Recruitment for the associate editor positions at Nature Chemistry continues, and although I obviously can’t comment on specifics here, there are some general observations I want to share with you.
No interviews have been scheduled yet, but I want you to imagine a hypothetical scene in which a candidate is sitting across a desk from me and one of my colleagues in the Nature offices in London. We’re about half-way through the interview and the questions continue…
Me: So, if you wouldn’t mind, could you briefly summarize your thoughts on this manuscript for us.
Candidate: Well, although the conceptual novelty is somewhat compromised by the work reported in reference 8, it’s certainly a comprehensive study and represents a significant advance over previous work in this area, so it probably should be sent out to referees to see what they think.
Me: Good, good. So, how’s your parallel parking?
Candidate: I’m sorry, my what?
Me: Parallel parking – oh, never mind. OK, minibuses, have you ever driven a minibus?
Candidate: What? A minibus? Erm, no… no I haven’t – why?
Me: Hmm. Oh dear, that could be a problem. Now, let me see, yes, you’re driving at 47 mph down a country lane and it rained heavily about 12 hours earlier, what’s the safe stopping distance?
Candidate: I beg your pardon.
Let me just point out now, that exchanges of this kind will not feature in the interviews. No one will be asked about their driving skills or associated knowledge. And I can guarantee this in spite of the fact that most of the people in the UK (including some, but not all of the Nature Chemistry candidates), proudly include on their CVs that they have a driving licence.
To be fair, I used to put this invaluable nugget of information on my CV as well, until one day I suddenly realized that it really wasn’t all that important for the jobs I was applying for… i.e., if you can analyze the ins-and-outs of an asymmetric synthesis paper, I don’t really care if you can do a three-point-turn or not.
I think it’s just a hangover from what we were all told at school – I think that’s where I picked up the habit. Sure, it does no harm (and no one will be denied — or indeed selected for — an interview for Nature Chemistry based on whether this was included on their CV or not), but unless it is directly relevant to the job, I don’t see the point.
Please note, however, that I am not a recruitment specialist or hiring manager (or whatever you call those people) and perhaps I am missing something important – so I’m not offering professional advice here, leave this piece of information off your CV at your own peril. (Perhaps that was why the Royal Society of Chemistry turned me down?).
I don’t remember seeing driving qualifications on any of the non-UK CVs, but that’s not to say they don’t have their own problems. If I get a minute away from websites, podcasts, hiring and Nature Nanotechnology manuscripts, I’ll be back to tell you about them…
Stuart
Stuart Cantrill (Chief Editor, Nature Chemistry)
Just be sure not to let anyone’s driving color your perceptions…. ahem!
As an environmental chemist and lecturer, I really do need to have a drivers license to do my job. Not only that, but recent staff meetings have also involved discussions on the issue that not enough of us have bus or boat licenses. Some of us do our chemistry outside in the big wide world- don’t editors get to make visits to the outside world too?
For a scientific editing job, I would never make a hiring decision based on whether someone had a driving licence or not – would you? Yes, going out into the community is a large part of the job, but the majority of places we wish to visit can be reached by train, plane and taxi. I’ve not had to drive as part of my job as an editor – that’s not to say it won’t happen, however – I just don’t think it should even cross my mind when recruiting…
So “Full UK driving license, 2 endorsements – 10 points awarded” is not required, how about the certificate I was awarded in primary school for pumpkin growing?
I don’t mention my driving status on applications, but I do like to think that my 10 metre swimming badge holds some sway with potential employers…
It’s routine to include a comprehensive list of ‘other talents’ on your resume if you’re an actor… perhaps we just aren’t looking broadly enough? For example, who knows when my skills in origami or tap dancing might come in handy in a professional setting??
All this conversation also makes me wonder how many people don’t have driver’s licenses these days. Is it really something that even needs to be said?
The problem with including many the fun and potentially-helpful facts about yourself is that they might detract from all the technical/relevant information. This is an issue for me – I have a load of things that could be included, but 10pt font size is probably the limit for my single-page resume…
Stu- while you’re at it (and when you actually have “time”), could you write a general guideline for a CV? Length, section labels/titles, general organization, etc. I’ve seen quite a variety of resumes, even just with 1-pagers.
[Editor’s note: it really depends what job you’re applying for, but even then, there is no single correct way to put together a CV, it’s far easy to say what doesn’t help…]