Is there life after PhD?...–Ensuring people get sufficient challenges to develop and prosper §As...
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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
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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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The trademarks DNV GL®, DNV®, the Horizon Graphic and Det Norske Veritas®
are the properties of companies in the Det Norske Veritas group. All rights reserved.
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Nikolay Qviller, Head of Section / Senior Software [email protected]+47 99356326