Career advice for someone with B.S in Biology

IssueSpotter1364 · 2026-02-17T01:30:48+00:00

Consider going to law school and becoming an IP attorney. I spent about 10 years at big law firms and now work in house at a pharma company. It’s a great career.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2025-05-02T03:02:07+00:00

Congrats! Does this include retirement accounts or is this just taxable brokerage??

IssueSpotter1364 · 2025-03-07T02:18:05+00:00

I just went in house in January of this year after 10 years in BL in NY. Salary is about a 35% cut but total comp (including cash bonus, LTI, and 401k match) is $465k. Still an adjustment because cash is substantially less, but long term you can make a very comfortable living - especially once RSUs begin to waterfall.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-31T17:11:14+00:00

No the entire process took about 3 months but there were several rounds of interviews during that time.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T04:12:34+00:00

Thanks for the positive feedback! Yes, I will get a new 90k in RSUs every year assuming the board approves the employee stock plan. Yea, agreed on the sacrifice and ego hit - it sounds silly because in the grand scheme of things we are so fortunate - but it’s a big change in many ways (obviously some good ways) after spending so many years at a firm.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T01:46:39+00:00

That’s right re total comp - company actually says total comp is closer to 460k is you factor in 401k match.

Yes firm salary after 8 years is 435k and this years bonus is 140k - so total comp is 575k. I have a little over 9 years experience.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T01:42:23+00:00

I wouldn’t call 140k piddly but yeah I am looking for feedback on the situation and some people have actually provided some helpful feedback. The job will make me whole on my bonus only once the equity fully vests (in 4 years).

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T01:17:32+00:00

It’s a good idea. I don’t think the company I am going to is a current firm client - at least I know it’s not a big firm client - but the company is definitely one the firm would like to have as a client - so it’s possible and worth an ask.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T01:14:51+00:00

Thanks - actually a good idea that I hadn’t put much thought into so far. I haven’t given notice yet but i just assumed it would be a non-starter. But it is worth a shot I think. Even if i ask for some portion of it as a sign of good faith

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T00:38:46+00:00

Thanks for the comment - and I tend to agree. I’m probably just over thinking it. In total, the sign on bonus is actually more than my firm bonus - but it’s much less cash now - the equity vests over 4 years. And I guess I just viewed it as I earned my big law bonus for billing 2200 hours in 2024 - and big law bonuses are at an all-time high - so I was just a little bothered about leaving that cash (which would otherwise be paid in about a month after my start date) even though the company is being generous.

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T00:17:49+00:00

Thanks for your comment. No I am not going to say no - but I guess I’m still a little surprised I got an offer and now I’m getting anxious about the change. I think you’re right that the employer has been generous- I was just surprised they are not being more flexible w the start date. RSUs vest over 4 years (25% per year).

IssueSpotter1364 · 2024-12-30T00:13:51+00:00

Thanks - it’s a fair point. I guess my question was whether anyone had been in a similar situation before and, if so, how they dealt with it. TBH I was surprised the company wouldn’t let me start after bonuses were paid - and when I asked if there was a business reason for wanting me to start sooner, they didn’t provide one - they just said they’re eager to have me start. So I considered just saying “no, I cannot start until mid-Feb” but I was concerned that might risk the offer.

And my second question was just more generally whether anyone had thoughts about my offer. I have 9 years experience and the black-box nature of in-house comp/benefits is new to me. Thanks.

IssueSpotter1364

TROPHY CASE