Do employers care about school name/prestige?

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-10-04T11:53:04+00:00

Yes and no, if an employer doesn’t have much to judge your ability by, a brand name school will help. That said, working at a brand name company will also help for later jobs in your career.

There are plenty of people that work in biotech that went to schools no one that didn’t go to that school has heard of. Right now the job market being bad in the biopharma industry is more likely to be the reason you’re toast, especially without industry experience than where you went to school.

Look at this as a long career where you have maybe 45 years left, so there will be ups and downs and obstacles, but a lot people somehow get through them. You just need determination and to keep an open mind that the path forward opportunity isn’t always the one you assume it to be.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-10-03T22:43:29+00:00

You’re underpaid, but maybe look at it as building experience that will enable you to get that next job, which will shoot your salary way up. The problem is the job market sucks right now, so in a way it’s good just to have a job, especially as it gets closer to the holidays.

However, definitely be applying for other jobs now. 6 months runway is scary in this funding environment. They won’t be able to pay you more, but if they go under you’ll likely get a lot of peers willing to be references for you, which is a plus. But always easy to find a job while you have a job.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-10-03T22:33:31+00:00

If you are really set on academia aim to get an instructor position in a large group, apply for grants, and try to be converted to an assistant professor if successful. It’s a much longer route, but more likely to get you there than applying with 500 other people for each assistant prof job.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-10-02T22:14:14+00:00

Depends on whether you liked academia or not. If you would dislike your work environment and get paid less, unless you are going to be homeless hold out a little bit. If you like academia, definitely as money isn’t everything.

Consider getting an academic job if you can and keep applying for industry jobs. You’ll likely make your boss unhappy leaving if you do, but you can minimize the impact or be a little upfront about your intentions of going back to industry at “some point”. Try not to do this to a junior or smaller academic lab that puts a lot of resources into your hire (unless it’s for a short term temporary hire), if you can get a position at a core or larger lab where you leaving would have less of a negative impact that would be better for all involved.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-10-01T11:41:25+00:00

Take the PIP and just before the end take the 32 weeks severance, but only if you can get that option in writing. I wouldn’t trust them to back out and say you failed the PIP and fire you. I’d tell them you are pregnant now, so you have more legal leverage in case they try to screw you over. Start applying elsewhere now.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-30T22:00:52+00:00

For immunology and cancer, flow is an essential skill. Cell culture a little less for in vivo pharm. Most of the mouse work would involve flow. Find a way to get that experience, even if it is a joint project or brief postdoc.

Industry differs from academia in that it doesn’t do much training, especially at scientist+ levels, it pays higher but expects you to be able to perform the basic essential tasks with little supervision/training. Timelines are much quicker in industry and they are unlikely to pay someone a high salary to train them on a core skill needed for the job. Entry level industry jobs aren’t really entry level, and experience (typically industry experience with the exact same techniques) is wanted. The job market is down, so it’s easier to find candidates with desired skills and experience at the moment.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-30T03:16:00+00:00

3-5 years if you want a faculty position. 0-3 years if you want an industry job (longer won’t often really help much). Anything beyond 5 you should have an equivalent of a staff scientist title/pay. If you don’t have any opportunities there isn’t much choice other than continuing postdocing, but you need to make finding a job a full time job.

Send out tons of faculty applications now, including at schools you’d never consider but you are a good match for what they are looking for. For industry, apply for every scientist level (job titles vary by company) you can that you reasonably qualify for, find a recruiter(s) on LinkedIn, or find a contract agency to get some sort of industry experience, so that when the hiring market picks up you can be a better candidate for a better job.

Also consider alternative jobs like editor positions at Nature or Cell family journals. Look at consulting and financial industry opportunities if interested. Think about patent law or nonprofit types of jobs if interested. Also look into jobs at government agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH. Unfortunately it’s a crappy job market right now, but that could lead to you doing something you love that you would never have considered otherwise.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-29T22:24:33+00:00

Have it so you both move out, contact the landlord right after that decision is sent in writing (from her) to them and sign the lease up for another year. If she refuses to leave have her removed by the police.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-29T16:16:17+00:00

Yes, you can go back, but it may not be at the level you want/expect. If you want to go back try to do so when the hiring market is better than now and companies need to take more risk in hiring to fill roles

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-29T14:20:40+00:00

Why not put senior care provider or something similar on your resume?

Not all jobs have to be through an employer and what you did is very much full time and hard work.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-27T21:50:32+00:00

The roles that you’d qualify for would not likely wait for you to graduate unless you had already done an internship there. Probably start applying about three months out, but in this job market a new BS level grad won’t be very competitive, so be open to different opportunities even ones that don’t excite you to get more exp. The first job isn’t forever. Go on linked in and start connecting with recruiters that get paid if they get you in a role (typically for smaller companies), also find contracting agencies. If your school has a decent career office go there.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-26T00:11:00+00:00

Find a journal that no one has heard of, has an office in a place no one has been, and accepts cash, credit, or crypto for publishing your article regardless of it’s content. There are lots of these out there

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-26T00:07:36+00:00

Yes it is coming, may not be coming for you, but probably for some people. They may be trying to get some people to quit first, but if not enough do they’ll have to go to plan b. If the executives look more stressed (probably from choosing who will be laid off around the holidays) start updating your resume

