Expand Your Professional Skills
Society of Physics Students
To help undergraduates flourish professionally, in recent years SPS has gathered expert advice on everything from writing standout resumes to networking. Here are some of our favorite pieces. To find the full versions of these articles and more, check out the SPS Observer archives at students.aip.org/observer.
It’s Never Too Early to Start Exploring Career Options
by Matthew J. Wright, Associate Physics Professor and Chair, Adelphi University
The training you receive as a physics major prepares you for an unlimited number of careers. That’s both kind of exciting and kind of scary. How do you decide what to do with so many different possibilities?
Continue reading at www.students.aip.org/observer/its-never-too-early-to-startexploring-career-options .
Building and Making the Most Out of Mentoring Relationships
by Bri Hart, Senior Program Manager for Diversity and Careers, and Midhat Farooq, Senior Careers Program Manager, American Physical Society
Good mentors can build your scientific knowledge and expertise, help you grow personally and professionally, offer career guidance that is inclusive of various career paths, and support you as a whole person.
Continue reading at www.students.aip.org/observer/building-and-making-the-mostout-of-mentoring-relationships .
How to Network Like a Pro
Adapted from the SPS Careers Toolbox
Having great credentials is important for navigating a career path, but networking is often just as important. For physics and astronomy students interested in adjacent careers like engineering, data science, or patent law, networking can get you in a door that’s sometimes hard to find.
Continue reading at www.students.aip.org/observer/how-to-network-like-a-pro .
How to Create a Compelling Highlight Reel (aka Résumé)
A Q&A with Lindsay Buettner, HR Team Lead, Argonne National Laboratory
People are drawn in by a résumé (or not) in 10 to 15 seconds, so grab their attention. Instead of a template, use tools like bold text, bullet points, action verbs, and keywords to keep the reader’s eyes moving and direct them to key information.
Continue reading at www.students.aip.org/observer/how-to-create-a-compelling-highlight-reel-aka-resume .
How to Conduct Informational Interviews, and Why You Should
Adapted from the SPS Careers Toolbox
Conducting informational interviews can give you a deeper understanding of that job, pathways to getting there, and whether a similar position would be a good fit for you. You can also get helpful advice and expand your network.
Continue reading at www.students.aip.org/observer/how-to-conduct-informational-interviews-and-why-you-should .
Getting Specific
- Pathways to a Career in Acoustics
www.students.aip.org/observer/pathways-to-a-career-in-acoustics - Pathways to a Career in Meteorology
www.students.aip.org/observer/pathways-to-a-career-in-meteorology - Pathways to a Career in Rheology
www.students.aip.org/observer/pathways-to-a-career-in-rheology - Pathways to a Career in Science Policy
www.students.aip.org/observer/pathways-to-a-career-in-science-policy - Pathways to a Career in Secondary Education
www.students.aip.org/observer/pathways-to-a-career-in-secondary-education-its-not-too-late - Pathways to Medical Physics www.digital.physicstoday.org/physicstoday/gradschoolshopper_magazine_2022/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1816668#articleId1816668 //
