Have you been through something like this? I recently had a job interview for a science communications director role. The recruiter, who reviewed my application, said “Wow, you’ve achieved so much on your own, why would you want to work here?“ The following week, I had lunch with a science communications CEO. He said he probably wouldn’t hire me because I’d be “too bored”. I almost cried right then and there. In my quest for a full-time role, I have applied to hundreds of jobs. Of various skill requirements and experience levels. And… drumroll………… nothing! Many of you know this pain. Sure, I have a large platform because I share science, but I want to help others share their science, too. I love working on teams. I want to help shape the landscape of science communication from behind the scenes as well as in the scene.
One of the few interviews I’ve landed this year was one for a university president search. PRESIDENT. Of a UNIVERSITY. Guys, this is confusing!! I have a bit of experience in higher education leadership. A bit of experience managing teams and budgets. But I’m nobody’s provost, dean, or anything like that. I know I would be a great leader and I’m a FAST learner, and I have always dreamed of leading a university, so I APPLIED. Hey, reach for the stars, right? And I actually got an interview. HUH????
Let’s repeat and say it with me: HUH??? FOR REAL???
Not selected for adjunct positions, or social media director positions, science writing, or science communications director positions… but selected for a university presidential search? But obviously, needless to say… I didn’t get the job. Otherwise, this would be a very different article!
After voicing my career struggles on LinkedIn, I was reached out to by Karen Renzi, who offered 1:1 sessions to coach me as I navigate this career transition. I highly recommend her. She has been helping me piece through my thoughts.
She reached out at just the right time, as I was packing up my house in boxes because although I did take out a mortgage, the mortgage is actually taking ME out (Please subscribe to my Substack!) While stuffing things into boxes, I couldn’t help but to think… I know the job market is hard but… did I… achieve too much? Should I have done less? Be less? My career coach says NO! She’d bonk me on the head if she heard me say that. I have learned to agree. But… I’d be totally lying if I said my brain doesn’t believe otherwise some days. I’m still snapping out of it. I’m learning lessons. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Lessons Learned
1. I have no regrets
I don’t regret pivoting from molecular biology work into science communication in 2016, when the USA’s relationship with science began wavering and I wanted to be of service to the public as an educator. I don’t regret working as hard as I could and striving to be the best and winning awards for my work. I don’t regret having built a science communication platform that reaches millions monthly.
Guys, I genuinely just love science and I love talking about it. And sharing it with YOU! It just so happens that I have been successful at it.
Earlier this year, I was honored with the Living Legacy Award from Cohort Sistas. I was selected as a result of a vote of thousands of collegiate women, awarded alongside a NASA legend. I couldn’t BELIEVE IT! When I got the email, I dropped down and cried. Me? A living legacy? I just finished school a few years ago. While receiving the award, my brain generated the thought, “But… I’m just getting started!”
While at the award reception, women were lining up to tell me how much I had impacted their lives. We cried tears of joy together. Then, I suffered from the whiplash of coming home to two more job rejection emails. OUCH! Regardless, I have NO regrets. The impact that I have been able to make on people worldwide has been worth everything. This moment of hardship is temporary. But legacy is forever.
2. Being “out of the box” WHILE “having A box”
It sounds so simple, but simply understanding and fully embracing that you have the ability to come to the table with offerings, versus waiting to be seen, makes a difference. What I have learned through career coaching with Karen is that I have been trying over the past year to fit in a box that others have defined. And, although I have always been an “out of the box” person… YOU STILL NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE A BOX. In my mind, I’m just a fun nerd who loves sharing science. But, no traditional box has truly ever fit me and all I have to offer. I have always had so much to give. I need to co-create boxes with collaborators, employers, etc. that know me or can get to know me, and share a mission and vision together.
3. I am READY to LEVEL UP! And, I’m still paving the way.
Things are hard right now, but I’m returning with a renewed focus on defining what that BOX is that I’m talking about above. I have fully embraced a non-traditional path, instead of forcing myself into a box that hasn’t belonged to me. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that I have COMPLETELY revitalized my platform with a fresh approach to sharing science, and even in the past 2 months, I’ve earned over 95,000 new followers to that account, alone. It’s working! I’m at over 650,000 followers across my accounts, and ONE MILLION is the next stop! And it has been so fun engaging and building community with everyone. Seriously. I’ve loved making these new connections. I haven’t truly approached this from a standpoint other than “I just enjoy sharing science”, but now, I have to be more intentional about making this a solid part of my career. Yes, I have a large following, but I have always just genuinely enjoyed making videos. It’s kinda like I enjoyed making cookies at home but now, I NEED to sell Girl Scout Cookies. For the troop. Ya know?
I’m really interested in exploring long-term partnerships and ambassadorships with organizations that invest in science communication and education on social media. Additionally, I want to help individuals and organizations form their own strategy for sharing about science on social media, and get better at innovative science communication. I want to explore this WHILE continuing to build and level up my own living laboratory that is The Science Maven platform. IS THAT KINDA WEIRD TO ME? YES. WHY? Because we were not exposed to these kinds of careers in school. I genuinely did not know that this was an option. And, I think that’s the whole reason why I got the Living Legacy award for trailblazing in science. I’m still paving the way. I didn’t realize that I still needed to push forward in these uncomfortable ways. I actually thought I was done. But in my own words… I’m just getting started.
With that all being said, I NEED you to subscribe to my Substack. Subscriptions start at just $5 monthly. I’m not being shy about it. This is genuinely an “all hands on deck” moment. Anyone who has been on a job search for any extended period of time, over a year, or more, like me, knows what this feels like. I need to level up and out of here, and your subscription helps me to continue my public engagement and bringing people to love science. Everything that you pour into me is getting poured directly back into our world.
Post Publishing EDIT: There has been of course, one man who has responded to this article via email to say, “What’s so hard about talking about something you love lol”. To make it abundantly clear, it’s NOT hard to talk about something I love. That’s the best part of what I do! That’s certainly not the takeaway here. What’s actually new and can be difficult is making a career out of it, without the security of employment. You go from having a fun hobby to having to become an entrepreneur. And that is a learned skill. Hopefully that’s clear now.
Free subscribers get what essentially is a written version of some of the science that I share on my platforms. But paid subscribers receive the back-end experience of what it’s like to create, analyze, and assess the social implications of the science conversations that I have on social media. I’m excited to collaborate with fellow experts on the paid posts. For example, I’ve been making videos about animal science and reproduction. Next week’s deep dive is going to address the religious angle that many commenters have taken when responding to my content. I can’t wait for you to read it.
If you are not in the position to subscribe, the next best thing for you to do is pitch me for partnerships and opportunities! I love explaining science through storytelling, and helping others do it too. Pitch me to museums, organizations, brands, businesses, anything you can think of. Show them my content, tell them about me, why you love and support my work, and make a connection at contact@thesciencemaven.com. My job is to connect the public with science, through ANYTHING! And, be on teams to help people do it, too.
I’m thrilled, inspired, absolutely terrified, optimistic, and exhausted… but I’m still here. If you made it this far, thanks for listening, reading, and being human with me today. At the very least, I especially hope that any students or any early career professionals reading this remember: we’re all still figuring it out, together. As humans. You’re writing your legacy each and every day.
Please leave a comment to uplift others, share your story and let us know any words of wisdom that you may have for students and early career professionals who are… just figuring it out.
See you next week,
Raven
Hi Raven,
I can feel your pain.
Even though I don't know you well, I think any institution or company would luck to have you.
I am looking forward to hearing all the amazing things you are going to do.
Chin up.
I definitely feel your pain, it took me two years to find a job and I want another pivot. It was a good sabbatical though.