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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

DNV GL © 14 November 2018

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

mailto:[email protected]