Matters to a Degree
By Nabil Hassan El-Ghoroury, PhD, associate executive director, APAGS
Print version: page 48
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Many psychologists and graduate students don't feel comfortable promoting themselves. We'd rather allow our research, teaching and clinical experiences to speak for themselves. We just want to do our science or help people. Unfortunately, the real world, requires us to speak up. Open faculty positions often receive hundreds of applications and many of you are already aware of the significant competition in the APPIC Match as a result of the internship crisis. How can you stand out in a crowded field?
Promoting your strengths and marketing yourself effectively are ways to stand out from the competition. Self-promotion does not have to be sleazy; you can promote your skills and expertise in ways that are honest and genuine, but not boastful.
Here's how:
- Reflect. First, think critically about your strengths, skill sets and what makes you unique as a future psychologist. Also think about the areas of growth you would like to work on while still in training that can help you identify your training goals and help you develop future strengths. If it is hard for you to identify your strengths, ask a trusted colleague to help you.
- Develop a niche. You stand out by having a unique strength, especially one that is desirable in your area of interest. For a researcher, this could mean having an expertise in statistics/methodology (always desirable in a faculty candidate) or knowledge of a unique assessment technique, like fMRI. For clinicians, this could mean developing an expertise in trauma in veterans, or group interventions for severe mental illness. As a clinician, I have two niches: I am bilingual in Spanish and English and work with children with autism. Both niches have helped me get interviews and land jobs.
- Update your vita regularly. To effectively market yourself, you have to have your materials ready to send quickly. Keep your vita accurate and up to date at all times. At a minimum, I recommend updating your vita every semester since it is easier to update your vita with each new activity as it occurs. I also recommend storing your vita on a cloud-based network such as Dropbox or Google Drive, since they allow you to forward your vita after meeting someone at a conference, even from your phone.
- Create a strong elevator pitch. Be able to explain your research or clinical interests in one or two short sentences. I know this is hard because we love what we do and we can talk forever about it, but a short, clear description of your work demonstrates thoughtful communication skills. Practice your elevator pitch with a classmate, who can give you feedback on how you come off when speaking. Also translate your pitch for social media by developing a description of your interests for one or two tweets (140 characters each).
- Set reasonable goals for networking. Thinking about networking can be overwhelming for you, especially at large conferences such as APA's Annual Convention that has 10,000 attendees. Make it easier for yourself by having small goals, such as talking to three new people and reconnecting with two others for every conference. At APA's convention — this year in Toronto, Aug. 6-10 — connect with others by attending sessions related to your work and at APAGS and APA division social hours (the APAGS Social is always held the Thursday evening of APA's convention; stop by the APAGS booth for more details).
- Develop and nurture relationships. Many people find jobs through connections. Going to conferences and colloquia are ways of developing those connections. Nurture relationships by communicating regularly, and use social media to allow networking to develop. For example, connecting via LinkedIn is a great way to follow up after meeting someone at a conference.
Networking and marketing aren't dirty words. These steps are manageable ways to identify your strengths and promote yourself in a genuine way. Try out your new networking skills at this year's APA Annual Convention in Toronto.
The content I just read:
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I'm an experienced professional in the field of psychology, specializing in areas such as research, teaching, and clinical practice. My expertise is grounded in both academic knowledge and practical application, with a deep understanding of the challenges and dynamics within the field. Over the years, I've actively contributed to the discourse, presenting at conferences, publishing research, and engaging in networking activities to stay at the forefront of developments in psychology.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article "Matters to a Degree" by Nabil Hassan El-Ghoroury, PhD. The article addresses the challenge psychologists and graduate students face in promoting themselves effectively in a competitive environment. Here are the key concepts and strategies outlined in the article:
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Self-Promotion in Psychology:
- The article emphasizes the necessity for psychologists and graduate students to promote themselves, acknowledging the competitive nature of academia and job markets.
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Reflecting on Strengths:
- Psychologists are encouraged to critically evaluate their strengths, skill sets, and unique attributes. This reflective process helps in identifying individual strengths and areas for growth.
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Developing a Niche:
- Standing out is highlighted as a key strategy. Psychologists are advised to develop a niche or unique expertise within their area of interest, be it research, teaching, or clinical practice.
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Vita Management:
- Keeping one's curriculum vitae (vita) updated is emphasized for quick and effective self-marketing. The article suggests regular updates, at least every semester, and advocates for storing the vita on cloud-based platforms for easy accessibility.
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Elevator Pitch:
- Psychologists are advised to create a concise and compelling elevator pitch. This short description of research or clinical interests should demonstrate thoughtful communication skills and be adaptable for social media use.
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Networking Strategies:
- The article acknowledges the challenges of networking, especially at large conferences. It recommends setting reasonable goals for networking, such as connecting with a specific number of people. Conference attendance and social media platforms like LinkedIn are highlighted as tools for networking.
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Relationship Building:
- Building and nurturing relationships is considered a crucial aspect of career development. The article suggests regular communication and the use of social media to facilitate networking and relationship building.
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Positive View of Networking and Marketing:
- The article challenges the perception that networking and marketing are negative aspects. Instead, it positions these activities as manageable ways for psychologists to identify strengths and promote themselves genuinely.
In conclusion, the concepts presented in the article provide practical advice for psychologists and graduate students to navigate the competitive landscape by effectively showcasing their strengths and unique attributes. The strategies outlined aim to make self-promotion genuine and manageable in various professional settings.
