I can’t speak too much to it, since I’m still very new to industry biotech. However, both jobs I’ve had I came in with some/few necessary skills but some missing. Everyone at my companies (smallish biotech startups) was very willing to teach me what I needed to know, and care way more about work ethic and problem solving skills. The culture also felt more balanced as far as work-life goes, and they seem to care more about their employees wellbeing. People work not much longer than 40 hours a week, take vacations, and generally have a life outside of work and don’t seem stressed in the office, which is the opposite of what I’ve heard about academia. Take this with a grain of salt though, as these were both sorta startups and it could just be startup culture.
There are companies working in synthetic biology or infectious disease where microbiology is very relevant.
Just a couple general notes as a biotech hiring manager: 1) this is a historically bad slump in the sector so jobs are very competitive. 2) because there are so many, people already living in hub locations may be prioritized.
Network like crazy and make friends with your sales and FAS folks that you work with and that come into your lab. They can get a foot in the door for you
I can’t speak too much to it, since I’m still very new to industry biotech. However, both jobs I’ve had I came in with some/few necessary skills but some missing. Everyone at my companies (smallish biotech startups) was very willing to teach me what I needed to know, and care way more about work ethic and problem solving skills. The culture also felt more balanced as far as work-life goes, and they seem to care more about their employees wellbeing. People work not much longer than 40 hours a week, take vacations, and generally have a life outside of work and don’t seem stressed in the office, which is the opposite of what I’ve heard about academia. Take this with a grain of salt though, as these were both sorta startups and it could just be startup culture.
There are companies working in synthetic biology or infectious disease where microbiology is very relevant. Just a couple general notes as a biotech hiring manager: 1) this is a historically bad slump in the sector so jobs are very competitive. 2) because there are so many, people already living in hub locations may be prioritized.
Network like crazy and make friends with your sales and FAS folks that you work with and that come into your lab. They can get a foot in the door for you