Career Prospects for Life Scientists:
Industry and Beyond
Jenny Furlong
Center for Career Education
Columbia University
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What We’ll Talk about Today
• Taking the next step in your career
• Job search materials (resumes and cover letters)
• Networking and informational interviewing
• Interviewing 101
• Careers I’ve seen science PhD holders move into
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Taking the next step in your career
• You know academe well. Perhaps you’re here because:
– Academe is your first choice, but you worry about your chances
of finding a position.
– You’ve seen what it takes to succeed in academe, and have
decided it’s not the right place for you.
– Industry seems like the obvious alternative, but you’re not sure
how to find a position or whether there are other options out
there.
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Timelines
• How much time does it take to find a job?
– This depends… (an unsatisfactory answer)
• On your network.
• On your skills.
• On your limitations (geographic, for example).
• On your luck.
– If you are making a career shift, it can take even longer than
you expect, especially in a slow economy.
– I tend to tell scientists to give themselves some time (even a full
year) to make a transition.
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(Aside to PhD Students)
• Do I have to do a postdoc? It’s my last choice.
– If R and D in industry is your first choice, you may find that it’s hard to
get a position without having done a postdoc.
• This depends a bit on your field and your previous experience.
• A strong network can help to change this.
• You might strategically pick a postdoc with the goal of developing
new skills.
– You might find that a postdoc makes you a strong candidate for other
positions as well:
• You’ll gain more independence in your work, and perhaps some
supervising experience.
• You might strategically pick a postdoc with the goal of developing
new skills.
– Choose your postdoc wisely.
• Ideally, people will have left your advisor’s lab doing the kind of
work you’d like to do.
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How to figure out what you want to do with your life
• That’s a big question—it helps to start a bit smaller. What do you
want to do next?
– Remember that your first job is NOT your last job.
– What is your current work lacking?
• Career assessments, such as the MBTI or the Strong Interest
Inventory, can help, but they are not magic.
– PhD students can take these through CCE ($30).
– Online resources: http://www.rileyguide.com/assess.html.
• Sometimes it’s easy to feel stuck. Try something new.
– Volunteer.
– Look for an internship (e.g. be a Columbia Technology
Ventures Fellow).
– Take the initiative. Are there opportunities for you to develop in
your current situation?
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Connecting Yourself to a Career Field
Know that this exploration takes work and time
Myth: Your academic program = career
Your intellect, skills, and goals are what lead to a career
Don’t expect others (especially employers) to do this for
you
You must do this for yourself first
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Identifying Opportunities and Resources
Companies (try the Business and Econ Library at Columbia)
Job Openings
General Postings (indeed.com)
Targeted Postings (LionSHARE)
Industry Postings (ScienceCareers.com)
Company Postings
Hidden Jobs (Not Advertised)
CCE Website: helpful resources
Industry Exploration:
http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/industry
Vault/Wetfeet Guides:
http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/library
Non-academic Careers Tipsheet:
http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/tipsheets
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Useful Books
Careers Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development
by Toby Freedman
So What Are You Going to Do with That? A Guide for MAs and
PhDs Seeking Careers Outside the Academy by Susan Basalla
and Maggie Debelius
Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for
Scientists by Peter Fiske
Guide to Non-Traditional Careers in Science by Karen YoungKreeger
Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower by
Cynthia Robbins-Roth.
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Resume (not a CV)
Definition
Marketing tool
Includes relevant facts
about you
Content
Format
NO errors
One page (maybe two)
Prioritize experiences/skills
necessary for this industry
Show connections between
you and the industry
Demonstrate the “fit”
Use industry’s jargon
Use action verbs
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Resume Sections
Name and Contact Information
Objective, Profile, Summary (optional)
Education
Experience (maybe qualified with an adjective, i.e.
