Will YOU give me a job?

In my ongoing quest to become employed, last Tuesday I went to the Spring “Science and Technology Job Fair”, hosted by the Career Center in the gym. They had over 80 companies there, recruiting the best and brightest. I dressed up in my suit, did my best to make my hair appear “business professional” (but the snow didn’t help and my bangs sortof went on strike), and printed out my resumes on the nice paper I purchased from “Signatures” the day before.

(Oh Signatures… that poor little neglected stationary store between Chipotle and Cold Stone. It just doesn’t get the same amount of College Student Love.)

So, I arrive at the job fair and open my huge book that they give out explaining all the employers that are there and start looking for the majors that the various firms are recruiting for. I would first like to say with full authority that if you are coming to Hopkins and you would like to major in Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science, you will rock your way out of here with a heaping pile of job offers. Can you program a web site? Can you evaluate an endoscope design? Can you build things out of useful materials (Read: not legos) ?? Then 39489485 companies would like to hire you.

The sad part about Neuroscience is, it’s not the most practical major on the face of the planet. That is to say, there aren’t that many things that your Neuroscience classes will teach you that can make companies money. However, the CIA hires all kinds of bright students- they even had Neuroscience as a requested major!

…but the CIA cancelled and didn’t show up to career fair. LAME.

Still, despite having chosen a major that was more “pre-med” instead of “pre-job”, the Career Fair still had something for little ol’ me. I spoke to the Institute for Defense Analysis, which is a not-for-profit corporation that serves as an outside source of research for the Department of Defense and the Office of Science & Technology Policy. They serve as an independent scientific review organization that conducts and evaluates scientific research for these organizations. My research experience that I’ve gained through the Hopkins Epilepsy Center and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship would definitely help me in an area like that. They’re doing on-campus interviews later in the month, so I’ll be sure to sign up for those.

The cool thing that I’ve discovered though throughout this job search adventure is how many different areas my Neuroscience degree actually CAN help me. It doesn’t have to be science-y for your Hopkins education to be valuable. I was at an interview last week for Analytic Partners- a marketing research firm which evaluates for companies the best way to market their products. During my interview, I was told to respond to the following statement: “In advertising, it is more important to appeal to emotion rather than logic”. Throughout my response I was able to cite information about how our brain compiles memories and how in heightened emotional states our memory increases. Later in the interview, I was able to connect the things we’re learning about in my Neuroscience of Decision Making class (how our brains compile lots of information in order to make a final yes/no decision on whatever we’re deciding to do) to the sort of work I’d be doing if I worked for Analytic Partners (how a consumer is affected by many different sources of information when buying a product). I thought it was so interesting that the ways of thinking that evolve when you’re studying the brain can crop up in the most unexpected places.

For now, I move on through the treacherous job search process. Soon I’ll start applying for Admissions Counselor jobs like crazy. I wonder how I’ll use my neuroscience knowledge there? Only time, and a really pressure-filled interview where I have to make up BS on the spot, will tell.

Comments

[JHU_Stefanie]

Congratulations on making it to the second rounds! :) I will say this again in person, of course. :)

[JHU_Roxi]

you would pull out neuroscience - if they weren't impressed I'M NOT IMPRESSED with them.

p.s. SECOND ROUNDS YAY!!!the competition ain't got nothin' on you, trust me.

[Jackie]

I'm sure the CIA will be back! My Dad's friend told him that the CIA loves Hopkins students (i'm not sure why). Anyway, Congratulations on your other good news!