Commenting on PLoS
Get noticed.
Searching for a job can be quite difficult. Employers that are hiring have hundreds of applications.
Two friends: one is searching & one is hiring for a job both of which are now done. The person searching made it to the phone interview and found out that there were 300 applications for the position. The one that was hiring had over 180 applications, in the first week, after posting the position.
If you consider the cover letter, resume and CV of 300 applications – you are looking at over 500 pages not including references or HR materials.
I want to give you a specific task that you haven’t heard to make you stand out.
Recently, the Public Library of Science (PLoS) has opened up papers for comments. Search PLoS for papers that are published by the lab that you are applying and leave a comment. You can now start having a conversation with the person that is responsible for hiring.
By leaving a comment, you stand out.
Currently, there are not a lot of crystallographic publications on PLoS, but that will change. I have noticed across the board that there are very few comments. Once everyone figures out it is a good idea – you will no longer standout.
Don’t forget, make your comment insightful – you know, just like the ones that you leave here.
Darryl Coleman
October 6th, 2009 at 8:02 PM #
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
Paul
October 6th, 2009 at 9:37 PM #
On a side note – I am a bit concerned about journals that now allow people to comment on on-line articles. I feel this could easily allow an innocuous comment to develop into a flame war, that eventually leads into a law suit. To illustrate my point here are some comments taken from a random YouTube music video (The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats):
orehrepus1 – I so remember this video . Love it now…loved it as a kid!
jimraw1 – The only other song of theirs I remember was Pop Goes the World. I believe Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull plays the flute on that track. Men Without Hats put out like six or seven albums, and about the same number of videos, but really this is the only song of theirs that got any real airplay in the US
gunfplayer – sucked then , sucks more now.
Cheers!
Sean
October 6th, 2009 at 9:54 PM #
Thanks for selecting some relatively nice comments from YouTube
PLoS will have to keep an eye out on the types of comments that are posted.
Sili
October 7th, 2009 at 6:33 PM #
Good idea, but I don’t think I have the confidence for it. I have no idea how I’d go about getting a job in cryst with only a M.Sc. and no protein experience.
Just got a nice and thorough rejection email telling me I was overqualified for a lab technician position.
Damned if I do, damned if I don’t by the looks of it.
(Hi there, new reader. Still haven’t checked out the digs completely, yet. Saw you at Derek’s place ( the only chemistry I seem to read these days …).)
Sean
October 8th, 2009 at 8:45 PM #
Hi Sili – wish you a warm welcome and feel free to check out the digs and drop a comment on an older post, if you want
I am guessing that with a M.Sc. that you have not worked on solving structures so are focusing on lab work. Any labs located near by that you could ‘volunteer’ at to get experience?
Strange getting rejected due to being overqualified – was there an underlying reason such as pay? Is knowing too much is the actual reason for not getting the position? Ask if you are able to intentionally forget things, if they would be willing to hire you
I got rejected from a Walgreen’s job due to being overqualified. I later learned that having a college degree actually can work against you since they know as soon as you find a job that applies your degree (ie. you earn more) – your gone.
Sili
October 9th, 2009 at 5:38 PM #
Thanks.
I’ve solved a coupla hundred structures, I think, but only small molecule work and most of it run-of-the-mill.
I did work on the ph.d. but screwed up the last year by not getting a diagnosis and sickleave. So I have no thesis and no primary publications worth talking about.
I think there was a worry I’d run off and get something better, yes. I suppose that should be encouraging, since I don’t really expect to find anything much better, myself. But they’d had 70 applicants and some of those had practical experience that suited the company better.
Don’t really have much option for volunteering, I think. It may be possible to get a ‘placement’ for a month or so, but there’re not really any labs around here, I think. I can’t just work without getting paid – that’s a surefire way to lose my dole.