1/18/20

Every Month Series:Navigating the Path toYour Career in Industry

Michael A. Matrone, Ph.D.Associate Director, Office of Career and Professional DevelopmentProgram Director, Non-Academic Career Development

JanuaryFebruary

MarchAprilMayJuneJuly

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IndustryData ScienceConsultingScience CommunicationPublic SectorIntellectual PropertyField ScienceAcademiaNon-ProfitPolicy and AdvocacyRegulatory AffairsSpecial Topics

Learn More at:career.ucsf.edu/everymonth

January

February

13th – Navigating the Path to Your Career in Industry14th – Visa Considerations for Your Career in Industry17th – Navigating the Application to Your Career in Industry

Specifically for International Scholars:18th – Interviewing & Compensation Negotiation, Part 120th – Interviewing & Compensation Negotiation, Part 225th – Interviewing & Compensation Negotiation, Part 3

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UCSFOCPD | on all platformsUpdates via E-mail: career.ucsf.edu/listserv

Career Options in the Biotech Industry

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Bill LindstaedtAssistant Vice ChancellorCareer Advancement, International and Postdoctoral Scholars

Special thanks to Toby Freedman, PhDCareer Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug DevelopmentMaterials used with permission

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Where did I get this information?

x 2000+ in OCPD

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Big picture questions

§What are the types of jobs in the biotech/pharma industry?

§What preparation is required for the various types of industry positions?

§How can I find scientists in industry who will help me get an interview?

§How do I reach out to scientists to ask for help in getting a job?

In 1-1 career advising appointments:

“I want to move to industry when I finish my training at UCSF…”

“I want to move to industry when I finish my training…”

What do you mean by “industry”?PhD Life Scientists work in companies that make:

• Drugs/Therapeutics• Reagents• Tools• Medical devices

So much more fun and complex!§Type of product dictates the structure of the company§Type of product dictates type of jobs in a company§Type of product dictates quantity of jobs in a company§Structure of company and products (startup vs mature) has impact as well

Drug company:Product development overview

Medical device company:Product development overview

“I want to be at the bench in industry when I finish my training…”§What do you mean by “bench”?

• Hypothesis driven discovery research?• Lead optimization of drug candidates?• Preclinical research? Drug safety/tox?• Product development/scale-up?• Quality/testing?

§Is being at the bench your long-term career goal or is it a jumping off point?

Drug company functional areasCareer paths often move from area to area

Most of our students/postdocs want to start in Discovery

from

Discovery scientists’ career progression

Discovery research: jumping off point to anywhere!

from

Questions from 1-1 appointments:

“I want to do discovery research in industry. Do I need to do a postdoc?

And

If yes, where should I do my postdoc?”

Optimal academic postdoc leading to industry research scientist job offer:

-At a university in a biotech hub

-Disease-focused, or hot skill set used

-In an academic lab with a history of sending postdocs to industry

-Postdocs don’t stay too long on average

What about industry postdocs?

Questions from 1-1 appointments:

“I don’t have 100% of the skills (or the experience level) required in a particular Discovery Scientist job description. Should I apply for it anyhow?”

If you’re a 60% or better fit, why not try!?

Questions from 1-1 appointments:

“How much postdoc experience do I need to move into my first industry drug discovery scientist position?”

Most discovery scientist job descriptions ask for 2 or more years of post-PhD experience.

What is “transitional experience”?

For academia careers?

For industry careers?

Transitional experience in academia

“What transitional experience do I need, for discovery research career ladder?

from

from

“How quickly can I move from entry level discovery researcher to leadership?

“What transitional experience do I need, for moving into a regulatory affairscareer?”

“Can I skip the bench research step and move directly into regulatory affairs?”

“Can I skip the bench research step and move directly into regulatory affairs?”

“What transitional experience do I need, for business of science careers?”

Anything is possible!

3 tips for industry scientist job applications

§ Research: Make a list of favorite companies and scientists§ Connect with industry scientists

• Ask for advice from them LONG before you need an industry job

• When applying for specific industry job openings, send two applications every time‒ apply to Human Resources‒ send a 2nd application to a scientist in the company

§ Tailor your resume carefully for each job application

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Getting started:Create your Preferred Company List

Company Name Name of Scientist Email of Scientist

Company #1

Company #2

>

>

Company #20

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Finding company information:Create your Preferred Company List

§20-30 companies where you would most like to work

§Based on product area or disease focus, location, size of co.

