Cosearching Brussels (ENG)’s Post

Where does your magic happen? Mine happened yesterday morning. I was sat at my desk, in my son's old nursery (he's now 16 😯), getting all enthused interviewing people. And there it was. 💡 That nugget of information about something my client doesn't realise is happening, that thing they've been agonising about, there plain as day. 🌟 It took a few interviews and some changing of the questions to tease it out but it jumped out and I was cockahoop. 💃 Sometimes it's about more than what people tell you. Sometimes they're telling you what they know, sometimes they're telling you what they think. Sometimes they need coaxing, sometimes they're loquacious. 🗣 As a strategic researcher you have to take what you've been told during individual interviews with people and compare and contrast what they're saying in order to get to the information your client needs. By being that constant across the interviews I can identify those things the client can't get to. And sometimes tell them things they didn't even know they needed to know in order to make a difference to their products and services. 🎉 But it's worth pointing out here that a researcher might only be paid to carry out the interviews and not do the analysis. So identifying and communicating the 'nuggets' and what they mean is something I love to do, but I don't always get to do it. I much prefer the projects when I do. I love the thrill of that magic. It's something I often find elusive when I'm in the slog of recruiting people to interview, having people not show up, trying to finalise the questionnaire with the client (when in practice half the time that goes slightly out the window depending on the conversation), and sometimes feeling like we've all lost the plot trying to anticipate what people will say. 🙈🙉🙊 Finding the elusive magic in research work is rewarding (and will differ depending on the sectors, expertise and experience researchers have). It's a beautiful, brilliant melting pot is that researcher magic. 🫕 [The photo is my note, written in the moment when I realised when the magic was happening. It may not be v legible...😁]. #researchimpact #qualitativeresearch #research #researchanalyst

In today's finding a great research position series, the very first step you need to do is... 1. Find Your Passion. What are you interested in? Write 20 thoughtful questions about your area. Things you wish you knew. Eventually, if you get lucky, you’ll get an interview. The professor is going to be looking for your passion. No one wants someone who is just ticking a box in their lab. Show your list to your parents and friends. If they know the answers, you haven’t dived deep enough. If you can’t come up with 20 questions, then you have not dived deep enough. Stay tuned for more tips in finding a great research position. 😉 #research #studentresearch

A dilemma I found doing user research was, what are the right questions to ask (given the small window of opportunity). This issue plagues surveys as well as interviews. The answer was something Teresa Torres said, essentially get participants to tell a story. In exploritory research, I ask: - what’s your day to day like? This allows for multiple avenues exploration. In experience research, I ask: - how have you found using X? This is where the nuggets of insights flow out. In my experience users tell me the What, the Why and sometimes the How.

PhDs - One of the best interviews I ever conducted didn't feel like an interview at all. It felt like talking to an old friend. Here's how it started: Me: What gets you up in the morning? What motivates you? Her: Usually my dogs, haha! They're pretty high energy, so I usually start my day taking them out for a walk. It gets my energy going for the day. What about you? Do you have any animals? Me: My house is like a zoo: dog, rabbit, chickens, horses, and sheep. Her: **laughs** ^At this point, she's established a rapport with me that makes the rest of the interview entirely conversational. Me: So, what interests you about this role? Her: Well, I was at my last company for about 10 years. Business slowed down and we weren't growing, so I got bored. I'm looking for something faster paced that's more of a challenge. What about you? What made you come here? ^And now, she's hooked me. As we got into the more technical questions, it became a back-and-forth sharing of experiences, perspectives, and information. Not only did I make her an offer the same day, I included a training budget in her offer to get a necessary certification, along with a salary bump when she completed it as part of her package. She didn't have the most experience for that specific role. But the way she engaged demonstrated she could learn. She was genuinely intellectually curious from the start and actively listened throughout - that's trainable. 🔁Pass it along - repost to help a friend :) ___________________ Are you a PhD struggling to get a job in industry? DM me or check out my website (www.alma.me), I can help.

"Convocation is not the end but the beginning; it's not just a celebration of academic accomplishment but a commencement of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and growth." In this special vlog, we've captured the thoughts and experiences of our graduates who recently completed their degrees. These interviews are like windows into their time at UET and their dreams for the future. Don't miss out on seeing the beginning of new adventures for our graduates! Interviews Credits: Rameen Nasir, Muteeba Javed |General Members Team Vlogs and Interviews, UMS| and Bismah Farooq |Director Team Vlogs and Interviews, UMS| Editing Credits: Bismah Farooq |Director Team Vlogs and Interviews, UMS| Caption credits: Rameen Nasir |General Member Team Documentation, UMS|

Want to master reading research papers for your SoP and interviews? Here’s a foolproof guide! 1.Start with the Abstract and Conclusion 🔍: •Objective: Identify the main goal of the research. •Action: Note down the research question, hypothesis, and key findings. This gives you a quick overview. 2. Read the Introduction Thoroughly 📖: •Objective: Understand the background and significance of the study. •Action: Highlight the research gap the paper addresses. Relate this to your field of interest. 3. Dissect the Methodology 🔬: •Objective: Comprehend how the research was conducted. •Action: Make a list of techniques and procedures used. Think about how these methods could be applied to your own research. 4.Analyze the Results 📊: •Objective: Grasp the outcomes of the study. •Action: Create a summary of key results. Use bullet points or diagrams for clarity. Consider the implications of these results in your field. 5. Evaluate the Discussion Section 🗣️: •Objective: Understand the interpretation of the results. •Action: Note how the authors relate their findings to the existing literature. Identify any limitations or future research directions suggested. 6. Make Connections to Your Research 🔗: •Objective: Link the paper’s findings to your own interests. •Action: Write down specific points on how this research influences your ideas or projects. Mention these connections in your SoP to show relevance. 7. Prepare Talking Points 🗒️: •Objective: Be ready to discuss the paper in detail. •Action: Develop 3-5 talking points or questions about the paper. Practice explaining the significance of these points clearly and concisely. 8. Use Reference Management Tools 📂: •Objective: Keep track of important papers and notes. •Action: Use tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to organize your references and annotations. This will save time and keep your research organized. Want to work with me to write solid applications? DM me to get started 👍

