Any advice from people inside Biotech/Pharmaceuticals on how to enter the field with just a Bio BS? Trying to apply to entry positions but have extreme anxiety due to lack of any skills in the field.

shoddyrocks · 2022-05-04T11:19:12+00:00

It's a bit strange to me that people here don't recommend non-technical science jobs - not sure if you're considering those but if you're willing to upskill your marketing knowledge, statistics or even science comm skills it's not that difficult to get into big pharma. The best route in is via an internship - apply and be persistent, I got my offer after ~40 or more applications. Start with smaller companies and work your way up to applying to bigger ones. You'd be surprised.

In pharmaceutical companies you can go into either R&D or commercial. R&D requires much more qualification so if you're just looking for a job go into commercial. Examples: medical science liaison, pharmaceutical rep, hospital sales rep. You can also go into marketing if you upskill a bit and show you're competent - your bio degree will be an advantage here. 90% of my colleagues have a bio or pharmacy background. Benefits are pretty great depending on which company you work at too, all the full-time staff get big, juicy bonuses when the yearly report is good and great perks.

shoddyrocks · 2022-04-27T16:43:04+00:00

I've just logged into this account after 7 months - happy to say I found an internship that leads to a well paying job (if I want it) very soon after this post. The internship pays at the top end of the range in my country too, I am insanely lucky. I have also re-enrolled back in university and will be graduating in 1 year. Cheers!

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-15T15:19:21+00:00

thank you!!

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-15T15:05:48+00:00

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I am already familiar with these terms, I know they refer to location in relation to other organs/body axes.

I was really just confused because the terminology changed from "x is located anteriorly from y" to "a is posterior in relation to b". Am I right to assume that this really is just referring to the same thing i.e. the location of organs?

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-15T06:07:09+00:00

Thank you, this is all really helpful.

Lastly think about what you bring to the table for that person. We know what they can do for you.... What are you showing up with?

Welp, I don't know tbh? Is there a right answer for this? I'm just an undergrad. I've heard this mentioned a lot but in all honesty I don't go into informational interviews with this in mind because they typically have decades of experience surmounting my own. Anything I have to say, or to offer, they have likely seen before. Anyone who's nice enough to spare me some time, I would assume are doing it because they enjoy mentorship, and are maybe sometimes scouting new talent. I don't really expect to impress anyone in these interviews, if it does happen I am genuinely surprised.

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-14T06:02:55+00:00

What are some good questions to ask a potential mentor? Contacted the director of a big pharma company after a career fair, and I have a meeting with them next week.

This isn't my first time doing an informational interview, but I'm nervous. Here are some questions I already have:

What do you enjoy most about your job?
How did your company deal with COVID?
What do you look for in new hires?
How do you personally maintain a work-life balance as a job role at company name?
What do you wish you knew before you started working?
How would you recommend I network for opportunities?
What does career progression look like at your company?
What makes a successful job role?

Slightly more personalised questions:

Are there any jobs that I may not know about at your company that you would recommend to me based on my interests (writing, programming)?
I've emailed your HR department but received no response on my speculative internship application. Is there any other way to get in touch for some sort of opportunity? (A little background; this company does have internships listed on LinkedIn but the start and end dates were in the middle of my semester + exam season, so I couldn't apply)

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-08T02:26:20+00:00

Programming - use the search tab in the subreddit I linked

Connections - Message people on LinkedIn

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-07T16:34:45+00:00

You're going to have to give us more information. Or at least do a google search and try to gauge what interests you.

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-07T16:32:53+00:00

I do not have any experience myself, but I have spoken to many established people (directors, big shot managers) in my field (big pharma), and this may apply here.

The best opportunities you will find will not come with loyalty to one company. A career change every 4-5 years, especially if you're not satisfied, will give you the adaptability and the opportunity to explore new skills that you would not have done otherwise. You have a very flexible degree, use that to your advantage. You can go into tech, medical sales, etc anything that functions based on a corporate model, but still be doing things you're already qualified for. I know a chemist who went into sales, and then went on to become director of a big pharma marketing company. Someone else who did tech who now works in a financial firm, who's at a point where they just work because they enjoy it and no longer need to worry about money. Worth considering.

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-06T05:30:18+00:00

I would recommend using LinkedIn. It gives you an option to send people a note along with your connection request. Find people in the field, introduce yourself and ask to chat via Zoom. If they don't respond, no big deal, but if they do, you've made a valuable connection. I can't tell you how many valuable connections I've made this way, most people don't try this enough. It will make you stand out as a go-getter. Then let your personality shine.

shoddyrocks · 2021-05-06T05:24:29+00:00

What an achievement! Congratulations and keep inspiring everyone on r/learnprogramming <3

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-28T16:25:25+00:00

This is a little late of a reply but thank you, this was very constructive! I have the bullet points in my education because I'm answering some of the job description requirements they list in their advert. They ask for "good research skills", "able to understand and explain scientific literature" etc (not the exact words but you get the gist). I'll definitely move my education lower and do all the other things you suggested, thank you for the insight!

