Online workshop: Excelling at your transition from Academia to Industry
N.B: This workshop will be held in English. Limit to number of participants: none, though participants must be registered with EPFL Alumni to benefit from individual follow-up sessions focusing on their LinkedIn profiles and self-marketing approach to their professional transitions.
One of the fascinating things we discover working with tech professionals in general and scientific researchers or recent graduates in engineering in particular, is how unaware they are of their market value in industry. Not only does this have a negative impact on their self-confidence, it can lead to uncomfortable situations like accepting the first job on offer, regardless of location, work conditions or remuneration. Often it also means that young professionals making this transition pitch far too low in terms of salary negotiations.
The good news is, Stephen Fischer and Jamshid Asadzadeh have firsthand experience across virtually all areas of technical expertise helping people move into a wide range of sectors in Switzerland or abroad.
Our interactive workshop will focus on the following topics:
- Your priorities leading to job search parameters.
- Your USP’s and “added value” propositions, and why they matter.
- Getting the word out about your unique offer (“do’s and don’ts” for your LinkedIn profile).
- Insider tips on how recruiters think and what approaches they use to vet candidates.
- Understanding your market value and basic principles for negotiating salaries.
- Excelling upon engagement at your new role once you’ve found it.
There will be many real-life examples given from our shared experience as a career guide in Stephen’s case and as a veteran of successful career reorientation in Jamshid’s. We will open up to your questions and hope you can prepare examples of your frustrations and successes during your current or previous transitions, too.
All participants who are EPFL Alumni contributing members may then benefit from a 50% discount on up to three individual career focus sessions of 45-60 minutes each with either Stephen or Jamshid (normally 150 CHF/session).
Speakers:
Whether helping a parent returning from raising her family re-enter the workforce or counseling one of just 16 successful candidates for the European Space Agency’s professional astronaut program, Stephen listens carefully to what each person wants, needs, excels at and is concerned about in their professional journey. With long experience working in international education as well as training, he enjoys adapting career insights, market knowledge and practical tips to each setting and for each person.
Starting as a classroom teacher in Mexico and Switzerland, then as an admissions recruiter in 54 countries, Stephen segued naturally into professional orientation, from establishing mentoring programs and career services for the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne before dedicating eight years towards assisting Doctoral and Postdoc researchers and young engineers at EPFL where he was both a career counselor and staff trainer, creating a wide range of in-person and online workshops on all aspects of professional transitions.
A co-founder of Career Thrivability in the summer of 2023, his passion for supporting talented young (and not so young) people in achieving their goals has not diminished. He also co-hosts a new podcast series with Jamshid Asadzadeh on how the mind works during professional transitions along with practical advice on succeeding at this called, “Absence of Ego.” You can find the link on the Career Thrivability website.
Stephen is also an organic farmer, author of many articles (and an occasional poem), a very proud father and grandfather, graced by having an amazing life partner and rambunctious English setter. He speaks English, French, and Spanish, and lives between Longirod, Switzerland and Navarres, Spain. Viva la vida global!
Jamshid Asadzadeh
PhD - Experienced in Facilitating Career Transition from Academia to Industry
Dr. Jamshid Asadzadeh, a former researcher in developmental neurogenetics and neurodegenerative diseases, is a testament to the successful transition from academia to industry. After completing his PhD at Trinity College Dublin and a postdoctoral stint at Columbia University and EPFL, Jamshid not only advanced in neuroscience but also developed a strong proficiency in programming and data science.
Jamshid is passionate about guiding others through the often daunting journey from academic research to industry roles. As President of the EPFL Postdoc Association, Jamshid led initiatives focused on career transitions, leveraging his experiences and collaboration with seasoned professionals like Stephen Fischer. This role allowed him to deeply understand the challenges faced by academics aspiring to enter the industry and to develop strategies to overcome them.
Now a Clinical Data Manager/Data Scientist, Jamshid applies his rich academic background to real-world industry challenges. His journey is a prime example of how to effectively leverage academic expertise in a commercial setting. In this workshop, he will share his insights and practical advice on navigating this complex transition, making him an ideal guide for those embarking on a similar path.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Jamshid is a proud father of a curious and inquisitive boy. His passion extends beyond the academic and professional spheres into the realm of sports. As an enthusiast, he enjoys skiing, running, stand-up paddling, and hiking in his free time, activities that reflect his dynamic and energetic approach to life.
Registration conditions:
Registration for this workshop is reserved for EPFL alumnae and alumni. It is nominative, non-exchangeable and non-refundable. The EPFL Alumni organises this workshop and reserves the right to cancel it for organisational reasons. In this case, registrants will be informed by email before the date of the workshop and refunded.
Transmission of the Zoom link: The Zoom link and any relevant course materials will be sent to registered participants via email (please remember to check your spam/junk folder). In case you have not received any communication within 2 hours before the workshop, kindly reach out to us at career.alumni@epfl.ch up to 30 minutes before the workshop commencement. Unfortunately, beyond this point, we will not be able to provide you with the link. We appreciate your understanding.
Team EPFL Alumni