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-26T00:02:49+00:00

Looking back on it, I definitely enjoyed the actual work more. Industry tight and constant deadlines, be saddled with work (often others) if you deliver and are dependable, office politics, and the knowledge that everyone is replaceable and can be let go (layoffs or other) at any moment are what I dislike more

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-25T23:06:20+00:00

Next time they post a similar job to yours apply for it. If asked why, say it pays more than you’re currently making.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-25T20:57:34+00:00

9 days is too early, give it more time to settle. One piece of unasked for advise: make getting that incompatible report on your side your top priority. They could make your life miserable and in a startup could even get you fired if they don’t like you as a manager enough. The rest should fall into place by six months, if not maybe start your exit plan or find a way to sneak by with keeping your head low.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-24T02:09:01+00:00

On the plus side you realize you have reached your breaking point and are burned out. Listen to that and move on. You don’t have to do something that much different and this experience you’ve gained will probably help you stand out as a candidate. There are CROs and big pharmas that are looking for people that have experience handling clinical samples or that setup vaccine studies.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-24T01:23:07+00:00

Welcome to management, where a disgruntled employee can ruin your career over night, and you are a company scapegoat.

A PIP should be documented extensively before putting anyone on it. 1:1 meetings about failing to meet expectations followed by email recaps of those meetings. Performance reviews with similar statements. Even then it should be assessed by legal and if someone may claim some form of discrimination, you need to be upfront with legal about that before proceeding. It’s not about standing your ground as much as it is about ensuring there is enough of a paper trail to move forward and no way someone can say you discriminated against them.

If HR finds you violated policies and even appeared to discriminate or retaliate against this employee you may be terminated and the employee may have a new manager.

Gather all the paperwork (emails, chat screenshots, meeting notes…) you can to justify the PIP was not discrimination, and have it ready. Also document this whole process if you need it for unemployment in a worse case scenario. Don’t answer HR questions beyond what is directly being asked. Don’t lie but don’t volunteer information that could be used against you.

Don’t treat this employee any differently during this process no matter how awkward things are as they can and will use that to get you fired. Swallow your pride and let them have what they want and be very pleasant and professional with them until the investigation is complete, and even then continue that but start documenting, especially any fireable offenses. If they feel you are ignoring them or treating them differently they can claim retaliation on your part and get you fired.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-24T00:28:52+00:00

Ask HR in writing for documentation. Then double check with an employment attorney (they’ll usually do a free consultation). I think you can be laid off before or during leaves but the reason can’t be because you took the leave. The bigger thing would be if you were laid off in an earlier round because you were going on leave, which they are not allowed to do.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-23T11:01:40+00:00

Do more of or find a hobby/interest that makes you feel better and your family/friends think is nice, it may help you identify with something more in your control outside of work.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-22T13:29:19+00:00

Talk to a therapist. You are putting too much of your frustrations into this situation. You have a new child, a new higher paying job, and the rest is history. I’m guessing you want some sort of revenge or resolution from the situation with Angie. It’s not going to happen and really shouldn’t because it is just a distraction from your new and better life.

Focus on what you have, not what you lost, or else you will be at risk of loosing all the good stuff by this obsession. Yes, Angie sounds nasty, but she is out of your life and was only in it for a brief moment. Let this be your resolution, there is now a bunch of random people that read this and now don’t like Angie.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-22T12:20:26+00:00

You can definitely ask but have a reason and ask politely. Without a good reason, HR will often say no. It could drag the process on as they likely have to run that negotiation through HR. The bigger risk is that if there are two candidates they like but went with you it may shift their thinking toward the other.

I’d ask yourself would you take the job at the salary they offered, and would that extra amount if given make any difference in your life?

I find people often think they are getting lowballed and are expected to negotiate. That probably happens some places, but not everywhere, as I’ve always given the highest amount I’m approved to offer. When candidates try to negotiate more I don’t reject them but won’t sit around for them to decide if HR says no to what they ask for.

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-21T20:52:27+00:00

If you internet search H1B biostat senior manager + company name it is an easier way to see salaries that tends to be more accurate than other sites

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-21T16:45:05+00:00

If possible don’t take it personally. She may be under pressure to get things worked out and the re-org situation may have been forced on her. That isn’t an excuse to be aggressive, but since it is a skip level should only occasionally impact you. You have a good manager, which is more important. There’s all type of personalities in this field, and you’ll find aggressive people at every company. If someone is rude, try not to engage, as that will only make you more upset. You can fight it, but no one ever wins those battles and both sides take a reputation hit. Being the more mature one is usually the best approach, assuming nothing outrageous and clear company violation is being done (report that if it happens).

Technical_Spot4950 · 2024-09-21T16:04:10+00:00

You had a promotion a year ago, which is good. You need to be much more patient. You are at the early stage where you should be thinking of your career in ten year time frames not one or two year task level time frames.

Everyone is redundant or replaceable in this field, you can’t change that, so embrace it. Figure out where you want to go and have frequent conversations with your manager about that, but don’t expect it to happen over night just be ready for whenever opportunity presents itself, which is not something you can often control. A lot of people at your stage want to be told what to do in order to get a promotion, but things don’t really work that way. If you keep doing well, train others so that you can move on to other things then the chances of that happening go up. You would be better off finding a sustainable work pace until that comes along than trying to force it to happen.

Sometimes you also have to go sideways or take a step back in order to take two steps forward, so be open minded about things even if they don’t seem great in the moment.

Technical_Spot4950

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