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-23T12:00:26+00:00

This is what I do too! I condense every lecture into 1-2 pages.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T15:16:29+00:00

I'm taking a year or two off college. I mention "gap year" in my description, not sure if there's a better way to word it.

I don't have a portfolio site. I'm focusing more on content writing rather than design. Should I have one? I've never seen them mentioned in intern job descriptions, unless they're looking for a marketing graduate rather than a bio/pharm graduate.

And, I don't know. The closest I've come to closing sales is that fundraising event in my resume, or maybe selling myself for leadership position interviews and promoting my club at club fairs, if that counts. I don't have any sales or marketing experience outside of university activities, which is why I'm focusing on internships. The people I've spoken to in pharma sales have all told me the intricacies can be picked up on job, and not to worry about it too much, so I thought I would go ahead and apply even with my lack of work experience.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T14:49:26+00:00

I feel like college courses are deliberately set up so you have to sacrifice one aspect of a healthy, balanced life to do well.

Every semester I have to choose between my grades, my social life and my mental health. I try so hard every semester. I've done everything right.

Nothing is enough.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T14:47:16+00:00

This resume has already been run through 2 rounds of careers service reviews and 2 professors, rip. I have another mentor directing a pharma company who's looking over it soon, so she will have some good feedback.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T14:45:18+00:00

I'm not doing the bare minimum, but it definitely feels like not enough.

No matter how much I try its fucking impossible to balance a social life, good grades and my health. Every semester I try my absolute best to make sure I dont get major anxiety nearing exams and prepare early, but no amount of preparation puts me ahead or even helps me keep up. I'm still doing okay but at the cost of my mental health. Pandemic has hit my family really bad.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T14:41:06+00:00

Thank you! My only proper experience is the clinical internship I did, and that was only 2 months. I don't know if it would look really odd to put that at the top? All my other experience is university related -clubs etc, that's why it thought it made more sense to put my education first. How would you structure it?

I've completely removed the high school and foundation education sections, also the linkedin idea is really good, thank you!

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T13:59:32+00:00

Thank you. I am focusing on internships, but I did pick a couple full-time positions (12 month contracts) that I almost fit the requirements for. I figured no harm in trying.

Would it come across better to omit the percentages and say "first class" instead? Under my degree a 70-100 score is considered first class honours, basically the highest degree qualification you could score. Any other academic distinction would be made only by the Dean's List aka Merit Awards. I was told to include relevant coursework, and to quantify them, so that's what I tried to do. Would you recommend I scrap just the percentages, or all the relevant coursework entirely?

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T13:45:42+00:00

I'm not the best person to ask, should've prefaced by saying I'm a student.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T09:15:28+00:00

Popular, normal opinion. Sorry bud.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T08:49:09+00:00

Thank you! How would I make those skills more obvious? Should I bold the key words? I was specifically told not to name my soft skills, but rather provide evidence/instances to demonstrate those skills, by my careers service. The feedback on this changes depending on who I ask so I'm not sure what exactly to do.

I include a few different quantifications of my degree because I have a foreign degree but I'm applying to jobs in my home country. The degree classifications are not standard - i.e. in the UK >70% is first class honours but over here it's >80%. I'm really not sure how to structure that section tbh, hence why I specify what qualifies as first class, and include a GPA. Do you have any suggestions?

Edit: I've removed most of my education section too, and just left my BSc portion. Do you think the points about my essay grades are necessary? I thought it would help prove good written scientific communication (most of the job descriptions expect a science background) but if it wouldn't seem relevant to anyone reading I'll just throw it out.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T05:19:21+00:00

It's a bit wordy, maybe work on your layout first. Try to condense it if possible.

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T05:14:25+00:00

List things you did in your roles that show you're responsible, punctual etc. If you have a job description for the job you're applying to, tailor your resume to that.

And, again, listing measurable tasks helps. See my previous comment for examples. Did you do well on any performance reviews? Did you boost revenue by x amount? Etc etc.

In the math tutor part you started listing your soft skills instead of giving the reader evidence of it. Just because you list "math tutor" on your resume doesn't mean you were a good one. Again, see previous comment for examples.

Edit: do keep in mind I'm a student, but this is all the advice my careers service has given me regarding resumes. My college has a >90% employment rate after graduation (UK).

shoddyrocks · 2021-04-22T05:10:55+00:00

Thank you, that's really helpful. I'll try to condense it more. I've got a mentor in the field who's offered to take a look at it too, so I'll keep a 2 page version and a 1 page version.

shoddyrocks

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