As scientists, we rarely think about how our laboratory skills can actually translate outside the academic world. I really thought that finishing a productive postdoc at a reputable institution would mean that people would be lining up at the door to hire me.

I was naïve in thinking that my education and academic experience would pave the way and let me have my pick of any position I wanted. I worked hard, right? I published a decent number of papers, which shows I was productive, right?

So, as I started applying for positions during the last year of my postdoc, when my lab was dissolving due to the economic state of research funding, I became very flustered. I racked my brain with question. Am I not good enough? Am I not smart enough? No, that wasn’t it. The problem was that I wasn’t showcasing my experience in a way that could be digested by hiring managers. Take a look at my “skillz” from 2011, when I was trying to leave the lab.

After months of preparation, soul searching, and soliciting help from anyone that I could con into reading my CV, I translated my skills into:

Take a look at this chart for ways to spin your own skills!

Some transferable skills are going to be obvious for scientists (problem-solving and analytical abilities, for example). Although the essential "soft skills" may be harder to identify, you've got more to offer than you probably know!

Most of you are likely involved in a wide range of academic and extracurricular endeavors when you're not at the bench, so don't limit yourself. Like to run marathons, for example? You are motivated and goal-oriented! In short, think about how to make the most of your experiences and abilities.

We'd also encourage you to give this some thought while you are still a student or postdoc as once you start thinking about your transferable skills in this way, some gaps will likely become obvious. This would be a great time to find creative ways to add these to your repertoire before you really enter the job market fray!