2024-W9: Planning your Career Development: Get Ahead by Getting Started!

Presenters: ▪ Domenica Berardi, Yale University ▪ Thomas Vial, Institut Pasteur ▪ Aleš Kvasnička, Palacký University Olomouc ▪ Millena Barros Santos, Bordeaux Metabolome-MetaboHUB ▪ Silvia Radenkovic, UMC Utrecht ▪ Simone Zuffa, University of California San Diego ▪ Breanna Dixon, University Of Manchester Description: This EMN workshop is for a diverse audience of ECRs from academic backgrounds, including Bachelor, Master students, PhD students, and postdocs, as well as ECRs in company/industry positions. We’ll employ a step-bystep approach in identifying, improving and effectively communicating the skills necessary for future professional development. The workshop is divided into three sections: ▪ “Step into your future career: planning and seeking skills”: providing a comprehensive background on effective strategies for skills identification and development ▪ “How to effectively communicate your skills and experience on your CV and motivation letter: academia and industry perspectives”: provide practical directions for writing impactful CV/motivation letters and imparting self-promotion strategies vital in the competitive job market ▪ Open discussion between the ECR audience, EMN members and invited panelists from academia and industry. This will provide the opportunity to discuss with panelists personal challenges in skills development and improvement, and to learn – based on their experiences – strategies to adapt and/or overcome these challenges Workshop Objectives: ▪ Identify the professional and personal skill sets which are necessary for the next career move, therefore addressing skill gaps and opportunities to overcome/improve them to respond effectively to career challenges ▪ Learn strategies of self-promotion in the process of networking and present yourself as a skilled professional in your field of expertise, therefore promoting your growing career in the future. Learn how to prepare an effective CV, motivation letter and marketing strategies to make CV/motivation letter work for the next career move in science with a focus on metabolomics research ▪ Share experiences and learn from the career path of professionals working in academia and/or industry. Acknowledge and reflect on the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in academia and industry, which represent barriers towards professional development Learning Outcomes: ▪ Skill Identification and Gap Analysis: ECRs will learn methods to identify and evaluate their existing skill sets, both technical and soft skills, necessary for their career goals in academia or industry. Ascertain the importance of adaptability qualities needed to navigate diverse career landscapes, providing guidance on developing skills like cross-cultural communication, resilience, and problem-solving to address career challenges effectively ▪ Career Path Exploration: gain insights into the skills essential for various career paths within academia and industry, aiding in informed decision-making about their professional trajectory ▪ Skill Enhancement Strategies and Promotion: learn different strategies and resources available to enhance and develop identified skills, and how to communicate them when applying for a job or being interviewed including practical exercises, workshops, online courses, mentoring, or other professional development avenues. ▪ CV and Motivation Letter: Guidance on effectively translating identified skills into impactful CV/resume content and motivation letter, strategically communicating these skills to potential industrial employers or academic institutions ▪ Self-Reflection and Goal Setting: Encouraging ECRs to reflect on their career aspirations, enabling them to set clear, achievable goals and develop action plans to reach them, tips on building cross-cultural competencies, networking internationally, and leveraging diverse experiences