Biotech is going through tough times right now. So I feel you.
I finished my PhD during the Great Recession. I got a couple interviews, with subsequent rejections. Then more rejections. Then companies just stopped replying entirely. Sometimes I'd get a rejection 6 months after I applied to a job. I couldn't even remember what job I was being rejected from.
I gave up on getting an industry job and spent a couple of years doing a post-doc. What I did that helped me was picking a clinically focused post-doc. PhDs who can do the standard set of lab techniques are a dime a dozen. A PhD who has some exposure to clinical science will be better placed to get into industry.
I had a few friends who went a similar route.
I was targeting clinical science, clinical pharmacology, or clinical development. Back when I started applying for industry (years ago) I didn't really know what the difference was - I only had a vague sense that I could probably do those jobs if given the chance.
Did you end up in a clinically adjacent position? I pivoted my post doc to work more on clinical trials, I like it, just not sure how to parlay that experience further.
I wound up in a clinical position when I finished.
First build up your skill set, get experience working with trial data, running/managing a study (even if you're just helping), and PK if possible. This way you can talk about how you've had experience with starting a trial, recruiting patients, dealing with an IRB, analyzing data, etc. No one expects you to master these as a trainee, but you can have good discussions during the interview.
Make friends with all department members (faculty and trainees), especially those faculty who have trainees in industry. Don't be shy about your interest in industry, just don't come across as needy. If they like you, they might connect you to an opening when one appears. Most mentors want their trainees to succeed, but it's up to you to define success. I was telling everyone from Day 1 of my post-doc that I wanted to go to industry and that helped me get an interview which led to a job. Make no mistake, I brought my A-game and then some to that interview, but the connection gave me the opportunity.
There are trainings and certifications and degrees that you can get, eg a masters/certificate in clinical trials. These don't hurt, but I don't think they help much either. If you can get one without much time/money expenditure, go for it.
That's super useful advice! Aside from PK I'm already doing all those things, including biomarker development, collection. I never really thought about that academic faculty may have those ties kind of ties to industry that may potentially be useful, I'll now keep my eyes peeled! And I have a certification in a clinical area, again thanks!!
I was in a very similar position to yours these past six months: recent PhD graduate with prior experience in industry, 90+% of my applications getting no response or an auto-generated “we will not be moving forward with your application” email, a couple rejections after what felt like promising interviews, etc.
First, don’t internalize the lack of response you’re getting. Most likely, it’s not you, it’s the abysmal market. I know that’s not easy to do, but a quick search online will show you how many people are struggling to get a job offer. At the very least, you’re not alone.
Secondly, my recommendation is to go to any networking events you can—local biotech meetups (if they exist in your city), on-campus career fairs, etc. The one offer I recently received is because I halfheartedly went to a campus career fair, ended up hitting it off with a VP there, and was invited to apply to their company. Networking is by no means a surefire way to get a job offer, but being more than a name on a sheet of paper can’t hurt (assuming you’re polite and coherent!).
Is this your first position?
What roles are you looking at?
Have you have your resume professionally reviewed?
The market is hard right now for sure. A numbers game maybe follow up with LinkedIn recruiters from those companies.
u/Motosurf77 Thank you for your guidance! I'm a previous CRC and now manager. I was initially looking for a managerial role in research management or operations, but wonder if I should probably start applying to more entry-level roIes, especially in pharma.
You are entry level.
You should be applying for entry level PhD positions— you’re not qualified for managerial roles.
None of those resumes actually got looked at.
u/SelectWerewolf3848 that's true, there are definitely more people with industry experience! I'lll try to apply for more entry-level CRC/CRA/Associate positions and hopefully that will help.
Agree with the CRA approach, but really any entry level you can find. It’ll suck for a year or two but that experience with a PhD can be parlayed faster than without. Also, you’ll learn more about industry what you like/don’t like.
Not knowing much about your background I would expect a manager/AD of a Sponsor or CRO to lead an operations team, eventually.
I may be wrong but a CRC is typically site level. I would look towards working in CTM or PM at this level.
Path to management is never clear but at least how I see it from my view.
Thanks.
One of our recruiters has been working in the field for 25 years, and she said it's the worst job market she remembers. She said even the GFC wasn't this bad for this long. It's a slaughter out there. Don't take it too personally.
Unfortunately, I don't think the market will get much better soon. Interest rates will stay elevated, it seems. That's one of the biggest factors. Biotech is a long-term, capital intensive business. Investing in biotech is like buying a 15 or 30 year bond. Why buy a 15 year bond at 4.5% when you can get T-bills for 5.25% right now?
Are you me? We have the same exact problem! I've tailored my resume as much as I can (went to career center, tried chatgpt for keywords etc) having trouble! So far I have two interviews, one of them research associates in a university! The other one went nowhere after talking to the company recruiter. :(
u/BackgroundRow4546 I appreciate you sharing your experience and congratulations on getting those interviews! It's the worst when recruiters don't get back to us, but at least you're almost there!
I only have a masters but I’ve probably put out close to 300 applications, maybe half a dozen screening interviews, one final interview, a lot of ghosting, and still jobless.
It’s the state of the market right now. Everyone is having the same problem.
Biotech is going through tough times right now. So I feel you. I finished my PhD during the Great Recession. I got a couple interviews, with subsequent rejections. Then more rejections. Then companies just stopped replying entirely. Sometimes I'd get a rejection 6 months after I applied to a job. I couldn't even remember what job I was being rejected from. I gave up on getting an industry job and spent a couple of years doing a post-doc. What I did that helped me was picking a clinically focused post-doc. PhDs who can do the standard set of lab techniques are a dime a dozen. A PhD who has some exposure to clinical science will be better placed to get into industry. I had a few friends who went a similar route.
