isn’t a new Assistant Professor also running a small startup? Just that there are some key technical differences between academics and business. Similarly there are different requirements of every sector and every job. To add an extra layer of complexity, companies are run differently by different people. How do you know about the work culture? How do you figure out when to market yourself as someone who follows protocols or as someone who constantly challenges existing methods and comes up with novel ideas? How do you know if you sell your science like a scientist or a product like a salesman? You cannot know it all. You need help from people who do.
There are plenty of blogs and templates on do’s and don’ts out there for us to find our right fit. People have built careers as Coaches in this domain. There are people, agencies, and virtual help on writing the best resume, sprucing up our LinkedIn profiles, negotiating job contracts, preparing for interviews etc. While these are immensely helpful and do create a big pile of resources, there is a gaping loophole. If all of us said identical, rehearsed answers at interviews and used the same networking email template we won’t stand out. The process needs to be customized to meet each of our personal identity. This is where one-on-one mentoring plays a huge part.
If all of us said identical, rehearsed answers at interviews and used the same networking email template we won’t stand out. The process needs to be customized to meet each of our personal identity. This is where one-on-one mentoring plays a huge part.
Gurukool is CSG’s mentoring platform, and aptly named so. Gurukool implies a sense of intimacy with the ‘Guru’ (mentor). For mentoring to thrive, a solid relationship needs to form between the mentor and the mentee. The strength of the match plays a critical role in this. How CSG’s Gurukool platform works is that interested mentees go through a selection procedure based on their CV, level of preparedness, visa status, preferences before they are inducted. First, CVs and LinkedIn profiles are tailored to suit the chosen industry’s standards. This is followed by guidance with interview preparation and presentation. Finally, mentees start interacting with individual mentors for a more one-on-one counsel. Another key feature is that any mentee can also reach out to the other mentors on the forum. Networking is key, and knowing who to go for help is crucial to reaping the full benefits of this platform. One thing to remember is that relationships don’t grow overnight. It has to be nurtured and is an ongoing process.
Here’s a few tips to be effective in Gurukool. First, introduce yourself and share your goals. Second, share your LinkedIn profile. Third, share your job search strategies. Fourth, post job advertisements of your choice and the corresponding resume and cover letter. Never stop building a strong network with CSG. Finally, ask any questions that you may have. The saying there are no stupid questions is true. On a similar note, try to engage in discussions, even if u think it might not add value. It gives you a virtual presence, makes you known, and who knows, you might be helping someone!
Finally, ask any questions that you may have. The saying there are no stupid questions is true. On a similar note, try to engage in discussions, even if u think it might not add value. It gives you a virtual presence, makes you known, and who knows, you might be helping someone!
Since we are scientists and we love our data, here’s what some mentees had to say about Gurukool. While some sang praises for Anshu Malhotra for coordinating the group’s activities, some owe their success stories to mentors Ananda Ghosh, Smita Salian Mehta, Ragoo Raghunathan, Deepa Balasubramaniam, Avnish Kapoor, Saurav Guha, Satarupa Das, Sanjeev Munshi to name a few, and the rest are hopeful to make it to the other side. Some of Gurukool’s success stories are Sriram Sundaramoorthy (Regeneron), Bhawna Singh, Suvasini (BCG), Riya Binil (SGS Canada Inc.), Pooja Arora (Pfizer), Sriram Saravanan (Abbvie), Smruthi Vijayaraghavan (Janssen), Subhalaxmi Nambi (UMass Medical School), Sanjay Kumar Bharti (Montrose Environmental Group), Radhika Gopal (Thermo Fischer), Sandip Shelke (Palleon Pharmaceuticals), Gargi Chaudhari (Abcam), Khyati Kapoor (Five prime therapeutics), Satarupa Das (Covance Biopharma), Deepa Balasubramaniam (Eli Lilly).
Roshni Roy says “I entered Gurukool in my first year of postdoc. Gurukool has helped me tremendously in making postdoctoral applications, changing labs, making presentations for interviews etc. It’s wonderful that they are assisting with both academic and nonacademic transitions.”
Sanjay Bharti says, “I started my job search and networking in May 2017. I joined Gurukool in July 2017. I transitioned into industry from October, 2017 as a Senior Scientist at Montrose Environmental Group, Virginia. Gurukool has been very useful. Whenever I asked for suggestion(s), I got tons of valuable inputs from mentors. I really appreciate all the help for my transition into industry. Thank you Anshu for making this group”.
Mentee turned mentor Deepa Balasubramaniam says, “Thanks to Ananda for adding me to Gurukool when I did not know much about the group or the selection process. I had moved into an industry postdoc after 4 years as an academic postdoc to help me transition. I was added to the group when I was knee deep in looking for a full-time position to transition from the industry postdoc. Thanks to Radhika Gopal, Smita, and Ananda for going through my slides for my Eli Lilly talk and all their advice. Arunodoy Sur, Ravikiran, and a few others constantly gave me feedback on my telephone interviews and mock questions that I posted on the forum. I got the Eli Lilly offer and took it. I have moved back to San Diego and am now a Research Scientist with Lilly. I apologize for being an unavailable mentor these last few months. We are still settling down and getting our everyday life together. I hope to be more available and helpful soon.”
