Thread by @dylan_ruediger

Getting ready for #s1 at #AHA20 "Humanities PhDs Beyond the Academy: The Employers Perspective," featuring employers who have hired @ACLS1919 public fellows. #AHACareerDiversity

@ACLS1919 If you don't know about the @ACLS1919 Public Fellows program, you should definitely check it out. This is one of the flagship #CareerDiversity opportunities out there. 2020 applications will open soon.
acls.org/programs/publi…

@ACLS1919 The program places humanities PhDs in 2-year fellowships at nonprofits, govt, business, etc. Designed to benefit recent graduates #WithAPhD and provide a public demonstration of the value that humanists bring to a variety of careers.
#s1 #AHA20 #AHACareerDiversity

@ACLS1919 A new fact to me: over 15% of public fellows have been history PhDs.

Our panelists at #s1 #AHA20

Cottrell on how @gmfus evaluates candidates: 1) a passion for thinking about the transatlantic relationship 2) an "entrepreneurial" spirit - the ability to create something meaningful and relevant.
#s1 #AHA20

@gmfus Rosenthal of @GlobalSI: Smithsonian employs over 600 PhDs. They want people who can "take a longer view" but also work quickly "we have issues and need answers." Someone who can communicate global issues rapidly to nonspecialists. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI A thread through all three panelists: we are looking for people who are eager to learn new things, a skill we at @AHAhistorians call "intellectual self-confidence." #AHAFiveSkills #AHACareerDiversity #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Silver, who worked with fellows at a public health nonprofit. The key question was "can you collaborate with non-PhDs." "You learn some statistics, I learn a little law, we all learn a little social work." #AHACareerDiversity #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Q: from Joh Paul Christy, "what mindsets or habits of mind did PhDs bring that needed refinement?" A: thinking organizationally, communicating the "so what." #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Cottrell, what at first seemed like a liability became a strength. The depth of knowledge PhDs bring can create barriers to clear communication, but the value of specialized, deep knowledge "really helped us find our roots and understand our mission." #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Q from Christy: how can applicants signify in cover letter that they are serious and intellectually curious? A: volunteer exp., a positive case as to why you are drawn to the org. and a concrete idea of what you can contribute. These are more imp. than skills. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Rosenthal's answer: subject expertise isn't that important, but what is tremendously valuable - ability to write, research, communicate to range of audiences. "These are tremendously valuable job skills" and are hard to find. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Cottrell: we look for people who understand our mission and can explain how they can contribute to it.
This is so important. How can grad programs help students learn this? For me, university service was the key to being able to see mission and think institutionally. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Wide consensus from employers that the easy, low hanging fruit of looking at the org. website for mission, projects, clients, etc. is often ignored by candidates. One of the 1st and key steps to getting the job: know the organization. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Silver on value of Phd: "The rigorous training you receive doing a PhD is unlike anything else anyone is doing." #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Christy, PhDs are perpetual learners, adaptable to the changing mission of nonprofits. #AHA20 #s1

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians Interesting answers to questions about identity as historians. Employers value their ability to synthesize, bring context to problems and issues. "Historians are real champions" at helping contextualize policy, programs, processes. #s1 #AHA20 #AHACareerDiversity

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians .@catsonatardis here in absentia: "you might not need a PhD to do your job, but you'll do it differently because you have one," says John Paul Christy, quoting Stacy. #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians @catsonatardis John Paul asked audience how many people's depts bring back alumni working beyond the academy. A very refreshing number of hands go up, maybe 20-25, a third or so of the audience. #s1 #AHA20 #AHACareerDiversity

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians @catsonatardis Rosenthal on PhDs ability to find important information quickly, to explain impact for external audiences and - internally - to inform decision making and narration. PhDs can "shape a thought leadership narrative." #s1 #AHA20

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians @catsonatardis Christy, our employer partners value the capacity to do research, PhDs capacity to be "interested in asking questions and know what the next source of information should be." This is how research connects to decision making. #s1 #AHA20 #AHACareerDiversity

@gmfus @GlobalSI @AHAhistorians @catsonatardis That's a wrap on #s1. Thanks to the panelists and audience for a great session.