Careers in Industry & AcademiaCareers in Industry & AcademiaIs my science education worth anything?Is my science education worth anything?

Steven J. Projan, Ph.D., F.A.A.M.Vice President, Biological TechnologiesWyeth ResearchMarch 8, 2007

Common views on why people take jobs in the pharmaceutical industry

I couldn’t hack it in academia Aren’t industry jobs easier to land than academic positions anyway?

I didn’t want to write grants This never happens in industry, right?

I didn’t want to write papers Nobody cares if you publish in industry, right?

There is better job security in industry The pay and benefits are better in industry Applied research is more fulfilling and less frustrating

than “purely” academic pursuits

Industry companies come in three flavors

“Big Pharma” Pfizer, JNJ, GSK, Novartis, BMS, SGP, Lilly, Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Wyeth,

Amgen, Roche, Genentech

“Established Biotechs” Genzyme, Biogen-Idec, Millennium, Cubist

“Small Biotechs” Less than 100 and often less than 50 people The average biotech lasts less than four years (or about the same as an

NFL running back)

But remember that none of these companies is “stable”

What does industry want?

Great scientists with established expertise True at ALL levels

Team players If you can’t collaborate then you will not do well in any industrial

setting

Pride of outcome vs. pride of ownership

People with excellent communication skills If cannot present than you will hit a (low) ceiling

If you don’t publish you won’t get very far either

Diversity (especially in Big Pharma) A workforce that really understands the consumers of our products

So what this mean for jobs in the Industry?

Consolidation means fewer jobs Especially in the drug discovery and development arenas

There are multiple applicants for each job But still relatively few “high quality” applicants

Most people from academic backgrounds know relatively litte about pharmacology!

Price pressure (which will only increase) means wholesale industry restructuring

Outsourcing and Off-shoring are soon to be (if not already) the rule

Willingness to work outside the U.S. will increasingly become a plus

Which Jobs? What Skills?

The best jobs are in Drug Discovery (and Development)

Fewer jobs does not mean no jobs

One potential area of job growth is on the process development, QA, QC side of the equation

Think about what jobs your skill sets can be applied to

Moral of the story: Build upon your (demonstrable) skill sets: Eg. Cell Biology AND

Biochemistry

And it wouldn’t hurt if you knew some pharmacology

- There are always jobs for people who develop animal models of disease

So is an industry worth it?

You bet it is! Where else can you find a job where your work will

impact on the health of the human race? Remember that over 92% of all therapeutics and

vaccines have been discovered and nearly all have been developed by the pharmaceutical industry

Don’t buy the “crap” from self-serving industry critics

To succeed you must be every bit as good (and probably even better) than your academic colleagues

There is a no more challenging job

But is there a no more gratifying job

Biotech vs. Big Pharma

The jobs are more similar than different Maybe you wear more hats in Biotech, But contrary to popular belief

you do not work cheaper, just poorer

Job security is probably worse in “small” biotech companies than big pharma

What is the “burn rate”?

Profitability does not equal job security! But it doesn’t hurt

Successful Biotech companies get acquired, unsuccesfful companies get acquired

By the way…how much do these jobs pay??? And can I have a family maybe???

Preparing a CV…for an industry job application

Similar but definitely different from an academic CV NB. A majority of industry hires now come from on

line job applicants

Overview

Your CV is a vehicle to describe yourself to someone who does not know you

Be professional and be neat (even if you are neither!)

The three most important attributes of a CV are accuracy, accuracy and accuracy

Avoid puffery, avoid internet or imaginary degrees (and the like), honesty is the best policy

Make sure the important stuff in on the first page Make sure you have both hard copy and electronic

versions

The Essentials

Who you are (but how much personal information should be supplied?) Note that employers cannot take into consideration things like marital status,

children etc. However you may consider it important for potential employers to know such things (e.g. if your significant other is going to require a job, relocation etc.

Contact information Make sure people can contact you easily

Education Be complete – include dates, degrees, major/area of study, mentors

Employment History My preference is that you start with your current job and work backwards, again

provide details, even brief descriptions of responsibilities, number of people supervised

More Essentials

Skills But do not go overboard You may wish to highlight presentation/written skills in certain contexts

Awards and honors Include grants here unless you have so many that it would require a

separate section

Career Goals What do you want to be when you grow up

Publications Include abstracts (separately) but not internal reports

Presentations External only

Maybe yes, maybe no

Hobbies Membership in professional

organizations- Often this is kind of a filler

Visa status

DO NOTS! (Avoid Identity Theft!)

Do not include your tax payer ID/social security number

Do not provide you date of birth Please do not include a personal mission statement

Job Hunting - The Cover Letter

Essential when applying for a specific position or a position with a specific laboratory or company

State the position (or type of job) you are looking for Indicate your willingness (or lack of willingness) to

relocate Do you have geographical preferences?

Salary requirements Or would you prefer to work for free?

Availability When can you start a new job?

Finding Jobs:

On line…you better be computer savvy Publish!!! Networking, networking thou shalt pursue

Meetings…posters and presentations

- Pay out of your own pocket if you have to

Job fairs

Seminar speakers at your own institution

Presentation skills! Power corrupts, PowerPoint corrupts absolutely!

But make sure it’s a good fit!! Do you really want to do the job you are interviewing for?