The New York Academy of Sciences recently hosted a full day conference entitled “Establishing a Career in the Private Sector: A Practical Primer for Emerging Minority and Women Investigators.” The aim of the workshop was to help women and minorities develop the skills necessary for successful career management. Research scientists and business leaders were invited to participate in various panel discussions addressing diverse issues from the job hunt to outlooks for the future workplace.

Various perspectives on managing an effective job search were provided by speakers from the American Chemical Society, Kelly Scientific Resources, and Pfizer Inc. Overall, the emphasis was on proactive career development. Before you can start hunting for open positions, you must decide on your priorities. How many hours are you willing to work? Do you want to work from home? Can you handle a job that involves a lot of travel? Although this process of self-discovery can be difficult, it is crucial for tailoring your job search. The panelists agreed that networking is the best way to find employment opportunities. They challenged participants to consider a broader network of contacts from neighbors and friends to the sales representatives that drop by the lab. The speakers emphasized that networking revolves around building relationships, not finding jobs. The goal is to obtain new information…and that next contact. They also offered helpful tips on developing your best marketing tool – the résumé. The Morris Consulting Group focused on refining interview skills. They provided guidance on every aspect of this important process from the initial handshake to tactful ways for addressing tough questions. They encouraged participants to create an interview journal in which to chronicle their experiences. As the memory of the interview fades, this notebook provides a record of challenging questions for subsequent analysis, as well as serendipitous responses for future use.

Although these practical tips were helpful, I believe that the greatest impact of this conference was that it provided women and minorities with an open forum to discuss tough issues. I found myself surrounded by young women facing similar apprehensions concerning the job search. The conference allowed us to compare notes on the process and expand our personal networks. In addition, participants were able to meet women and minority scientists that had made the successful transition to the private sector. The panelists discussed issues that confronted them as they entered the corporate world and offered their advice on navigating the process.

Finally, the conference provided an arena for discussing the future job market. A presentation by the FutureWork Institute showcased a future workplace in which employees will work in small groups with temporary hierarchies. In the next ten years, advances in communications will allow for the creation of global virtual teams. As women and minorities will make up 70% of new entrants into the workforce, corporations will have to face new issues of diversity. Ultimately, workshops similar to this one will be crucial to preparing women and minorities for the opportunities that await them in the private sector.

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