research experience)
Skills (important for industry, optional for other
non-academic roles)
Activities/Leadership (optional)
Interests (optional)
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Sample Resume
John Smith
000 West 111th Street Apt. 0 ▪ New York, New York 10025
(646) 222-2222 ▪ [email protected]
Education
Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York, NY
Ph.D., Chemistry, July 2008 (expected); M.Phil., May 2007; M.A., May 2004, G.P.A.: 3.9/4.0
•
Selected Honors/Awards: National Science Foundation (NSF) Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
•
Coursework at Columbia Business School: Foundations of Strategy; Management and Leadership
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
B.A., Chemistry, May 2003, G.P.A.: 3.7/4.0, Cum Laude
•
Selected Honors/Awards: Rhodes Scholarship, Presidential Senior Scholarship; Delta Sigma Chi International Balfour Finalist
Experience
Columbia University, New York, NY
Research Assistant, January 2004 - present
•
Collaborate with several postdoctoral researchers and graduate students to ensure successful and timely completion of projects
•
Manage and mentor two undergraduate researchers
•
Design synthetic schemes and revise approaches in the course of research
•
Published research on formal synthesis of ET-743 in two peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles
•
Presented research at symposium with over three-hundred attendees
Leadership
Columbia University, 2003 - present
•
Founder - Columbia University Consulting Club
•
Class Representative - Graduate Student Council
Prove You Have the Necessary Skills
Based on what employers require:
Industry requirements
Requirements for specific job
What do you offer (your intellect, skills, goals)?
Identify your transferable skills
Focus on the skills, not the setting (or specifics)
Demonstrate/explain them in your letter, resume, interview
When you provide details (e.g., on your resume), explain how
they are important to the job
Same process for each industry you are considering
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Networking and informational interviewing!
Networking is simply talking to people—in this case with a
focused topic
Meetings with insiders
As a means of research
At events
Through experience
Build on the results—take appropriate advice and follow up!
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How to Network?
Informational meetings/interviews: your goal is to obtain
information
Attend industry events and networking events
Keep track of contacts (notecards, Excel, etc.)
Thank contacts; follow up; stay in touch
Maintain professionalism on social networking sites
Actively participate in events
Create an online presence for someone searching your name
(join LinkedIn and complete your profile, start a blog, publish
an article, join a club, etc.)
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Network with Whom?
Faculty
Academic Conference Attendees
Professional Associations
Industry Professionals
Peers
Alumni
Friends/Family
“When you ask someone for information that will help you in
your research, you are networking.”
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Use the Internet to Network
Meet individuals
Professional Associations
Discussion Groups/Blogs
Alumni networks
Reconnect with existing contacts:
Subscribe to professional associations’ e-newsletters
LinkedIn (look for alumni/Columbia groups)
Facebook.com
www.zoominfo.com
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Active vs. Passive Search Strategies
Active Strategies
Reactive (Passive) Strategies
Learn how/where each industry posts its positions
Research employers
Apply directly to companies of interest (prospecting
letters of “letters of inquiry”)
Take a proactive approach to networking and building a
presence in this career field
Post resume on job boards
Apply online without follow-up; apply to HR only
Rely on news alerts and search agents
Use Both!
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How to Find A Job
Re-active (Passive)
Review postings
Departmental oncampus recruiting
Internet listings
Advertisements
(papers/journals)
Professional
associations’ websites
Company websites
(HR applications)
Industry publications
LionSHARE
Pro-active
Industry/company
research
Letters of inquiry
(prospecting
letters)
Follow up
regarding
professional
associations’ and
companies’
websites
Networking
Hidden Job Market
Networking
Informational
interviewing
Insider job searches
Internships
Shadowing
Mentors
Volunteering
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Interviewing 101
1. Research Company
Industry, Company, People, Specific Opening
2. Confirm Time, Place, and Type of Interview
How long will the interview be?
What format: panel, test, case, presentation?
By phone, at CCE, in employer’s office, elsewhere?
How long will it take to get to the office, and where is it?
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Preparation
3. Prepare Materials . . . and Yourself!
Bring resumes, references, (portfolio, list of publications)
Bring notebook, folder/portfolio, and pen
Know yourself: strengths, unique skills/experiences, indepth knowledge
Personal hygiene and professional dress
4. Practice
Read about typical interview questions and interview types
Identify examples of your experience for illustrations
Schedule a practice/mock interview
Don’t memorize your answers!
