The COVID-19 pandemic has been a transformative period for many. Our values and perspectives have been put to the test as schools, workplaces, and day-to-day operations adjusted to the new ways of living. One aspect of the last few years has been coined “The Great Resignation,” a trend where employees change their careers in pursuit of better opportunities. This phenomenon has been exemplified by the increased departure of academic researchers transitioning into industry roles, and in turn has led to an ever-growing hiring call for post-doctoral positions. The dream of achieving a coveted tenure track professor position is increasingly becoming an improbability: fewer positions are available, and new principal investigators are having increasingly tough times securing funding to stay afloat.
Over the last year I left my comfort zone and transitioned away from my academic postdoc in Toronto, into an industry position in San Diego as a scientist at Fate Therapeutics. This experience has been eye opening, frustrating and exciting all at the same time. Throughout my PhD, I yearned for a tenure track position in an academic setting. I envisioned a career with the freedom to research big questions while running a team of like-minded colleagues in a centre for higher learning.
Graduate school does an exemplary job of promoting academia as the natural path for a scientist to follow. As a developmental biologist, the career alternatives outside of academia appeared limited; however, during my degree I added new skills to become a more robust candidate. These included business pitching, 3D printing, and coding in python and R. Taking advantage of learning non-degree related skills during graduate school is an excellent way to stand out from your peers and demonstrate your ability to learn.
Here is my journey
During my PhD studies, I was recruited to a post-doctoral position at a coveted research facility in Toronto. As a bioprinting and 3D printing fanatic, with expertise in pluripotency, I was eager to join such a prestigious institute with promises of top-of-the-line equipment, opportunity and research freedom. However, the reality was far different. After more than a decade of post-secondary education and research, I was presented with a different project than anticipated, a salary comparable to the living wage of Toronto, and the title of “trainee.”
My experience was not unique and it became clear that no amount of effort, devotion, or luck would change my current situation. This could happen in industrial settings as well – this problem is not inherent to academia or post-doctoral positions. The core issue was that I did not see the value of my work, nor was it valued enough to be compensated accordingly.
I made the decision to leave my postdoc in search of better opportunities and to improve my mental health. During the 2021 Till & McCulloch Meetings, I received what at the time felt like surprising advice from my personal science hero, to “give industry a shot.” If you are considering this option yourself, I implore you to follow these quick steps and tips first.
Step #1: Preparations for making your career change.
Tip #1: Update your resume, CV and LinkedIn regularly.
My industry journey started with updating my general CV and resume. Although submissions to specific job postings should have a tailored cover letter and resume highlighting the key skills and attributes being advertised, you need to start somewhere and a general CV is an excellent foundation. If you are looking to apply or browse positions, check out the jobs tab on LinkedIn – the PubMed of job postings. In fact, for some positions, you can apply directly through your profile. Regardless of your career track, having a manicured and current LinkedIn account is necessary for networking in the pandemic and digital age.
Tip #2: Have an online presence.
Stay current with your online professional community. Frequent perusing of LinkedIn can lead to new opportunities and contacts that you would otherwise not have made. I keep active alerts on LinkedIn and Twitter for unique positions and industry leaders; this keeps me in the loop and allows for quick responses to the latest opportunities.
Tip #3: If you do not have a mentor(s), seek one out. If you have them, keep them in the loop and ask for advice.
At this point, I recommend speaking with mentors, supervisors or employers that would be willing to vouch for you. Let them know what you are interested in and see if they will be willing to act as a reference before you begin the application process. Their insight may even lead to an otherwise unavailable or unadvertised opportunity.
Tip #4: Be open to new opportunities outside of your comfort zone and have confidence in yourself!
When I started applying through LinkedIn, it quickly became apparent that there were several positions I would not have previously considered myself eligible for. Surprisingly, out of the approximately 50 applications I sent to Ontario postings, I received only a handful of responses, leading me to cast a wider net by applying throughout North America. If this is an option for you, I highly recommend it.
The world of biotech offers many positions in areas such as quality control and assurance, manufacturing, analytical development, process development, and research and development, to list a few of the bigger areas. For instance, if you are done with bench work, consider applying for a position as a medical liaison or in consulting. If teaching others or writing is your jam, there are increasingly more postings for science communication. Regardless of whether you have a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate, there are currently plenty of positions for all levels.
Step #2: What to do when you land an interview.
To my surprise, most of the applications I submitted in California led to first and final interviews. From this selection, I narrowed my search down to a few companies that I especially admired, based on their science and some online sleuthing, before moving forward with their interview processes.
In preparation for your first interview, break down the job posting into the asks of the role and consider how your knowledge base and experience might fit into such a role. If the posting is looking for a CRISPR expert, for example, you should familiarize yourself with the company’s commercialization technology goal and strategy, while considering how your expertise can benefit such a role on a technical level. The best advice my mentors gave me was to be prepared for non-technical questions, to answer such questions based on values and instinct, be relaxed and thoughtful, make eye contact (even online), and progress the interview into a conversation.
Typically, the process is broken down into two interviews: the first is with the hiring manager to see if you are qualified and to get a feel for whether you are a fit; and the second consists of giving a seminar and meeting individuals from your prospective team.
From my experience, your personality and team fitness are more critical than lab skills, but still be prepared for technical questions. Finding your right fit takes time; however, during the interview process you can vet the company through the interviewers as much as you are being vetted. At this point in your career, you have become a professional learner and can come to the table with your expertise and adapt to new techniques and equipment. Employers tend to care more about how you will promote a positive work environment and benefit the team.
Step 3: How to negotiate your first offer.
At this stage, I highly recommend seeking at least two offers. This is beneficial for negotiating and understanding what a similar position is worth and getting even a single offer is a confidence boost. It is important not to get too excited and accept any terms or conditions too quickly; instead, show tact by graciously listening to offers and asking for details in writing. You may feel some urgency to accept, but it is important to think through accepting a position.
When negotiating, consider the cost-of-living changes you may incur, such as changing cities or even countries, as these come with lifestyle changes that need to be contemplated. Graduate school did not teach me about retirement savings, family planning or navigating immigration; however, these are important considerations. It is easy to get lured into a position boasting an astronomically huge salary relative to a postdoc’s wage, but you should think about what path you want your career to follow and if the rewards for said career outweigh differences in compensation. The best fit is not always the highest paid position or company and going to a startup that may initially offer less can lead to life-altering opportunities for the better.
You use competing offers to increase salary, starting bonuses, relocation costs, stock options (more common in the U.S. than in Canada), vacation time, and more. This stage involves a lot of back-and-forth discussion, but remember to always have a paper trail. Be patient and trust your instincts and your mentor’s advice.
While I have opted to put my tenured professor dreams on hiatus, leaving academia for industry or vice versa is not an irreversible decision, nor does it mean you have given up on hopes to publish papers and better humanity. It can make you a more well-rounded scientist and enlighten you about the process of true bench to bedside medicine.
Josh Dierolf
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- Moving from academia to industry – one postdoc’s experience - October 4, 2022
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