This could make me lazy …..
I recently discovered ChatGPT, the new AI tool that is set to revolutionise the world as we know it. Whatever you think about it – good, bad, indifferent – it can’t be ignored.
As you can imagine, it’s not often that a new technology comes along that quite radically and fundamentally affects my work as a career consultant. Obviously, Zoom and various online learning tools helped me to adapt to online delivery during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, and I still continue to use this teaching method with great results (and with expert assistance from a digital learning designer, Virginie Siret).
But now, here’s this new ChatGPT assistant at my disposal to help me in all sorts of ways I had never imagined. It seems it is highly adept at writing articles, essays, reports and many other documents, including CVs and covering letters.
Of course, you need to plug in the right questions and supply it with quite concise information to get anything of value back, but I have to say it’s quite impressive without too much prompting. I’ve already asked it to adapt an academic CV to suit an industry job description and, I have to say, the result wasn’t too bad (although it’s still a work in progress).
Then I thought, why not see if it can write my monthly blog, so here’s what I did:
My prompt:
I’m a careers adviser who supports bioscience PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with their career planning and development to help them to succeed in their careers. Can you write me a blog post of 500 words in a chatty and personable style on the subject of how to translate academic skills into skills that are valued by industry?
ChatGPT result:
Hey there! Are you a PhD student or postdoc struggling to articulate how your academic skills and experience can be applied in an industry setting? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s a common challenge, but there are some strategies you can use to help you translate your academic skills into skills that are valued by industry.
First, it’s important to analyze your transferable skills. These are skills that you’ve developed through your academic work that can be applied in different contexts and are valued by employers. Examples of transferable skills for bioscience PhD students and postdocs include problem-solving, data analysis, communication, and project management. Once you’ve identified your transferable skills, you can start thinking about how you can apply them in an industry setting.
Next, when you’re communicating with employers, it’s important to use industry language. This means avoiding technical terms and jargon that are specific to your field, and instead using language that is relevant to the industry you’re targeting. For example, instead of talking about gene editing techniques, you could talk about your expertise in using cutting-edge technology to solve complex problems.
Another important strategy is to focus on outcomes. In academia, the focus is often on the process of research, but in industry, employers are interested in results. They want to know what you can do for them and how you can contribute to their organization. When you’re talking about your academic experience, focus on the outcomes of your research and how they could be applied in an industry setting. For example, if you have experience developing new drugs, highlight the potential impact that your work could have on patients and the healthcare industry.
Gaining industry experience is also key. One of the best ways to translate academic skills into industry skills is to gain experience in an industry setting through internships, work placements, or volunteering opportunities. By working in an industry setting, you’ll gain an understanding of the skills and experience that are valued by employers, and you’ll have the opportunity to build a network of industry contacts that could help you find a job.
Lastly, seeking advice and guidance from professional careers advisers, alumni from your university who have gone on to work in industry, or professionals working in the industry you’re interested in, can be invaluable. These people can provide you with insights into what employers are looking for and how to make yourself stand out in a competitive job market.
In conclusion, translating academic skills into industry skills can be challenging, but it’s definitely doable. By analyzing your transferable skills, using industry language, focusing on outcomes, gaining industry experience, and seeking advice and guidance, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for jobs in industry. So go out there and show them what you’ve got!
So, what do you think? Not bad as an initial starting point, and I like the assertion in paragraph 6 that it’s important to seek professional advice and guidance.
Will I continue to use ChatGPT? Yes, most definitely – it will be an invaluable tool to assist in tasks such CV writing, locating employers and professionals, as well as other career-related activities. I also plan to show researchers how they can use it to help with their career planning, once I get the hang of it!
Will I use it to write future blogs? The answer to that question is a resounding “No”. I enjoy writing my blogs and draw upon my own experiences and perspective to make them as relevant to my readers as possible.
So, BlogSB 1 – 0 ChatGPT