Propelling Careers

In this episode, Jim and Lauren share insights about career options we are seeing people looking to pursue now giventhe current job landscape and flux in the US job market.  We thought this could be helpful to share in case it helps others as they are considering their career choices. We dive into these points below. We hope you enjoy listening!       We are seeing people considering new roles the...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren cover questions about LinkedIn that we have gotten in the last few weeks. These questions focus mostly on job’s posted on Linkedin, job search features, applicant numbers, and other questions regarding using LinkedIn for a job search.  We thought these topics, including these points below, would make a useful podcast episode since many of you listening may have the...

In our last episode, we talked about negotiation tips in general.  In this episode, Jim and I focus on salary negotiation tips.  We will offer advice for different parts of this process including the self reflection part, research part, and the offer negotiation part.  We cover these points below. Lauren gives talks on this topic often, and has also given a large number of offers, so she think abo...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on the topic of negotiation. We cover advice that can apply to different types of negotiation scenarios. We will talk about how to prepare for negotiation as well as a few tips for negotiation.  This episode will not talk about salary negotiation - we will cover this in episode 60. We know many people get anxious even thinking about negotiation so we hope you...

In many of our episodes, we talk about how to be competitive for the job market and how to navigate the current job market. This episode will provide advice for how to “get your game face on” to help you as you engage with others, whether this is during the job search process, such as in interviews, or when networking, or in other settings.  Our physical posture and body language can influence our...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren give some context into why the job market is tough right now and advice for how to navigate a job search in these difficult times. We hope you enjoy listening.    The current uncertainty in many things (tariffs, funding, etc) makes it hard for organizations to plan and therefore hire. This is impacting all sectors - industry, academia, non-profits, and government  ...

This podcast is a continuation from our last episode, 55, to answer questions that were asked during my recent talk to postdocs at Harvard Medical School on “The Talent Code: Understanding How Companies Assess Potential. Links in comments below.    In this episode, we cover resumes and cover letters and a few other points including these below. We hope you enjoy listening.    Do you think resumes...

Lauren recently gave a talk to postdocs at Harvard Medical School on “The Talent Code: Understanding How Companies Assess Potential”.  About 150 postdocs registered to attend. The talk Lauren gave covered insight into what organizations look for in candidates as they review resumes, search LinkedIn to identify people who may be a fit for a role, and interview candidates. Lauren leveraged her >1...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren discuss ways to build experiences outside of traditional paid work opportunities.  This topic comes up a lot since not all graduate students and postdocs can do paid work while they are in the US studying.  In addition, many people want to develop skills and gain experiences outside of their paid roles.  Many opportunities exist such as these below to gain experienc...

After having so many conversations with people at the recent national postdoctoral association conference in Boston, Jim and Lauren thought it would be helpful to put together a tailored podcast episode to highlight important information for international scientists specifically to help them navigate their careers. International scientists are a critical part of the US research environment.  In th...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren follow up from the last podcast, episode 51, which focused on developing and delivering an effective job talk and in this episode, will give few tips, such as these below, to develop and show confidence as you are giving your talk.  These tips could also apply to other situations also.  We hope you find this information helpful and we hope you enjoy listening.    We...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on how to develop and deliver an effective job talk. We will provide advice for academic as well as industry job talks. How you communicate in your job talk, is such an important part of the interview process. We cover points including these below. We hope you find this information helpful and we hope you enjoy listening.    Why organizations ask for a job tal...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren build upon our previous episode, episode 49, to talk more about why it’s important to communicate your value. In this episode, we cover advice related to communicating your value on LinkedIn and your application materials including these below. We hope you enjoy listening.     Why clearly communicating your value on your LinkedIn and application materials is importa...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on why it’s important to communicate your value along with a few ways to do this.  Right now, It is especially important for scientists to communicate effectively so that others know the value and impact of the work that you do. This episode will focus more generally on why this topic focusing on these points below.  A few future episodes will dive deeper into...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren continue from our last episode, episode 47 to cover a few more career truths to help our listeners plan for and navigate their careers including these below.  We saw a number of LinkedIn posts about these topics that we will talk about so we are hoping you find this compilation of information helpful.  We hope you enjoy listening.     Burnout is real and is not heal...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren discuss a few career truths that we thought would be helpful to hear as our listeners plan for and navigate their careers including these below.  We saw a number of LinkedIn posts about these so we have assembled some key ones that we think are important.  We hope you enjoy listening.     It’s not enough to just work hard and be good at what you do, you need to advo...

In this episode, Jim Gould and Lauren Celano follow up to the last episode, episode 45 and share a few more pieces of advice for giving and receiving feedback. We will then provide a few tips for giving and receiving feedback. We cover points including these below. We hope you enjoy listening.     When giving and receiving feedback, it is important to be aware of the difference between venting, co...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on giving and receiving feedback.  Many people could probably improve/enhance their processes around this, so we thought this could be helpful.  We cover points including these below. We hope you enjoy listening.     There are multiple types of feedback including positive feedback and constructive feedback. Also this could be given in individual or and group s...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on advice related to helping people navigate their career journey / search (orprepare for it). We often debunk bad advice (since one reason we started this podcast was to be a source of truth regarding career focused insights) but in this episode, we thought we would boost good advice, such as these points below. We hope you enjoy listening.     To advance in...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren share perspective about how to find silver linings in change. We both know change can be hard. but sometimes change opens up opportunities that you were not aware of.  Many people I know have been able to find a better culture, a better work life balance, more fulfillment in their career, and other things after the initial change of role. We hope you enjoy listening...

In our last episode, 41, we rung in the New Year by talking about the "New Year, New Job’". To provide more advice to help with this topic, in this episode Jim and Lauren cover something we often hear from job searchers, that is dealing with the pressure of finding a job under time constraints, especially without seeming too desperate. We cover these points below.  We hope you enjoy listening!   L...

In episode 41, our first episode of 2025, we focus on the topic of New Year, New Job.  The new year often brings with it a fresh start and this can invigorate people especially as they think about their career. In this episode, we will provide advice and insights to help as you navigate career exploration and or a search including these below.  We hope you enjoy listening!   - The important role t...

In this episode (our last episode of 2024) Jim and Lauren talk about highlights for this year. We are amazed that we have released 40 episodes this year…   As we wrap up 2024, we thought it would be valuable to reflect on our podcast over the last year covering points such as these below.  We hope you enjoy listening!   - We didn’t wait for this to be perfect, we tried and improved over time - Pod...

In this episode, Jim and Lauren focus on references. References are an important part of the interview process for both academic and non-academic career areas and sometimes there is confusion about how to approach this. We cover points in this episode such as these below.  We hope you enjoy listening!    - What are references - Why have references - Who do you pick as references - Importance of ta...

As 2024 starts to come to close, Jim and Lauren focus this episode on giving gratitude and a few ways to express this including these points below. We hope you enjoy listening!    Lauren Celano, CEO of Propel Careers and Jim Gould, the Director for Postdoctoral Affairs at Harvard Medical School, launched this podcast as a way for us to share our advice, insights, and reflections to help others nav...