This is a guest post from Qalbaq, a virtual marketplace for career advising. Michelle and I have not utilized the platform ourselves so cannot provide any personal endorsement, but it may be a resource for those seeking advice. We asked them to provide a guest post that highlights the type of career advice that a marketplace user might receive. They offered to interview a career advisor who works in our pharma/biotech industry.
What's the best way to transition careers into the biotech industry? Unless you have a great network of mentors already set up, many times, you don't even know what you don't know. Who do you reach out to for help? When do you reach out to them? Where can you find an everyday professional to answer your questions? We sat down with Biotechconsultant who successfully transitioned into a biotech career to pick her brain about practical strategies that helped her make it.
Tell us about yourself! What was your career path and transition into Biotechnology?
A: My first job out of college was actually working at a law firm! I was a non-traditional student that double majored in Cell Biology & Neuroscience, and Political Science. After graduating and not knowing what to do for my career, working in the drugs and medical devices litigation department of a law firm seemed like a good mesh of both worlds. I had a background in the life sciences, and my career was mostly focused in pharma; however, I knew that the work-life balance would realistically never be a regular 9-5 based on my past job experiences. Thus, biotech was a good pivot for me because it offered a better work-life balance while still utilizing my specialized background in scientific research. I'm able to utilize my scientific background to come up with solutions to problems without being confined to just bench research. My long-term career goal is to lead product marketing programs and product management initiatives. But I'm also aiming to retire early, so I'm aggressively trying to fast-track my career.
How did you learn about job opportunities in biotech? Did you have a mentor?
A: I learned about biotech job opportunities via LinkedIn and recruiters. If you already have a background in life sciences, it is much easier to break into the biotech industry as it aids in your understanding of what a biotech company's product can do and who its target market is. I never had a mentor and had to learn everything myself. It was difficult navigating careers without any professional help, but it wasn't impossible. All it took was perseverance, trial and error, and a little bit of luck!
What were your job search and interview process like?
A: I applied to any roles that I thought my background would be a good fit for, even if I didn't meet all the requirements. It never hurts to apply, even if I didn't think I was the most qualified candidate. From my experience, the most important thing is to leverage my skills and background to highlight what value I would bring to the company/team.
What mistakes did you make early in your career?
A: My mistake early in my career was not leveraging how well I did in the interviews to negotiate better salary and compensation. It is important to self-advocate and to ask for what you want; otherwise, you're just leaving money on the table.
What skills are most coveted by biotech employers, and how can students best make themselves marketable for biotech jobs?
A: Skills in translating technical product solutions and concepts into compelling stories for the customer and being able to clearly explain the "why" and not just the "what." You should leverage your background in STEM or a technical field to understand what a biotech company's product can do and who its target market is. Definitely become a storyteller that can translate something complex into something simple for your audience!
What's more important to get into a biotech career: education or experience?
A: Both education and experience have been equally valuable in my career. My education helped me get my foot in the door to job opportunities I was interested in, while my experience helped me leverage my background to be a valuable asset to the company.
Any tips for standing out in a virtual interview?
A: I interviewed virtually for my current Biotech Consultant job. My tip for standing out is to know what the biotech company's product can do and who its target market is. I thoroughly did my research beforehand and acted as if I were a subject matter expert on the product during the interview. The key to succeeding in the biotech field is being a subject matter expert on the product you're marketing.
How has the biotech industry changed since you've started? What advice would you give a student to best adapt to those changes?
A: The biotech industry is trending towards more personalized medicine with improvements in technology to assess, diagnose, and treat diseases. I expect a continued trend in advancements in personalized medicine via genetics research as well as more focus on immunotherapy. Looking back, I would probably have double-majored in computer science or data science instead of political science as it opens the door to many other opportunities in the biotech field!
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
A: I’ve learned from my past consulting experience the importance to set work boundaries (i.e., taking a lunch break instead of skipping it to get more work done, not staying up till midnight to finish a project because it can wait until tomorrow, etc.) In my free time, I like to watch movies and anime, play video games, and dine at restaurants for a delicious meal with friends.
There's always the "traditional way": go to school, get a degree, apply for a job. But in case your path is not so straight, make sure to get some help! If you would like to reach out to Biotechconsultant, connect with industry insiders, or get other tips and tricks at Qalbaq. Many thanks to Biotechconsultant for answering all our questions about career transitions and tricks!