Day 7 (yesterday’s) of a 21-part series: Does this sound like it could be you, or anyone you know? Have you ever asked for the job interview questions in advance of the interview? (and do you want to help shape the story? it's still in the works...) (FYI the following story is generated by AI - my motive in sharing it is to see if it sparks an idea in anyone who feels it's something they'd like to try... or maybe you'd like to add your input and tweaks to the story?) ***** “Voices in the Shadows of Wall Street” On the bustling streets of Wall Street, investment tycoon Richard Sinclair commissions a young journalist to investigate the changing landscape of job interviews. In a very short time, the journalist finds a story worth chasing and begins to follow it even after Sinclair stops paying him to. He can’t help but continue to investigate the benefits of something new he has discovered: providing job interview questions in advance, to individuals with extreme shyness or social anxiety. As the journalist delves into the stories of previously overlooked talent, he becomes a vocal advocate for mental health awareness in the corporate world. The practice of providing job interview questions in advance gains traction, and the story explores the personal and societal transformations that arise, shedding light on the untapped potential of those who were once overlooked. The narrative unfolds in the sleek glass offices of Manhattan, exploring the intersections of power, finance, and societal change. ***** Ok now it's your turn, what edits would you make or re-prompts? Let's make this story come to life! #jobinterviewquestionsinadvance #aistorytelling

JOURNEY Reflecting on the past days, I can't help but acknowledge how crucial that period was in my life. I found myself in a state of joblessness and pennilessness, facing the daunting task of navigating through numerous applications and interviews. Amidst this struggle, I also had to contend with gender issues, encountering biases and obstacles along the way. There were moments when I thought I caught a break, only to be told that they were seeking younger candidates or locals, further fueling my sense of frustration and confusion. The repetitive nature of the application and interview process, coupled with these setbacks, led me to question myself deeply. Was I heading in the right direction? Was I making the right choices? In the midst of this uncertainty, I encountered what I can only describe as the tree of Enlightenment – a pivotal moment in the form of a real interview. It was during this interview that I was truly enlightened, not just about the job at hand, but about my own worth and potential. It dawned on me that perhaps this struggle was not leading me to my final destination, but rather serving as my own Bodhi tree – a place of profound realization and growth. As the interview progressed, all my lingering questions seemed to find their answers, bringing a newfound clarity to my path. Despite the challenges and doubts that had plagued me, I emerged from that experience with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. I had found my path, illuminated by the insights gained from that enlightening encounter.

After conducting 1000s of hours of life story interviews, I'm certain that exploring your experience and wins & losses via interview is one of the most powerful ways to build resilience and tackle your authentic self. For most of my career, I worked as an independent journalist and reporter-at-large. The biggest part of my work was talking with people worldwide, learning their stories, ways, perspectives, beliefs, culture, circumstances, motivations, and goals. At some point, I understood this was insightful not only for me and my readers but also for the interviewees themselves. Hearing your life story out loud — it gives you a particular perspective. You can sense a nice little distance with your experience and have this feeling of meeting a long-lost friend. Those dialogues help illuminate your driving values and principles and how they help you overcome obstacles and odds on your way. It helps you flesh out some of your most crucial and cherished concepts and ideas. To re-live the memories, to re-connect the dots, to re-author your life, to re-member critical milestones, and to see your story from a new angle. And that's pure therapy just there. So try this simple technique to self-interview when you're feeling a bit down and see what happens: 1. Remember the last time you stood up against something you didn't like/disagree with in your life 2. What exactly did you do? 3. What's essential for you to do about doing this? 4. How does this fit with your hopes for how you wish to live your life? 5. What does this say about what is important to you? 6. What do you give value to? 7. What principles and commitments can we see behind those actions?

Five things we can learn from Kim Hill’s career, and apply in our own lives. 1. Be curious Ask good questions that move the story forward. If you don’t know or understand, ask another question. If the answer wasn’t what you expected, follow up. This works for unexpectedly good answers, and for lies. 2. Show respect Everyone has their own story and context. Find out what it is. Don’t assume anything. If their story is different from yours, celebrate it. 3. Take notes I know this one from working with Kim. She took a lot of notes in preparation for interviews. She highlighted in books. Taking notes helps you remember what is important, and also to integrate what you just read with the information you already have. 4. Do your research Work the angles, follow your nose. There will be something interesting, or something you need to know that wasn’t obvious. It could be a connection with another person or field of work. Rely on experts, not cranks. 5. Read a lot Not just stuff you are interested in or agree with, but divergent things that will challenge your thinking and might be useful in other contexts. Kim would often draw interesting asides into interviews to move the story forward, or to make a connection with the subject. You could hold a conversation with her on just about any subject, and be surprised.