Tania Gautam, a PhD grad seeking work in the field of environmental science, in Edmonton on Tuesday.JASON FRANSON/The Globe and Mail
Name, age: Tania Gautam, 33
Education:
- PhD in Environmental Chemistry from University of Alberta (2024)
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of Alberta (2018)
Where she lives: Edmonton
Her dream job: A provincial or federal government position doing air pollution research that informs policies and legislation.
Roles targeted: Environmental consultant, environmental co-ordinator, sustainability co-ordinator. Client-focused environmental roles that involve liaising with the government.
The job hunt: After getting her PhD in 2024, Ms. Gautam moved to the U.S. for a one-year contract as an environmental research associate at a national laboratory. After that position ended in August, 2025, she moved back to Edmonton and has been on the job hunt ever since.
She spends eight to 10 hours each day networking, looking for and applying to jobs in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Since September, she has applied to 100 positions, diligently searching LinkedIn and job boards for postings. She has even set up e-mail alerts for specific municipalities, keywords and career page updates.
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Out of 100 applications, she landed four interviews. Two were phone screening calls and the third was a panel interview, where the employer ended up going with a candidate that was better “matched” to the role. The fourth was an in-person interview at the end of last year, but she hasn’t heard back or received a formal rejection yet.
Ms. Gautam also cold contacts people on LinkedIn, and e-mails Alberta government scientists, environmental consulting firms and staff at agencies such as Environment and Climate Change Canada. This has resulted in about 10 coffee chats, but no solid leads.
Her main challenge: Though Ms. Gautam believes she “ticks all the boxes on paper” – with internships, lab experience, paid roles and volunteering – she wonders if she’s being passed over in favour of internal candidates, as other PhD grads have suggested.
“I honestly think I am shooting darts in the dark,” she said. “I don’t know where things are going wrong.”
“I feel like she’s on the cusp of arriving at an opportunity,” said Devon Turcotte, a career adviser based in Prince Edward Island, who reviewed Ms. Gautam’s resume and situation. “There are just some minor tweaks that will nudge her to that.”
Quick resume refresh
Ms. Turcotte says Ms. Gautam’s resume is “actually quite excellent” in that it clearly demonstrates the value of the work she’s done, her skills and abilities, and outcomes of past projects. “Most people don’t do that,” Ms. Turcotte said.
However, her resume doesn’t currently convey her passion for the work. Ms. Turcotte suggests adding a line to her professional summary explaining why environmental chemistry matters to her and why she’s devoted years to studying it. “You’d be surprised how often employers are really interested in that,” the adviser said.
Another tweak: move her education from the top of the resume to the bottom, and lead with her skills. While Ms. Gautam’s academic background is impressive, private firms and government bodies are likely more interested in her analytical and technical skills. “That’s the stuff I’d want to know as an employer,” Ms. Turcotte said.
Ms. Gautam has applied for 100 positions since September.JASON FRANSON/The Globe and Mail
Hop into LinkedIn comment sections
Recent grads often ask Ms. Turcotte about posting on LinkedIn – what they should post, how often and when. “But if you’re in a job seeker position, posting is really not the strategy,” she explains.
Instead, they should join comment threads and contribute their knowledge to conversations among peers. As they engage with posts in their industry, LinkedIn’s algorithm will surface similar, relevant posts. “That can be a really great way to start to build a network,” she said.
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For example, if an Alberta-based environmental scientist shares a research paper, new findings or industry news, Ms. Gautam could weigh in with her perspective, ask a question or connect it to her own research.
This kind of engagement can spark meaningful conversations and strengthen both the number and quality of connections. LinkedIn is a powerful vehicle for finding people with similar passions, so Ms. Gautam should leverage the search function to find these conversations and join in.
“I often tell people: go find out where your fellow nerds are hanging out and start making friends,” Ms. Turcotte said. This approach also switches the mindset from “I need to get a job” to “nerding out with fellow nerds,” she added. It can be more effective than cold messaging, since more people can see public comments.
Don’t ignore warm connections
Job seekers often focus on cold contacts rather than fostering “warm connections” with people they already know. Ms. Turcotte suggests job hunters mention to everyone in their life – their best friend, grandmother, significant other, roommate – that they are looking for work. Even if someone doesn’t work in a relevant industry, they might know a person who does.
“You’d be surprised how interconnected people are,” Ms. Turcotte said. “And we always underestimate how much people are willing to help us out.”
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