When it came time to find a job after college I thought it would be easy. I had done everything right. I focused on getting good grades in high school and got into a great college that boasted exceptional placement rates and return on investment upon graduation. I had biotech-related internships every summer and even some winter breaks. I worked full-time at a startup company while completing a Masters degree in Tissue Engineering.
But once I decided it was time to get the biotech job that would kickstart my career… the only ones talking to me were the crickets. No matter how many jobs I applied to online, no matter how many months I sat at my computer reading the same exact job descriptions over and over, I hardly ever got a response. When I did get a response it was usually the automatic email that says “Thank you for submitting your resume, someone will get back to you shortly.” I sat there thinking Awesome! My resume is great, so I’ll hear back by the end of the week! I quickly realized that wasn’t the case.
Then I got lucky! A group I previously interned with had one of their employees going on maternity leave and they needed someone to fill in. I was hired as a temporary contractor with the claim that I would be hired once it opened up in the budget. I was at one of the only commercially viable tissue engineering companies in the country–exactly how I had planned my career from the start! I stopped my job search, knowing that this was where I was supposed to be to make my foothold in the industry. Instead, the budget never opened up and the company had massive layoffs nine months later. Of course, one of those layoffs was me.
Everything I had planned fell to ruin. I was back at the drawing board. Except this time–four years after completing my Bachelor’s degree–the only things on my resume were temporary positions and internships. I felt like I messed up and my career was doomed. I felt like I wasted two years on a Master’s degree that prevented me from actually starting my career and making money earlier. I watched my friends in other engineering disciplines enjoying their career progression, some already making >$80k salary with great benefits. I saw others who graduated with me in Biomedical Engineering performing well in industry jobs, even though they had fewer internships, lower GPAs, and no Master’s degree. I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong.
I spent endless hours applying to jobs again. I even searched far outside my comfort zone in different areas of the country. I was desperate.
Then I got lucky again! A colleague from my previous job (who was also laid off) referred me to a contract position at an interesting gene therapy startup company. He had to refuse the position because it didn’t provide benefits, but thought I’d be a great fit. I was able to get the job after phone screens and in-person interviews with the team. I was happy to have found something, but still felt like I was doing something wrong. Another contract position? I doubted my self-worth and value. I didn’t plan it this way… To spend years just jumping around different temporary roles, never becoming an expert or leader. So I worked hard, I put in extra hours, I learned as much as possible. Shortly after, I was converted to a full-time employee. Now I’ve been there for almost five years and I’m a leader on my process development team.
Looking back, I realize my perception was all wrong. My career plan wasn’t ruined. And it wasn’t luck that finally brought those opportunities to me. It was my network! There are thousands of connections and jobs out there and most of them are not a great fit for me (or you)–but if we search correctly, we can find the ones that match our passions, skills, and goals.
I understand how miserable the job search can be–especially in the biotech industry. Now that I’ve been through it several times, my goal is to organize what I and others have learned so I can share it with you. Hopefully my experiences and advice can relieve your stress a tiny bit, hone your job search strategies, perfect your application portfolio, and eventually help you get a job in biotech.
What am I doing when I’m not at my own job or helping other people find their dream biotech jobs?
I love kayaking and sailing off the coast of Cape Cod. My family has a fleet of seven kayaks, two sunfish sailboats, and a small motor boat that is malfunctioning 83.2% of the time.
I love to write. I’ll occasionally participate in (but never win) short story writing contests where you’re given a prompt and asked to use it in a creative, not-so-conventional way. I have a far-fetched dream of someday becoming a science fiction novelist. Someday…
Speaking of science fiction… Anything space-related is amazing to me! TV shows, movies, boardgames, video games, books, news. If you whisper “Mars” right now, I might show up at your door within 5 minutes.
I love to read (though I’ve sadly had less and less time for it over the past few years). I’m minorly obsessed with James Rollins and his Sigma Force Novels, which always amaze me with how they tactfully tie science and history into a thrilling adventure.
I love just enjoying time with my wife, family, and friends. A campfire or cornhole and a couple of craft beers makes for a pretty darn perfect day. (You know… those few times a year in New England when it’s not blisteringly hot, pouring waterfalls out of the sky, or so cold that if you left your house your eyes would freeze shut… But really I do actually love it here! I think…)
I have no idea where the rest of my career will take me. I know that I truly enjoyed all those interactions with students, which is part of the reason I created this website. I also know that I love the transition from ideas and makeshift protocols into simplified, robust processes. For now I’m planning to continue with both so I can learn, help others, and strive for happiness every day!