You also have to be able to tailor information to the learning styles of your students. You have to have confidence in your knowledge of the subject and understand the subject on a deep enough level to explain it to a nonexpert and answer that person’s questions. Teachingīeing able to teach someone is another great skill many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows acquire. Drawing attention to your experience as a mentor in the lab is a great way to demonstrate your compassion and leadership on your job applications. Many companies have formal mentoring programs for their employees, in fact. Mentoring is also important in a business context.

Forging relationships, giving guidance and managing your workload while helping others are all skills you’re acquiring when you mentor. As a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow, you mentor junior students at all levels. As an undergraduate researcher, you may mentor newer students. Many people who work in a lab end up with experience as mentors. Being able to outline your role and duties in a group project clearly, execute your tasks, report your progress and see how your piece fits into the bigger picture are all important teamwork skills you pick up while working in a research lab. Business activities are collaborative too. It requires you to partner with your lab mates, your research mentor, other research groups and core facilities, among others. Research is inherently a collaborative activity.

When you are preparing your application or interviewing for a nonresearch position, consider highlighting some of the valuable qualities embodied by those who conduct scientific investigation. Think that a scientific education means you’re limited to working in a lab your entire life? Think again! If you’re considering a move away from the bench, your training as a researcher means you have tons of skills you can apply in a business environment.

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