What now???

[Dante311]

Hey all -

First, let me intro myself. I'm Dante (pseudonym, for now...). Recently graduated from a prestigious graduate program in Kinesiology with a specific concentration in physiology and metabolism. I have 3 years of extensive clinical research and I am well versed in statistical software (SPSS, R Stat Package).

Now what? lol

I'm finding this piece of paper to be a nice decoration on my wall... but that's about it. I'm currently looking into an MPH program at Northeastern University (Bouve) as I've taken interest in an associate research professor's work there... however her program is an MS, PhD, or MS/PhD. I have a slew of reasons why I'm not apt to pursuing my PhD at this time... and I've had this discussion with my graduate adviser. I've already successfully defended my MS thesis this past March and will officially walk in May. I did graduate in February of this year though.

I'm finding upon application to many clinical RA positions in the private sector, healthcare, and Gov't... I'm being told as intelligent as I may be, and knowledgeable in my field of expertise... in addition to my "enthusiastic personality", as the PI's have no doubts in my future success as a researcher / scientist... unfortunately, my qualifications are deemed to be "well over-qualified" for the current positions they can offer me.

I've been told that this is HR speak for, a) "We don't want to pay you what you are worth." or "We're terrified that if we hire you and something better comes along, you may drop us like a ton of bricks and jump on that ship."

....this economy isn't helping much.

Any advice?

My fallback is the MPH... and it's beginning to look enticing. I have to finish my personal statement, but I already have the support. I may as well just do it even though I'd PREFER some 'real world' research experience.

Thanks in advance!

[ZeChocMoose]

Hey all -

First, let me intro myself. I'm Dante (pseudonym, for now...). Recently graduated from a prestigious graduate program in Kinesiology with a specific concentration in physiology and metabolism. I have 3 years of extensive clinical research and I am well versed in statistical software (SPSS, R Stat Package).

Now what? lol

I'm finding this piece of paper to be a nice decoration on my wall... but that's about it. I'm currently looking into an MPH program at Northeastern University (Bouve) as I've taken interest in an associate research professor's work there... however her program is an MS, PhD, or MS/PhD. I have a slew of reasons why I'm not apt to pursuing my PhD at this time... and I've had this discussion with my graduate adviser. I've already successfully defended my MS thesis this past March and will officially walk in May. I did graduate in February of this year though.

I'm finding upon application to many clinical RA positions in the private sector, healthcare, and Gov't... I'm being told as intelligent as I may be, and knowledgeable in my field of expertise... in addition to my "enthusiastic personality", as the PI's have no doubts in my future success as a researcher / scientist... unfortunately, my qualifications are deemed to be "well over-qualified" for the current positions they can offer me.

I've been told that this is HR speak for, a) "We don't want to pay you what you are worth." or "We're terrified that if we hire you and something better comes along, you may drop us like a ton of bricks and jump on that ship."

....this economy isn't helping much.

Any advice?

My fallback is the MPH... and it's beginning to look enticing. I have to finish my personal statement, but I already have the support. I may as well just do it even though I'd PREFER some 'real world' research experience.

Thanks in advance!

What type of positions are you applying for? How long have you been applying for? The RAs that I have encountered in hospital research were in the same type of position that you are in when they secured their current position (Master's degree with limited to no full-time research experience). Just reading the description of your experience and education, I am not quite sure why you are being told you are "overqualified" unless there is something that I am missing about your qualifications. Also the pay scales for RAs in the hospitals that I have worked in were at a fixed level-- I don't think the department had the ability to pay people in the same level at different rates.

[Dante311]

What type of positions are you applying for? How long have you been applying for? The RAs that I have encountered in hospital research were in the same type of position that you are in when they secured their current position (Master's degree with limited to no full-time research experience). Just reading the description of your experience and education, I am not quite sure why you are being told you are "overqualified" unless there is something that I am missing about your qualifications. Also the pay scales for RAs in the hospitals that I have worked in were at a fixed level-- I don't think the department had the ability to pay people in the same level at different rates.

Thanks for the response.

I'm not entirely sure what's missing? I'm told by misc sources that these firms, hospitals, and university labs are looking to hire individuals with a BS in a respective health/science field rather than hire someone like me. I have my MS... and 3 years of clinical research, but in an academic setting. I was told by one PI that I qualify as the highest level of (clinical) research assistant and that I was "well over-qualified" for the position she could offer me.... So I do have research experience, but nothing outside of an academic setting. I was hands on with subject/participant recruitment (over 30 people enrolled in my study... with over 200 screenings). I have experience with participant retention rates, venous blood draws, data collection (RMR's w/ a Parvomedics metabolic cart, VO2Peak Tests, limited EKG experience, hands on exercise training (resistance and cardio) w/ a population who is at risk for serious disease (I am a medical/clinical exercise physiologist), and I have experience doing DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) on people for body comp. I am also familiar with real-time blood analysis and assay kits... be it RIA's or glucose analox analysis... and I have performed over 70 hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic "clamps"... (see Ralph Defronzo et al. 1978, I believe, for more info... it's a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity and is a sensitive, complex procedure to perform, but is doable once sufficiently trained). I have experience with diet logs (3-day recalls), and with pedometers and accelerometers (actigraph gt3x)... in addition, I have thorough interest and experience with data array and statistical analysis via SPSS, SAS, and R Stat Software (which I love the best for it's opensource coding lol

heh... oops.

Thanks!

[ZeChocMoose]

Thanks for the response.