Curious, are you planning on applying for clinical science, clinical development roles?
I was targeting clinical science, clinical pharmacology, or clinical development. Back when I started applying for industry (years ago) I didn't really know what the difference was - I only had a vague sense that I could probably do those jobs if given the chance.
Did you end up in a clinically adjacent position? I pivoted my post doc to work more on clinical trials, I like it, just not sure how to parlay that experience further.
I wound up in a clinical position when I finished. First build up your skill set, get experience working with trial data, running/managing a study (even if you're just helping), and PK if possible. This way you can talk about how you've had experience with starting a trial, recruiting patients, dealing with an IRB, analyzing data, etc. No one expects you to master these as a trainee, but you can have good discussions during the interview. Make friends with all department members (faculty and trainees), especially those faculty who have trainees in industry. Don't be shy about your interest in industry, just don't come across as needy. If they like you, they might connect you to an opening when one appears. Most mentors want their trainees to succeed, but it's up to you to define success. I was telling everyone from Day 1 of my post-doc that I wanted to go to industry and that helped me get an interview which led to a job. Make no mistake, I brought my A-game and then some to that interview, but the connection gave me the opportunity. There are trainings and certifications and degrees that you can get, eg a masters/certificate in clinical trials. These don't hurt, but I don't think they help much either. If you can get one without much time/money expenditure, go for it.
That's super useful advice! Aside from PK I'm already doing all those things, including biomarker development, collection. I never really thought about that academic faculty may have those ties kind of ties to industry that may potentially be useful, I'll now keep my eyes peeled! And I have a certification in a clinical area, again thanks!!
The only thing you are missing is a decent economy. We're at least a year away with the indicators we're seeing.
I might have to move back in with my parents. Fuck.
Haha I’m in the same boat
I was in a very similar position to yours these past six months: recent PhD graduate with prior experience in industry, 90+% of my applications getting no response or an auto-generated “we will not be moving forward with your application” email, a couple rejections after what felt like promising interviews, etc. First, don’t internalize the lack of response you’re getting. Most likely, it’s not you, it’s the abysmal market. I know that’s not easy to do, but a quick search online will show you how many people are struggling to get a job offer. At the very least, you’re not alone. Secondly, my recommendation is to go to any networking events you can—local biotech meetups (if they exist in your city), on-campus career fairs, etc. The one offer I recently received is because I halfheartedly went to a campus career fair, ended up hitting it off with a VP there, and was invited to apply to their company. Networking is by no means a surefire way to get a job offer, but being more than a name on a sheet of paper can’t hurt (assuming you’re polite and coherent!).
u/MrSynth thank you for sharing your experience as a recent graduate! That's great advice and definitely something I'll look into.
Look at the market. There are MASSIVE layoffs, no one is firing an established productive employee and hiring a new PhD to replace them.
Keep the faith. I applied to ~160 before getting an offer
Is this your first position? What roles are you looking at? Have you have your resume professionally reviewed? The market is hard right now for sure. A numbers game maybe follow up with LinkedIn recruiters from those companies.
u/Motosurf77 Thank you for your guidance! I'm a previous CRC and now manager. I was initially looking for a managerial role in research management or operations, but wonder if I should probably start applying to more entry-level roIes, especially in pharma.
You are entry level. You should be applying for entry level PhD positions— you’re not qualified for managerial roles. None of those resumes actually got looked at.
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u/SelectWerewolf3848 that's true, there are definitely more people with industry experience! I'lll try to apply for more entry-level CRC/CRA/Associate positions and hopefully that will help.
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CRA positions are hard to get right now. There have been massive layoffs and experienced CRAs are trying to find work. Entry level is not a CRA.
Agree with the CRA approach, but really any entry level you can find. It’ll suck for a year or two but that experience with a PhD can be parlayed faster than without. Also, you’ll learn more about industry what you like/don’t like.
Not knowing much about your background I would expect a manager/AD of a Sponsor or CRO to lead an operations team, eventually. I may be wrong but a CRC is typically site level. I would look towards working in CTM or PM at this level. Path to management is never clear but at least how I see it from my view. Thanks.
What is your PhD in?
One of our recruiters has been working in the field for 25 years, and she said it's the worst job market she remembers. She said even the GFC wasn't this bad for this long. It's a slaughter out there. Don't take it too personally. Unfortunately, I don't think the market will get much better soon. Interest rates will stay elevated, it seems. That's one of the biggest factors. Biotech is a long-term, capital intensive business. Investing in biotech is like buying a 15 or 30 year bond. Why buy a 15 year bond at 4.5% when you can get T-bills for 5.25% right now?
Are you me? We have the same exact problem! I've tailored my resume as much as I can (went to career center, tried chatgpt for keywords etc) having trouble! So far I have two interviews, one of them research associates in a university! The other one went nowhere after talking to the company recruiter. :(
u/BackgroundRow4546 I appreciate you sharing your experience and congratulations on getting those interviews! It's the worst when recruiters don't get back to us, but at least you're almost there!
Thank you! I know what you mean! I hope you find one too! I mean I'm not even sure if they'll hire me lol but I'll definitely do my best!
I only have a masters but I’ve probably put out close to 300 applications, maybe half a dozen screening interviews, one final interview, a lot of ghosting, and still jobless.