Rejections from RA positions?? In dire need of more research experience!!

[hokie11]

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I am an absolutely broke recent graduate who really needs some advanced research experience on a professional level to help me get into grad school. I've had a lot of basic experience with SPSS and Excel, although I haven't had to create templates or code data/create databases from blank documents. I've dealt with clients, distributed questionnaires, ran and scheduled experiments...all as an undergrad RA.
I'm incredibly determined to succeed at some point...I have a myriad of research ideas that I'm constantly putting into memos that I keep with me, I love the field of psychology, I would be thrilled to have a career as a health psychologist and study PTSD, promoting community resiliency and developing frameworks related to increasing coping mechanisms. I just wish my employers could realize my passion & effing give me a chance here! I've gotten so many rejections for reasons I can't understand. Does anyone have any advice?? How do you land one of these jobs?? And would it even help compensate for average GPA and GRE scores?

 

[reluctantPhd01]

Some of the good RA positions are really competitive. Some get 200-300 applicants, especially at this time of year. Your best bet is to make sure your application is the best it can be. Also, make sure you are doing all the right things in terms of how you are writing your CV, presenting yourself, and that your references are from people who really like you. An RA position for a couple of years is just one way of getting into a clinical program, albeit a common one. If you can't find one, see if you can volunteer.

 

[nessa34]

Some of the good RA positions are really competitive. Some get 200-300 applicants, especially at this time of year. Your best bet is to make sure your application is the best it can be. Also, make sure you are doing all the right things in terms of how you are writing your CV, presenting yourself, and that your references are from people who really like you.

True story. By the time I finally got an RA position, I had applied to over 100 positions-just got online each weekend and applied for whatever I found. If you have any personal connections, those will be much more successful than online applications, though.

Are you getting interviews? If so, it may help to ask why you were not chosen after the interview. If you are not getting to the interview stage, working on your CV & cover letter may help. For me, after I revamped my CV, I went from 0 interviews to 5 in two weeks.

don't get discouraged! Especially if you are motivated to do research, as it sounds you are, an RA position is a great way to get experience & stay involved in research.

 

[Ollie123]

1) Don't take it personally. Its good practice for the field, since even the best psychologists will be dealing with rejection regularly throughout their life (papers, grants, clients seeking services elsewhere, etc.). One of our faculty members described the key to success in academia as "Being willing to continue beating your head against a wall, pretending it doesn't hurt". He was joking, but there is definitely some truth to that.

Also, keep in mind that many of these jobs are likely "token" postings where they already have a current unpaid RA in mind that they want to hire, and the hospital/university requires them to make a public announcement. Oftentimes, no matter how qualified you are you will have little to no chance at these positions. We've had to do this for a number of jobs in our lab, even though we pretty much knew exactly who we were hiring from the start unless by chance someone with absolutely ridiculous credentials wanted a demotion to an entry-level coordinator. Yes, it stinks that these have to be posted and people waste their time applying. Blame the legal system.

2) Network like crazy. That is how most people get these jobs. If the school you are at was a major research university, chances are the faculty members you worked with have grants themselves, or know people with grants. This was how I got my RA jobs - I was never a random person applying, it was always someone who was a friend/colleague of someone I had worked with previously. Pretty much every interview I went on resulted in an offer (though keep in mind the economy was better then).

If you are struggling, find something to pay the bills and volunteer to get your foot in the door - that way you are first in line if a paid position opens up there, or with a colleague.

And yes, it will help your CV tremendously. If you have a 2.7 there isn't much that can fix that, but I think most PhD programs would greatly prefer someone with a 3.5 and tons of experience vs. a 4.0 with less experience.

 

[graduatingsoon]

I don't know what you mean exactly by average GPA and GRE scores. I will say though that people with average GRE and GPA scores cannot generally get into good clinical psychology programs. There are a few exceptions to this rule i'm sure but i dont' know of anyone personally. You may want to look at other options that allow you to do health psychology related things. The average GPA in my phd program is 3.7-3.8 and that is probably about average for good programs on the national level. Average is not going to cut it if you want to become a clinical psychologists with a focus on health psych.

