This past fall term, several Arts and Sciences graduate alumni returned to Dartmouth to lead a panel on job searching strategies for current graduate students. Following the discussion, students were able to speak with the panelists informally over lunch.

Moderated by Kerry Landers, Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs, panelists were encouraged to share their experiences tackling the job search as PhDs. The panelists also detailed the various interview processes, salary negotiations, and hiring timelines each experienced in their individual searches.

Panelist Jeremy Ouellette, who received his PhD from Dartmouth in physics and astronomy in 2009, spoke about the decision process involved in choosing between an academic position and a job in the private sector. Currently a systems engineer at Raytheon in the Integrated Defense Systems division, Ouellette briefly considered a job at a private school in Pennsylvania; he accepted the position at Raytheon over a career in academia.

Initially interested in a governmental post-doc position, panelist Brandon Smith attended a conference during his graduate career where he successfully developed a network of contacts in the independent consulting world. Having received his PhD from Dartmouth in chemistry, Smith stressed the importance of both networking and attending academic conferences as a graduate student.

Like Ouellette, panelist Rebecca Lindstrom knew that she wanted to seek a position outside of academia upon completing her PhD in physics and astronomy in 2009. Shortly after starting at M2S in quality assurance, she switched departments and is currently working in data management and software development for clinical trials.

“I really enjoy my work, and it’s something different everyday,” commented Lindstrom.

To learn more about the career resources available to Dartmouth graduate students, contact the Graduate Studies office.

by Erin O’Flaherty

Photograph: Panelists (from left to right) Rebecca Lindstrom, Jeremy Ouellette, and Brandon Smith