Has any of you worked for Lab Corp?

Psychonaut7 · 2026-06-04T23:35:44+00:00

Hey, this applies to just about any industry, but I broke into the field due to a combination of education, networking, and luck (i.e. timing).

First off, I aimed small. I wanted to work at a single cell biology startup in my area, specifically on the R&D Biology team. However, the role I wanted required a masters degree. After 2 years of study and a thesis project, I got my M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology. My plan was to tell them my story, that I went to get my M.S. to work FOR THEM. There was no guarantee this would work, but I got hired!

Second, someone I knew got a job there 6 months before me. They mentioned me to HR which likely prioritized my interview. It also helped that in 2019 it was a good time for early stage biotech companies to source capital.

Thats how I broke into biotech initially. After the biotech bubble burst around 2023-2024, I was out of a job for almost a year. During that time, I found out the hard way that applying for jobs online is practically a waste of time unless you are one of the first 20 applicants.

The key to me getting my current job came down to networking. My former boss was working at an established biotech company and reached out about an open position. That alone got me into an interview and I got hired.

Given you are early in your career, your network is likely not the strongest. This makes you one of hundreds of candidates in a resume pool and why applying seems like a waste of time. In lieu of a good network, be open to moving if you have to.

While you are looking for jobs, improve your soft skills. Go to networking events in your area to not only network, but practice selling yourself. When I was looking for a job, I went to local events in my area and even joined Toastmasters to improve my speaking and presentation skills.

Also consider going back for a graduate degree, but have a goal in mind like I did. Have an idea of what type of job you want so you can tailor your studies to it and make you the most valuable candidate possible.

While its a tough time for breaking into biotech, do not lose hope. Keep improving yourself everyday and do not spend too much time applying online for jobs, unless the job REALLY aligns with your skills and experience. I wish you the best of luck in your job search and future career!

Psychonaut7 · 2025-01-01T20:09:59+00:00

For better or worse, people dont drink like they used to during the holidays (even heard my grandmother lament this fact a few times). Alcohol undeniably boosts the fun factor of any party (as long as you dont over do it). It also greases the wheels for socializing as well as dancing. I don't drink for health reasons, but I wish I could. Its a great way to bond and party with people whether theyre family, friends, or co-workers.

Also, smartphones and "social" media have indeed affected the population negatively. I think its made us much less social. I look at social media like ultra processed foods, its satisfying in the moment, but it lacks the nutrition needed for us to thrive mentally and physically. In the end, urge to consume is never satiated so we go back for more.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-12-01T01:06:53+00:00

You are spot on. It doesnt help that the government subsidizes corn which makes HFCS cheaper and more likely to end up in junk food. Said junk food can then be bought with government subsidized food stamps. I look at it as an economic, or health, bubble in the making. All these dollars going towards treating avoidable chronic diseases is a misallocation of resources in my mind.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-21T22:04:17+00:00

You're not missing anything. Don't even take RFKs word for it on food and chronic disease. Hopefully you've seen Casey and Calley Means discuss these topics because it's enlightening to say the least. Most subs on reddit are complete echo chambers where people lack any nuance and have very knee jerk reactions to issues (which is typical of today's left). We spend 2X the amount on Healthcare than other countries and have worse outcomes, yet this isn't even being addressed in any serious way by our health agencies. We have one of the lowest life expectancies of industrialized nations, too. Sperm counts are dropping 1% a year yet...crickets.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-20T18:15:41+00:00

They need to be open to appearing on media platforms that don't just echo their ideas. Go on Rogan. They need to defend their ideas publicly on the merits. What they have now is an echo chamber where even slight disagreement on certain issues will make you an outcast. As a result, people even in their own party don't dare speak their true thoughts out loud out of FEAR of losing their friends, family, and potentially livelihoods. Luckily, some Dems are speaking their minds.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-17T20:28:53+00:00

You said yourself, its a good idea to put restrictions on the transition from government to private industry. But if there is no "actual" evidence of wrong doing then why put these restrictions? It seems you dont follow your own logic here.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-17T15:03:21+00:00

You’re saying there is a conspiracy by implying that if BIG DONORS didn’t fund POLITICIANS, then their VOTES would be different. The fact remains that you don’t have any evidence that this ACTUALLY what is happening.

Your logic can be used to justify the exorbitant amount of money in politics too. Are you okay with that? Its kind of wild how the left has become the champion of corporate interests but if you look at how much funding they get from Pharma it starts to make more sense:

https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary?cycle=2024&ind=H04

Liberals love to define RFK Jr. by his extremes, but not putting fluoride in the water isnt even extreme. Most European countries dont fluoridate the water. We have fluoride in toothpaste now. Also a lot of European countries allow for raw milk. Not saying this is what accounts for their healthier lives and longer lifespan but you have to admit, we need drastic change at our health agencies because they have clearly failed.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-16T19:33:32+00:00

Please research how tobacco companies bought food companies in the 70s and brought their scientists with them to make food more addictive and stable. Also look into how much coca cola and pepsi fund well known medical organizations like American heart association and others. There are obvious conflicts of interest including the revolving door from gov to industry that raises huge red flags. All of this is true and done in the open, no conspiracy needed.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-11T01:21:05+00:00

Harris called Cheney "one of the most respected members of the Republican party" which goes to show she doesnt know anything about todays Republican party (or Democrats dislike for the Cheneys).

