The Training Page

From the Fellows Committee

Building Professional Development Core Competencies While at NIH

BY LARISA GEARHART-SERNA, NCI

NIH trainees have access to a plethora of professional development programming through the NIH Office of Training and Education (OITE) (external link). While it may be a daunting task to sift through the offerings—which include workshops, VideoCasts, training modules, articles, and resource pages—OITE staff do not recommend that you try to attend or consume everything. Rather, first determine which offerings will benefit you most and help build your core competencies.

Core competencies (external link) are a blend of skills and experience future employers or educational institutions will seek, according to OITE. Core competencies provide an excellent roadmap for career and professional development.

Six OITE core competencies are recommended. NIH offers the following programming under each.

1. Career exploration and job search skills

OITE’s most prominent offerings include the OITE Careers Blog (external link) and the NIH Career Symposium (external link). OITE also has several prepared guides, including the Guide to Resumes and CVs (PDF file), Guide to Cover Letters (PDF file), Preparing for Your Professional School Interview (PDF file), and Writing Successful Applications for Biomedical Research Training Programs (PDF file). The VideoCast, Interviewing Basics (external link), can be helpful when you start to interview for positions. Additionally, OITE hosts a special Job Search Series (external link) with available slides that touches on multiple topics within the job-search timeframe. They suggest attending career development activities in your professional societies and undergoing informational interviews with those in your prospective career fields. You can make an appointment (external link) with a career counselor if you would like to discuss these topics in depth or have other questions or career development needs.

2. Communication skills

Good communication is key to any profession. OITE provides programming in writing, speaking, grant writing, and other professional communication skills. For example, read Guidelines for Writing Professional E-mail (external link). In addition, VideoCasts are available on Improving Spoken English (external link), Written Communication Skills (external link), Communicating Science: Tools for Scientists and Engineers (external link), and more.

3. Teaching and mentoring

Teaching and mentoring other lab members and trainees are part of the job at NIH. VideoCast resources may help hone your skills in this arena. Resources include:

• Mentoring Training Seminar: Summer Interns Are Coming – Are You Ready? (external link)
• Tips for Mentoring a Summer Intern and Leading a Journal Club (external link)

When mentoring, consider sharing information about building core competencies and directing your mentees to the OITE trainee resources (external link) page.

4. Leadership and management

Leadership ability is a quality many employers look for in an applicant. Read OITE’s resource for personal management via self-advocacy, called Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Self Advocacy for Scientists (PDF file), and look for special workshops offered throughout the year on the topics of leadership and management.

5. Mandatory trainings

Mandatory trainings at NIH focuses on Responsible Conduct of Research (external link), and includes trainings for postbacs and graduate students (external link), postdocs (external link), and Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Trainee (external link). For more information on this topic, see the Catalyst Training Page article entitled “A Culture of Integrity: Ethical Expectations for NIH Trainees.” That article includes a section on all required research trainings as an NIH trainee.

6. Wellness

Above all, wellness should be on your priority list while at NIH. The OITE offers several Health and Wellness Resources (external link). Part of wellness may be belonging to a professional community beyond your own lab by connecting with like-minded individuals such as the affinity groups listed in the article “You Are Not Alone! Resources for Finding an NIH Community (external link).” Other wellness events and resources are available, such as the NIH Wellness Toolkits (external link), and a variety of fitness classes are offered through the NIH Fitness Center (external link).

The Fellows Committee encourages you to take advantage of these and other offerings (external link) from OITE and from the training office at your IC. Find upcoming events on the OITE upcoming events (external link) page, or explore OITE VideoCasts (external link) of prior workshops or educational OITE YouTube videos (external link). These professional development resources can help build vital core competencies while at NIH and pave the way for future career success.

Resources

• NIH Office of Training and Education (OITE): https://www.training.nih.gov/ (external link)
• Core competencies: https://www.training.nih.gov/trainees (external link)
• OITE Careers Blog: https://oitecareersblog.od.nih.gov/ (external link)
• The NIH Career Symposium: http://www.training.nih.gov/nih_career_symposium (external link)
• Guide to Resumes and CVs: https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/Guide_to_Resumes_&_Curricula_Vitae.pdf (PDF file)
• Guide to Cover Letters: https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/OITE_Guide_to_Cover_Letters.pdf (PDF file)
• Preparing for Your Professional School Interview: https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/Preparing_for_Your_Professional_School_Interview_508.pdf (PDF file)
• Writing Successful Applications for Biomedical Research Training Programs: https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/Writing_Successful_NIH_Applications.pdf (PDF file)
• Interviewing Basics: http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?Live=11481 (external link)
• Job Search Series: https://www.training.nih.gov/career_development_ss/sc (external link)
• Make an appointment: https://www.training.nih.gov/career_services/appointments (external link)
• Guidelines for Writing Professional E-mail: https://www.training.nih.gov/writing_professional_e-mail (external link)
• Improving Spoken English: http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?15153 (external link)
• Written Communication Skills: http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?14707 (external link)
• Communicating Science: Tools for Scientists and Engineers: http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?15513 (external link)
• Mentoring Training Seminar: Summer Interns Are Coming: Are You Ready?: http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?15862 (external link)
• Tips for Mentoring a Summer Intern and Leading a Journal Club: http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?17241 (external link)
• Trainee resources: https://www.training.nih.gov/for_staff/trainee_resources (external link)
• Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Self Advocacy for Scientists: https://www.training.nih.gov/assets/Self-advocacy_-_508_-_ps.pdf (PDF file)
• A Culture of Integrity: Ethical Expectations for NIH Trainees: https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/31/1/the-training-page
• Health and Wellness Resources: https://www.training.nih.gov/nih_resources#Health (external link)
• Scientific Interest Groups at the NIH: http://www.nih.gov/sigs/ (external link)
• You Are Not Alone! Resources for Finding an NIH Community: https://www.training.nih.gov/nih_resources#Diversity (external link)
• NIH Wellness Toolkits: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits (external link)
• OITE Offerings/Resources: https://www.training.nih.gov/nih_resources (external link)
• OITE upcoming events: https://www.training.nih.gov/events/upcoming (external link)
• OITE Videocasts: https://www.training.nih.gov/oite_videocasts (external link)
• OITE YouTube videos: https://www.training.nih.gov/oite-yt (external link)

Larisa Gearhart-Serna is a former postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute’s Technology Transfer Center and was a member of The NIH Catalyst Editorial Board. She now works in business development and marketing for life sciences investigators at Stanford University.