I'm not entirely sure what's missing? I'm told by misc sources that these firms, hospitals, and university labs are looking to hire individuals with a BS in a respective health/science field rather than hire someone like me. I have my MS... and 3 years of clinical research, but in an academic setting. I was told by one PI that I qualify as the highest level of (clinical) research assistant and that I was "well over-qualified" for the position she could offer me.... So I do have research experience, but nothing outside of an academic setting. I was hands on with subject/participant recruitment (over 30 people enrolled in my study... with over 200 screenings). I have experience with participant retention rates, venous blood draws, data collection (RMR's w/ a Parvomedics metabolic cart, VO2Peak Tests, limited EKG experience, hands on exercise training (resistance and cardio) w/ a population who is at risk for serious disease (I am a medical/clinical exercise physiologist), and I have experience doing DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) on people for body comp. I am also familiar with real-time blood analysis and assay kits... be it RIA's or glucose analox analysis... and I have performed over 70 hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic "clamps"... (see Ralph Defronzo et al. 1978, I believe, for more info... it's a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity and is a sensitive, complex procedure to perform, but is doable once sufficiently trained). I have experience with diet logs (3-day recalls), and with pedometers and accelerometers (actigraph gt3x)... in addition, I have thorough interest and experience with data array and statistical analysis via SPSS, SAS, and R Stat Software (which I love the best for it's opensource coding lol

heh... oops.

Thanks!

The reason that I think it is weird that people are telling you that they are only looking to hire someone with a B.S. is because you are in a highly educated part of the nation (Boston) and a lot of the entry level jobs tend to be held with young professionals with master's degrees.

Also if only one person told you were "overqualified" for the position that she could offer you, I won't take that to mean that you are "overqualified" for all of the clinical RA positions that are out there. Your three years of research experience I assume was when you were a master's student and you were working in a more part-time capacity. That is really different from three years of full-time research experience.

Good luck though on whatever you decide: MPH or RA.

[Dante311]

The reason that I think it is weird that people are telling you that they are only looking to hire someone with a B.S. is because you are in a highly educated part of the nation (Boston) and a lot of the entry level jobs tend to be held with young professionals with master's degrees.

Also if only one person told you were "overqualified" for the position that she could offer you, I won't take that to mean that you are "overqualified" for all of the clinical RA positions that are out there. Your three years of research experience I assume was when you were a master's student and you were working in a more part-time capacity. That is really different from three years of full-time research experience.

Good luck though on whatever you decide: MPH or RA.

For the most part, everyone I know as an RA has only their BS and was trained by the lab they're working in. One such individual informed me with today's economy the thing that'll get me in as an internal or a kick-ass cover letter....

I thought it was strange too.

However, not as many have an MS, etc.. etc.. out here as you may believe.

Even PhD's are limited to certain positions in which there are less positions available given current economic times. A number of university positions have been consolidated or eliminated due to financial burdens...

[ZeChocMoose]

For the most part, everyone I know as an RA has only their BS and was trained by the lab they're working in. One such individual informed me with today's economy the thing that'll get me in as an internal or a kick-ass cover letter....

I thought it was strange too.

However, not as many have an MS, etc.. etc.. out here as you may believe.

Even PhD's are limited to certain positions in which there are less positions available given current economic times. A number of university positions have been consolidated or eliminated due to financial burdens...

I grew up in Boston and I have worked in RA positions in hospitals there. I feel that the advice you are getting is weird-- or maybe it is targeted at labs in university settings i.e. they only hire people who they train. If so, expand out. And yes, you should write a good cover letter! Also, the Partners Hospitals usually have a lot of RA positions posted on their website. Good luck!

[Dante311]

I grew up in Boston and I have worked in RA positions in hospitals there. I feel that the advice you are getting is weird-- or maybe it is targeted at labs in university settings i.e. they only hire people who they train. If so, expand out. And yes, you should write a good cover letter! Also, the Partners Hospitals usually have a lot of RA positions posted on their website. Good luck!

It's a bit distressing and kind of depressing actually...

[Dante311]

10 days ago I had the cajones to e-mail a PI from Joslin Diabetes directly... instead of going through HR. I told him via the cover letter I'd follow up in ten days. I did.

I received an email today from him apologizing that his response is tardy... and unfortunately he has no positions open at current time, but if something opens up he'll let me know for the future.

I would like to take this as a GOOD sign... considering most of these PI's are busy.. for one.. and must receive hundreds of e-mails that they wouldn't respond in kind to all of them or respond telling the individual to pursue a position via HR for Joslin.

Or am I over thinking that?

thanks

[Sleepy]

Look, I have made a decision to:

a. Not fund another degree

b. Not to get a degree of the same level (i.e. not another degree at the masters level)

While I was reluctant, at first, to pursue a PhD. I think it is the only logical step after an MS.

If you can't find a job after getting an MS, you probably will have just as hard of a time after an MPH.

I would try and expand the net as far as job search. Look into completely different industries that require your skill set (plenty of jobs require SAS or R).

[Dante311]

Look, I have made a decision to:

a. Not fund another degree

b. Not to get a degree of the same level (i.e. not another degree at the masters level)

While I was reluctant, at first, to pursue a PhD. I think it is the only logical step after an MS.

If you can't find a job after getting an MS, you probably will have just as hard of a time after an MPH.

I would try and expand the net as far as job search. Look into completely different industries that require your skill set (plenty of jobs require SAS or R).

Thanks, but I'm a physiologist, not a bio-statistician...

My MS is in a research oriented field... which I don't not love, but an MPH would open so many more doorways for me.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Dante311