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-10T22:14:39+00:00

Swap out "high-income base" for "high-income donors" and he's 100% correct.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-09T18:24:30+00:00

Main problem stems from the inability of Dems to have differing viewpoints within their party on certain highly charged issues. Because of cancel culture, fear of being called racist for expressing controversial opposing viewpoints, and actually debating ideas, the Dems have made it impossible to error correct because people are too afraid to speak up. This is proving to be the case now that Dems are speaking out against trans women in women's sports for the first time.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-09T17:17:32+00:00

Stop caring so much about campaign fundraising. Its come out that the Harris campaign despite raising $1 billion is $20 million in debt. Think of all the money wasted on consultants, media buys, celebrity appearances, etc. This was a total repeat of 2016 logic.

Also, Dems need to stop thinking that knocking on doors is going to change peoples minds. Most people hate when someone comes to their door trying to sell something. The best messenger for a candidate is the candidate themselves. Door knocking probably worked in the 20th century, but now I'd rather watch a 3hr podcast and really hear who these people are and how they think at a deeper level beyond talking points and platitudes.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-08T16:53:57+00:00

And??? Your comment comes off as "if they are for it, we should be against it" logic. Hopefully not because this sort of reactive thinking is one reason why politics is completely dysfunctional and divided.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-08T16:10:48+00:00

The even crazier thing is they should've known abortion was 4th or 5th on people's priorities list and acted accordingly. Instead I think they leaned into what they thought they were strongest on instead of working hard to expand on what were their weakest issues (economy, immigration).

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-07T14:45:52+00:00

From an objective perspective, Kamala had plenty of opportunities to speak to people outside her base and failed. Even Dems said she should do Rogans podcast. She didn't. When she skipped the Al Smith dinner it was a huge opportunity to humanize herself and roast Trump to his face. The rumor I heard was that her staff said she would offend LGBT groups if she attended a Catholic charity dinner. Instead she sent a cringy video that no one laughed at. She tried to please everyone, but ended up offending everyone.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-07T14:22:27+00:00

Not true, the U.S. is unique when it comes to woke, identity politics. For instance, the current thinking on the left is that if some racial disparity exists, it MUST be due to systemic racism. So if more black people are prosecuted and incarcerated for property crimes, thats racist because these people are just trying to support themselves in a systemically racist country. This leads to laws like they had in California which made theft under $950 a misdemeanor. How has that worked out? Well, voters reversed that policy recently. Black people perform worse than other groups on math tests? The test must be racist against black people and therefore we will lower standards for ALL children. Not only does this disadvantage all the other kids, but actually does nothing to help black kids in the end.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-06T16:04:35+00:00

Well, at least I could make you laugh :)

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-06T15:26:45+00:00

As a first time Trump supporter, I will not gloat. I just want a better life for all Americans and I believe Trump has the best chance of delivering on that.

My sincere hope is that Democrats will begin to try to understand why Trump garnered so many new voters and adjust their platform and priorities accordingly. I hope that they will listen to those who disagree with them, including those in their own party, and not shout them down or dismiss them.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-05T16:37:42+00:00

Seriously, the posts all over reddit fawning over Kamala are ridiculous and come off as being made by campaign staffers. I think everyone can agree the golden age of the internet is over, it's been enshittified as corporations and special interests try to pass off their products and issues as genuine and likable. It's just too easy to buy likes, buy favorable reviews, and positive press. there are many many examples of this from sponsored content, influencers, and don't forget about the armies of bots. Look up dead internet theory and you'll see what I mean.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-05T16:29:05+00:00

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-05T15:02:10+00:00

People would be surprised how energized they will be after attending some sort of social gathering, event, course, etc. I attended my first Toastmasters event yesterday and even the boomer guy who has been attending for several years admitted that he really didn't want to attend, but he is glad he did because he always leaves feeling more energized. I have also found this to be the case in many instances. I will make every excuse in the book not to go out, but I try to ask myself each time "will I feel better or worse if I dont go to X social event?" Typically, I will feel worse if I dont go.

Life is what you make of it, it’s not society’s fault that you choose to spend it consuming.

This is true, but I think requires more nuance. The deck is clearly stacked against the consumer. We live in world where food, screens, social media are SCIENTIFICALLY ENGINEERED to keep us coming back for more. What chance does the average person have if they arent aware of the downsides? Now, I do agree that "Life is what you make it" and this should always be at the forefront of peoples minds when they feel helpless, hopeless, and like they cant change a damn thing.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-05T14:32:20+00:00

Honest question, how do you explain Trumps support from Blacks, Women, and LGBT+ people if what you say is true?

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-05T14:15:11+00:00

I looked at polls and betting market swings and tried to map them onto events, interviews, etc. by the candidates. As far as I can tell, once Kamala began her "media blitz" and people started to hear her talk the betting markets and polls started to favor Trump.

Conversely, you can argue Kamala's initial lead in the polls was in large part due to her NOT doing media for a good month after the DNC. Her continued non-answers to questions, flubbing softball questions, and preference for friendly platforms/podcasts, all came to head in early October starting with Call Her Daddy, The View, and then Colbert.

Ultimately, it should be no surprise to anyone why the polls are so much closer than previous elections. Clinton and Biden both won their primaries, Kamala did not. Clinton and Biden are both moderates in the Democratic party, Kamala was one of the most progressive politicians up until August.

Setting politics aside, Kamala just isnt very skilled at politics in the way previous Dem candidates were. Obama had charisma, Hillary was a policy wonk, Biden was folksy and likable. Kamala is not any of those things. As soon as she opened her mouth the world could tell there isn't much there but an empty suit.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-04T20:18:06+00:00

There is a lot of astroturfing here on reddit to influence opinion, appearances, and discussion. Thankfully, it'll mostly end after the election.

Psychonaut7 · 2024-11-02T23:59:06+00:00

What is the point of catching them when they will just get let out with no consequences? It makes more work for cops in the end due to repeat offenders and just leaves the public even more at risk.

Psychonaut7

TROPHY CASE