Date: 3/30/99

Time: 2:35

Type: Symposium

Number: 163

Beyond tax' and tox'- creating a more marketable you

*S.P. Mroczkiewicz, Novartis Crop Protection, Arcada, IN 46030
Contact e-mail: steve.mroczkiewicz@cp.Novartis.com

The last half century has brought enormous growth in career opportunities for entomologists. Along with those opportunities come challenges in career planning. A well-roundedm educational background is now a requirement for those wishing to pursue a career in private industry. Working knowledge of as many entomology-related fields as possible is invaluable for developing the background for which industry employers are looking. Graduate school also provides excellent opportunities for building skills in written and verbal communication. The ability creativity themselves. Finally, the graduate student wishing to pursue a career in the private sector should not underestimate the value of the less tangible opportunities that the graduate student role provides. This setting provides the unique opportunity to interact with experienced industry representatives on a regular basis. Upon leaving graduate school, rarely again will the student have the opportunity to regularly network with members of so many different relevant organizations. The final step, and often the pivotal one, is pursuing and landing the job. Many recent graduates are hesitant to use the required amount of assertion to get the all-important interview, or they do not take full advantage of the resources at hand to stay abreast of job opportunities. A lack of good interviewing skills has probably kept more good candidates out of appropriate positions in this field than any other cause. All of these factors must come together to culminate in that first big career opportunity. Top grades in toxicology and taxonomy are no longer enough.

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