General Page Media
Aerial view of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus

This blog was established by the Office of Professional Development for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scientists at the University of Minnesota Medical School (OPD). The goal of this blog is to provide easy access to answers to frequently asked questions (asked of OPD staff by UMN trainees), and to educate and inform our community on topics related to career and professional development. Articles are authored by Dr. Jenna Hicks and Dr. Sharolyn Kawakami-Schulz, OPD staff.

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Blog Articles

How should I prepare for an interview?

An interview is an opportunity for the candidate to confirm their interest in the position, identify opportunities for growth, and determine whether the organization is a good fit for them. It’s also an opportunity for the organization to assess the competence of the candidate, and whether they are a good fit for the organization. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can prepare for an interview so you feel ready to answer the interviewer’s questions, and ask questions about what is important to you.

How do I know how much of a salary I can ask for?

Determining reasonable salary ranges for positions can be useful at multiple points during the career exploration and job search process. Salary information can inform your decisions about whether a particular career path aligns with your financial needs and goals, whether you want to spend your time applying for a particular position, and can make you a more powerful negotiator after you’ve received a job offer. This article will dive into sources of salary data that you can use to gather information.

How long does the job search process take?

We typically recommend that graduate students and postdocs begin the job search process 6 - 12 months before they plan to transition to their next role. This is a general rule of thumb, and sometimes the process can take more or less time, depending on several factors, some of which we’ll outline in this article.

How can I use LinkedIn professionally?

LinkedIn is a useful tool that can be used to accomplish multiple objectives. This article outlines five things that LinkedIn can be used for, and discuss alternative methods you could use to accomplish the same objectives without using LinkedIn.