Czuee Morey says “I joined Gurukool in July 2017 when I started an
internship at a pharmaceutical company as a digital health analyst and
the club has helped me to secure my dream job in digital health! My
mentors (Sanjeev Munshi and Ragoo Raghunathan) have supported me a lot in this difficult journey by understanding my individual case and needs, unlike most other support forums that provide generic advice. They have provided guidance on various issues, acted as a sounding board and even introduced me to their connections for informational interviews in this specific field. Sanjeev, especially, pushed me to focus on my long term goals and to meet people who are already doing what I want to do. This has helped me to not only find the right job but also set the field for an enriching career”.
Smruthi Vijayaraghavan says, “I joined Gurukool as a mentee on January 2017 and am currently an industry postdoc in Oncology Discovery at Janssen R&D (Pharma company of Johnson & Johnson) at Spring House, PA. At the time I joined Gurukool, I was scheduled to defend my PhD thesis in May 2017 and was hoping to transition into an industry postdoc. CSG Gurukool immensely helped me through my job application process, helped with refining my LinkedIn profile, CV, and helped with the telephonic and onsite interview process. I’d like to thank Ananda Ghosh, Avnish Kapoor, and Deepa Balasubramaniam among other mentors for their help.”
Subhalaxmi Nambi, one of Gurukool’s first mentees, says, “I was mentored by Smita Salian Mehta, Avnish Kapoor, Ananda Ghosh, Sanjeev Munshi, Parag Mahanti, Ambrish Roy, and Ranjith Anand. I still seek advice from Ananda, Radhika Gopal, and Sanjeev. Thanks Gurukool, and I am also happy to help.”
Khyati Kapoor says “I applied for the January 2017 session of the mentor-mentee program. I transitioned to industry in September 2017 to Five Prime therapeutics as Scientist II. Ananda Ghosh was always available for any questions I had during the whole process. I had huge help and guidance from Satarupa Das and Sojan Abraham regarding salary negotiations. I feel very happy and excited about my new role. CSG helped as a great platform for learning from experiences of several others in the same boat.”
Some of Gurukool’s other winners are on their way to greatness. Transition aspirants Kiran Andra, Jayeeta Sen, Partiban Rajsekaran, Supratim basu, Apoorva Mulay, Pratap Pinnamaneni, Gyanendra Kumar, Sangita Choudhary, Abhay Shukla, Manuj Tandon have expressed their gratitude for all the help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, interviews, networking etc.
So what do our mentors have to say about Gurukool’s mentor-mentee program!
In Ragoo’s words, “The feeling when a mentee owes you their success is a feeling I enjoy the most, and my family is proud of me when I tell them what happened. It’s almost like I get a high off of it; it can be addictive in a good way. You should all try it.This is an opportunity offered by the CSG Gurukool platform and is open for the CSG members to enroll when they are in the job market and need a little help or push to get to the next step. When Facebook was launched if you told anyone that this could happen I’m sure they wouldn’t believe you. But thanks to the founders and admins of this platform we get an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. I’m thankful that I can play a role in this. Although I have been doing this for a while now on my own in a random manner, Gurukool has allowed a more structured way to do and keep track of it. The advice is provided within the group so that multiple people can benefit from a single advice or take it offline for any specific mentoring one-on-one as needed.”
Smita Mehta says, “CSG Gurukool’s mentor-mentee program is a very special group for me. Once you achieve your career destiny or dream job we all kind of settle in comfortably, having an urge to give back but not knowing how. Gurukool gave me the perfect platform to give back as and when I could. Being a mentor, I always believe that the struggles one goes through should be used to show others the “path” so that it is easier and more accessible to them. Right from screening the resume, giving interview tips to conducting mock interviews it’s one’s journey that opens my vision. It’s not only a mentee’s journey of struggle filled with failures and successes but a mentor’s too. Gurukool mentees’ successes vouch for the fact that guidance with hard work always yields results. Every mentee is a learning experience for me and in this group the bond with each of them is a refreshing experience. It’s not always that you can give back, but if you ever could there’s no better place than CSG Gurukool. I hope we continue to carve dreams with the same faith and belief that these successful mentees would join back as “future mentors” one day.”
Feeling inspired? If you’re thinking how you can help here are a few pointers. Share your experience. You received an offer? Tell us all about your interview. You did not make it after the phone interview? Tell us what feedback you got. You read an interesting article? Share it and spread the word. Each one of us has something to offer, like an individual piece of a puzzle.
“I just wanted to say thank you very much, I got the job offer! Your advice and coaching were very helpful in getting the job and making the final decision! I really appreciate it! I take a deep breath, let it sink in and say, you are welcome. Just remember to pay it forward.” I’ll end this article on this inspiring note from Ragoo, and dedicate this month to our wonderful mentors for continuing to motivate all of us. Let’s hope the spirit of Gurukool stays afloat and instill goodness and wisdom to many more.
Cartoon Source: Mimi and Eunice
About the author:
Dolon is a Molecular Biologist and currently wears many hats. She freelances as a Consultant for a Toronto-based start-up, helping them with brand management, marketing, and product development. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Mercy College in the Biology department. She blogs about various topics pertaining to Biotech and PhD in Biotech.
Featured Image: Pixabay
Blog Design: Abhinav Dey
The contents of Club SciWri are the copyright of PhD Career Support Group for STEM PhDs {A US Non-Profit 501(c)3}, PhDCSG is an initiative of the alumni of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The primary aim of this group is to build a NETWORK among scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs).
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