“I netted a $3k salary gain on top of an already comfy offer.”

I came to Fatimah disillusioned with academia after five years in a Ph.D. program, with no idea how to start looking for other career paths. I wondered what my value might be, and was stuck not knowing how to approach an industry job search. My first visit we covered networking – from there we worked on everything from identifying my values and strengths to how to approach an interview and how to negotiate a job offer. Fatimah’s negotiation advice netted me a $3k salary gain on top of an already comfy offer.

Hilary Pritchard, Linguistics - University of Pennsylvania, Data Scientist -Fortune 500 Telecommunications Company

“I knew I could find a better path, but I didn’t know how.”

I had made a decision to leave my current academic institution as a tenure-track assistant professor and had been applying to several jobs. When I reached out to Fatimah, I found myself at a crossroad about the best opportunity I should pursue that would allow me to utilize my skills and have job satisfaction. What I most appreciated about the work with Fatimah was that she understood the internal challenges of choosing to leaving academia. These were things that I really had no outlet to work through as others thought it was incredulous to leave academia or they were dealing with the same apprehensions themselves. I knew I could find a better path for my life outside of academia but I wasn’t sure how to navigate that. Fatimah provided tools, wisdom, insight and support to help me navigate that path. While it was a hard decision, Fatimah helped me make an informed decision and it was one of the best decisions I could have made for my family and me.

[After working with Fatimah], I felt more confident in identifying and contacting my personal and professional network. I left a toxic environment to a very satisfying and fulfilling one. I received a job offer with a pay raise.

Aisha Rousseau, Ph.D., Disability and Psychoeducational Studies , Director, City Government

“Helped me streamline my process for applying to nonacademic positions”

Options for Success is a wonderful program which helped me streamline my process for applying to particular positions that fit my interests. I was able to secure a teaching position at an independent school by expanding my network and receiving encouragement from other participants.

Arika Easley Houser, Ph.D., History, Educator and Administrator, Independent School

“I received three interviews and a job offer!”

I had a hard time putting an attractive and concise application package together for a faculty position. Fatimah helped me to improve my application materials by bringing up what made me distinguished among other candidates and omitting the unnecessary information. I received three interviews and a job offer! Fatimah guided me through the interview and offer negotiation process.

Keivan Davami, Ph.D. – Mechanical Engineering, Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Widener University

“Exceptionally useful feedback on how to improve my skills!”

I was on the academic job market as a PhD student. I mainly needed help with learning more about the interview process and how I could prepare best for interviews that focused on discussing my research. Fatimah helped me prepare for the job interviews by doing a mock session that resembled, in all ways, the real world experience. During that process, she gave me ample and exceptionally useful feedback on how to improve my skills. As a result, I was confident I could do well in the interviews I had the following week. Working with Fatimah helped me achieve my goal of securing a tenure track position at a research university. It also helped me establish strong professional relationships with faculty from other institutions where I interviewed for an academic job.

Valerio Bacak, Ph.D. – Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University

“Helpful in guiding me through the process to figure out the best fit for me”

I needed advice on job interviews. Fatimah was really helpful in guiding me through the process of figuring out which job was the best fit for me out of the ones I interviewed for. I am very happy about the choices I made. Fatimah guided me through the interview and offer negotiation process. I secured the position and joined a team that is doing work to impact health policy and outcomes across the U.S.

Ksenia Gorbeko, Ph.D. - Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Research Lead, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice

“In the 11st hour she sent me interview prep questions and guided me in how to present my best, most valuable self.”

I was going into an interview for a job very blind and unprepared. In the 11th hour she sent me prep questions and guided me in how to present my best, most valuable self. I knew the principal of the school were I was interviewing was a tough one, and I was surprised by the challenge the interview actually presented. Fatimah gave me thinking/talking points to consider when engaging with the principal before and after the interview. After feeling very uncertain about the interview outcome, with Fatimah’s help, I crafted an email expressing my gratitude for the interview opportunity. I got the position and have grown in many ways in this challenging position as an elementary Autism teacher.

Kim Van Acker, Special Needs Educator

“From unemployed MPH and Ph.D. to Multiple Interviews and First Job!”

I was starting to feel overwhelmed and unsure of my capabilities. Dr. Williams-Castro helped me regain the focus that I needed to succeed on the job market. She taught me to be strategic and bold in making contact with key people and potential employers in my ideal career area. I tried that method with high-profile Washington, DC health policy makers and a national health nonprofit organization and was pleasantly surprised to get one of those people directly set up for a lunch the following week. I am proud to say that I accepted an offer on the job of my dreams.

Shanta Whitaker, Ph.D., MPH – Microbiology, Yale; Public Health, Johns Hopkins, Program Director, Washington, DC Area Health Policy Institute

“One of the most valuable investments I have made in my career.”

I found the language to describe my desire to develop a more targeted search. I wanted to be effective and get a job offer, which I know would help my confidence. I also felt that the interview coaching would be foundational and could help me interview better going forward. Since my work with her in the Options for Success course had been so effective, I felt confident that [she] would be able to well prepare me for this opportunity. Preparing with Dr. Fatimah was different from just asking a friend or family member to do a practice interview in that she knows the climate of the job market so well. She offers cutting-edge tools. During my interview, I kept remembering the tip about my Power Stories. The interviewer was very impressed and scheduled a second interview with the Executive Director. I felt so empowered! Working with Dr. Fatimah is one of the most valuable investments I have made in my career. I will benefit from her coaching for many years to come.

P.R., Ph.D., Performance Studies and Latino Studies, Health Educator