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The Interview
1. Setting
Individual, group, number of sessions, number of
interviewers
Get the interviewer’s name and contact information!
2. Their Questions / Your Answers
Be honest
Your answers should be applicable to the opportunity
Be positive! Be forward looking. No “bad mouthing.”
Don’t end on a negative; provide a solution.
Illegal questions
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Types of Interview Questions
Traditional Questions
Behavioral Questions
Specifics about you
Examples that reveal your behavior and use of skills
Case/Technical Questions
Demonstration of necessary skills/knowledge
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Key Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.
What you’re doing now
Your background
How you’re qualified
Why you’re interested
Why are you interested in this field?
Why do you want to work here?
Why should we hire you?
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The Interviewer’s Goal
In addition to specific skills, they are seeking:
Intelligence
Cultural Fit
Enthusiasm
Growth Potential
Creativity
Leadership Potential
Motivation and Energy
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The Interview
Etiquette
Be professional!
First impressions count: Be on time. Be well dressed. NO
CELL PHONES! Stand up and shake hands. Be engaged.
Learn about the cultural norms of the industry and country.
Research and ask contacts within industry; observe during
interview. If in doubt, be more formal.
Attitude: Be polite to ALL at the firm at all times
Do not be arrogant, defensive, or condescending
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Follow Up
Thank You to each interviewer
Professional format, language, delivery
No abbreviations
Email versus handwritten and mailed
Be prompt!
Materials
Anything requested: references, examples
Further questions of yours
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Careers I’ve seen science PhD holders move into
• Big Pharma: industry research at Merck, Wyeth, etc.
– Medical Science Liason positions (http://janechin.com/)
– Clinical research positions
• Biotech postions:
– Research
– Starting your own biotech (this person got an MBA just after
finishing his PhD)
– Business development (can be challenging—often in competition
with MBA’s)
• Finance (challenging right now):
– Equity research
– Venture capital
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Careers I’ve seen science PhD holders move into
• Teaching:
– Teaching postdoc to be more competitive for (S)LAC’s
– Fellows programs to teach in public high schools (Philadelphia;
New York)
– Private/Independent school teaching
• Patent Law/Technology Licensing:
•
– Research associate at law firm with the intention of getting a JD
(or not)
– Working in a university technology office
(http://www.autm.org/Home.htm)
Non-profit:
– American Association for Cancer Research
– Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
– SACNAS (scientists dedicated to fostering the success of
Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists)
– Henry M. Jackson Foundation
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Careers I’ve seen science PhD holders move into
• Consulting:
– McKinsey, BCG
– LEK, Campbell Associates
• Science Writing:
– Medical writing firm (sometimes moving “in-house” or going
freelance)
– Training/education materials for medical professionals
– Editorial work at Science, Nature, or other journals
• Government:
–
–
–
–
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Research (FDA, national labs)
Policy (PMF, AAAS Fellowship, NIH)
USPTO; European Patent Organisation
Public Health: http://www3.cancer.gov/prevention/pob/
Communications: NCI Health Communications Program:
https://hcip.nci.nih.gov/
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Careers I’ve seen science PhD holders move into
• University administration:
–
–
–
–
Career counselor to PhD students and postdocs
Academic advisor to undergraduates
Assistant director in a faculty support office
Director of a postdoc office
• Something totally different:
– A Physics PhD who became a director in the facilities and real
estate office of a major university
– An English PhD who returned to school for her RN and became a
nurse
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Other ideas
• University libraries:
– Very few people have a science PhD plus an MLS
• Science illustration:
–
–
–
–
BioCommunications Association: http://bca.org/.
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (http://www.gnsi.org/)
Association of Medical Science Illustrators (http://www.ami.org/).
A cool job for the artistic scientist:
https://iwasa.hms.harvard.edu/contact.html
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Questions?
Good luck!
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