Is there life after PhD?...–Ensuring people get sufficient challenges to develop and prosper §As...
Transcript of Is there life after PhD?...–Ensuring people get sufficient challenges to develop and prosper §As...
DNV GL © 14 November 2018 SAFER, SMARTER, GREENERDNV GL ©
Nikolay Qviller14 November 2018
Is there life after PhD?
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Career course, PhD candidates, Department of Mathematics
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About me
§ Name: Nikolay Qviller
§ PhD: 2009-2012 at the Centre of Mathematics for Applications
§ Thesis advisor: Ragni Piene§ General theme of thesis: Algebraic geometry (for the non-specialists: geometric structures
defined by polynomials).
– More specifically: Enumerative geometry
– Even more specifically: Enumerative geometry of nodal curves on surfaces
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About me
§ Even if done at the Centre of Mathematics for Applications, this was quite theoretical work:
– Case of complex projective plane CP2:
– Look at (the linear system of) curves of degree d (complex projective space of dim. N = d(d+3)/2).
– Require them to have r distinct nodes and pass through N-r points in general position.
– There is a finite number of such curves and if r is small enough, it is given by a polynomial expression of degree 2r in d.
– What can be said about these polynomials?
– What about curves on other surfaces? Other singularities?
§ Main tool for this work: Algebraic intersection theory
§ Touched upon other subjects as well:
– (Enumerative) combinatorics
– Programming in C++, Maple, Sage, and Macaulay2
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Way from PhD studies to work
§ Graduated in October 2012
§ Before entering the Master programme, my intentions were to remain within Academia for the “foreseeable future”
§ During the Master and PhD studies I slowly realized I wanted to work more with:
– Applied mathematics
– Software development
– More “well-defined” problems
§ Started looking within private sector in January 2012
§ Set up recurring searches on Finn with keywords like:“mathematics, C++, analysis, …”
§ Worked on my LinkedIn profile
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Way from PhD studies to work
§ Applied for positions in companies like:
– Telenor
– Schlumberger– Accenture
– Thomson Reuters
– Statens Kartverk
– Storebrand
– Gjensidige
– Det Norsk Veritas (May 2012)
§ Total number of applications: ~12
§ Called in for interview for 3 of those
§ Got an offer for all these 3 positions
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Work at Det Norske Veritas
§ Started working for Det Norske Veritas (now DNV GL) in August 2012
§ Job description: Software Engineer
§ Products: Sesam family of engineering tools for modelling, analysing and post-processing results (offshore and maritime industries)
§ Responsibilities: Meshing, geometry engine, graphics engine, finite element analysis
§ Tools/languages: C++ (Visual Studio), Python, some Fortran
§ Later: Scrum master (“process responsible”)
§ This year: Head of Section for a section consisting of 15 employees in Høvik (Norway), Gdynia (Poland) and New Orleans (US), extended with testers in Shanghai (China).
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Why Det Norske Veritas is a great working place§ Our purpose
– To safeguard life, property and the environment
§ Our vision
– Global impact for a safe and sustainable future
§ Our values
– We build trust and confidence
– We never compromise on quality or integrity
– We are committed to teamwork and innovation
– We care for our customers and each other
– We embrace change and deliver results
§ Interesting work for mathematicians,dedicated and inspiring colleagues
§ 6 weeks holiday, in general very flexible (wrt. children etc.)
§ Great campus
§ VBIL: Huge number of sport activities
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What I’ve learnt in these years
§ Professional software development (not the same as writing algorithms for the PhD!)
§ Maintaining a positive relationship with customers
§ Communicating progress / deviations from plans to all relevant stakeholders§ Working with people (as Scrum Master and Head of Section):
– Motivating
– Building a team
– Team psychology
– Ensuring people get sufficient challenges to develop and prosper
§ As Head of Section:
– “Business thinking”
– Economical perspective
– Employer perspective
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Interview types you may encounter in recruitment process
§ Standard interview, usually 2 rounds, occasionally just 1 or maybe 3
§ Assessment centre (whole day, team and individual work)
§ Skill tests, either at home or during the interview§ Personality tests
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What you should/could sell as a mathematician/PhD candidate
§ Positive skills:
– Problem solving
– Ability to quickly learn new and complex subjects– Analytic mindset
– Rigorousness
– Ability to adapt to new settings
– Ability to deliver under pressure
§ Some employers may fear that you are:
– Too “abstract”
– Introvert
– In need of other, more demanding challenges
=> Show them they’re wrong!
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Advice - CV
§ Most important document (generally more important than letter of motivation)
§ Keep it sharp, include what is relevant, not everything you’ve done since you went to high school
§ Good to have an “all-purpose” CV at hand, you expect to use some time to adapt it for the relevant position
§ Demonstrate that you have personal interests/hobbies
§ Also consider establishing and maintaining a good LinkedIn profile
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Advice – Letter of motivation
§ Never use a “generic template”, always adapt to the job advertisement
§ Don’t write too long (1 page is probably too much in most cases), stick to the point and let the letter and CV complement each other
§ Spelling/grammar mistakes can make you appear less relevant for the position than you are
§ Try to answer at least these two questions:
– What is your motivation for applying?
– What makes you a good candidate for the position?
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Advice – Job interview
§ Be yourself, defend your own opinions, don’t try to say what you think the employer wants to hear
§ Don’t be nervous, it’s as much about seeing if the job fits you as the other way around
§ The top priority for the employer is to find out what motivates you for applying for the position
§ Additional questions you must prepare for:– What are your strongest / weakest sides?– “Projects” you’ve been part of:
– Problems encountered– How they were solved
– What you learnt
– How you acted on what you learnt– Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
– What motivates you? What demotivates you?
– How do you organize your own work?
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General career advice
§ Be open to try new things
§ Be proactive, do not always wait to be told what to do
§ Be open and honest in all you do§ If you feel like criticising something, you should always be able to answer the question “How can
[it] become better?”
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Nikolay Qviller, Head of Section / Senior Software [email protected]+47 99356326