 

[graduatingsoon]

Just applying to RA jobs may also be limiting since there is little research funding now and tons of competition. How about related positions, such as public health, working at a non-profit, medical administration etc.? You can then volunteer as an RA once or twice a week and be more marketable for grad school later.

 

[hokie11]

2) Network like crazy. That is how most people get these jobs. If the school you are at was a major research university, chances are the faculty members you worked with have grants themselves, or know people with grants. This was how I got my RA jobs - I was never a random person applying, it was always someone who was a friend/colleague of someone I had worked with previously. Pretty much every interview I went on resulted in an offer (though keep in mind the economy was better then).

Thanks, so much useful advice here! I was wondering - how did you go about contacting these people for actual jobs? I definitely have some contacts, but so far they've all resulted in volunteer positions. Do you think it's worth just accepting a volunteer position and then seeing if they'll offer a pay? And if you start working with someone who has a grant, is it pretty standard for them to pay you or is it something you should bring up? I always feel so awkward bringing up money...

Anyone else have any advice about this?? Can a little grant money trickle down to a lowly volunteer RA haha

 

[hokie11]

Are you getting interviews? If so, it may help to ask why you were not chosen after the interview. If you are not getting to the interview stage, working on your CV & cover letter may help. For me, after I revamped my CV, I went from 0 interviews to 5 in two weeks.

Yes, I've gotten 2 interviews...but it seemed like with both I had some sort of connection. One was really close to my University, and is actually a research institute that's somehow affiliated with it. The other was for an open position that was previously held by a girl who I worked in a lab with. BUT I didn't get either position. What major changes did you make to your CV? I have a pretty solid one, I had it looked over by several grad students in my department as well as my lab supervisor who is a clinical psychologist. But still...only 2 interviews...ehhh.

 

[reluctantPhd01]

There are really too many variables for anyone to give you advice on something like this. I mean, should you volunteer? It really depends. Can you afford to? Is the experience something that is going to teach you something, or is it bitch work like making folders (there is a certain amount of this in every position, but if you're ONLY doing that, that might be a problem). Sometimes, volunteers can't do a lot because they aren't actual staff, so they have to do really menial tasks instead of the more direct, relevant experience. Sometimes though, volunteers get a better deal actually, because PIs feel like because you are donating time and its not "your job", they should make sure the experience is valuable. And don't be shocked---a lot of labs will say no thanks for even volunteering---its competitive to volunteer sometimes!
The best way to find out about jobs is to search the websites of places you would want to work. Make sure you show up and know their research and really make a case for yourself in your letter of intent. No spelling errors. Wear a suit to the interview. These are things that matter.

Thanks, so much useful advice here! I was wondering - how did you go about contacting these people for actual jobs? I definitely have some contacts, but so far they've all resulted in volunteer positions. Do you think it's worth just accepting a volunteer position and then seeing if they'll offer a pay? And if you start working with someone who has a grant, is it pretty standard for them to pay you or is it something you should bring up? I always feel so awkward bringing up money...

Anyone else have any advice about this?? Can a little grant money trickle down to a lowly volunteer RA haha

 

[BiopsychStudent]

When I graduated I applied to dozens of postings before I finally landed a paid RA job. A lot of the time I would find postings on HR databases of major academic medical centers, apply, hear nothing, then get a rejection months later without ever having communicated with another human and with no assurance my application was even read. I suspect many of these positions may have been advertised more due to a university policy, and that they may have already chosen a candidate from elsewhere.

I would definitely advise emailing your CV to PIs whose work interests you directly, rather than applying through HR postings: explain who you are, ask if they need an RA, then why you're interested and what your previous research experience is. You'll still get a lot of rejection cold-calling like this, but this method still got me a lot more interviews than applying through online databases ever did. Just be sure to target your email specifically to the lab in question.

 

[krisrox]

It might be easier to get a paid job doing something other than research for a while and just volunteer in a research lab. Most labs only require 5 hours/week if you volunteer, so you'd still be getting experience but it wouldnt be cutting into your money-making job. If you do a good job in the lab, the PI might be a good reference and the experience might be enough to land you a job.

I know all about practicality- you need money! But it's true that most research labs dont hire without good experience.