§Research project:

‒ Name of company

‒ Name of scientist whose work interests you

‒ Email address of that scientist

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Finding company information:Create your Preferred Company List

RESOURCES for creating your preferred company list:

§Ask at libraries: Databases of biotech company information

§Univ of Mississippi Library: Lexis Nexus Academic database

• Look for “Company Information” or “News” tab;

• Nexis Uni is a db of news on the corporate world

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Use LinkedIn to find scientists and companies who are working in your desired skill area, product or disease focus area

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Limit your search to publications affiliated with the desired company name

(under Pubmed’s Advanced Search function: Affiliation)

Finding scientists at the company:Use PubMed to find names

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1/18/20Presentation Title and/or Sub Brand Name Here47

Slide Title. Arial Bold, 32pt

§First level bullet. Arial bold, 22pt

• Second level bullet. Arial italic, 20pt

‒ Third level bullet. Arial, 18pt

§ Fourth level bullet. Arial italic, 16pt

• Fifth level bullet. Arial, 14pt

How to guess the scientist’s email address once you know their name…

Applying to posted job openings

1. Locate an attractive job posting2. Select positions with tasks/roles you have done3. Create tailored resume 4. Submit resume as instructed in the job posting 5. Send a “2nd application”

• Email a resume w/letter to a recruiter, the hiring manager, and someone 1-2 steps ahead of the position within the company

• “The savvy job seeker always takes this approach.” – HR recruiter from a large company

Dear Dr. Adams:

I have been reading with interest about the scientific developments at Abgenix. And because of my background in XYZ, I have been reading with particular interest the fascinating work that you have been doing in the area of XYZ.

I recently noticed a job posting on the Abgenix website for a Protein Chemist (Job #112345J), for which I feel I am very well qualified. I have already applied on line to the Human Resources website but I was wondering if you would be willing to also send my attached resume on to the scientist who is hiring for the Protein Chemist position? Or, if you are the hiring scientist, I hope you will read my resume and consider contacting me for an interview!

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely, Fred JonesDept. of ImmunologyUCSF415-555-5555fred@ucsf.edu

The 2nd application tells the recipient you’ve applied and requests assistance w/process

Email subject line: Inquiry about Abgenix Protein Chemist

LinkedIN 2nd application:Purchase premier access for a few months

Tips for Industry Resumes

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CVs vs Resumes

Curriculum Vitae (Academia)• Unlimited length

• Complete academic history

• No “Profile” or “objective”

• Tailored to type of position

• Organized using expected section headings & content

• Just the facts

• Cover letter and references: Critical role

Resume (Industry)•1-3 Pages, incl all citations

•Selected history

• Begins with “Profile”

• Tailored to each individual position

•Organized with highly-tailored section headings & content

•Self-promotion expected•Cover letter and references: Less important, reference omitted

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

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Sections of an Industry Resume§ Heading: Name, address, phone (not lab), email, website, visa status if PR

§ Profile or Summary or Highlights§ Education§ Various “Experience” Sections – Research, Teaching, Mentoring,

Leadership and Supervision, Industry, Community Service, Writing, Business

§ Skills or Techniques – categorized list

§ Awards – describe if not obvious

§ Presentations and Publications at end§ Generally no references, or “References available upon request”

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

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§Start with your generic resume§Carefully read the job description§Make a list: If you were the screener, what criteria must you

see on the ideal resume?§Edit the Profile section of your generic resume to fit the list of

screening criteria, as nearly as possible§Edit the following sections of your generic resume so that the

claims in your Profile section are clearly supportedØ Research ExperienceØ Skills/TechniquesØ Publications/PresentationsØ Extra sections that support soft skills mentioned in Profile

How to tailor your resume for specific, posted job descriptions

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry56

Create a Summary, or Profile section:

§ First section of industry resume§ Purpose 1: “hook” to catch interest (scientist reader)§ Purpose 2: Quickly demonstrate match between position

requirements and your qualifications (HR reader)§ Useful format:

Ø One or two line statement that classifies and sub-classifies you, followed by bulleted text that fits job description

§ ONLY include items that will help convince the reader you are a fit for the job description

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The job ad informs your Summary/ProfileScientist – Protein Chemist….We are seeking a highly motivated PhD scientist to join our Technology

Development Team…

The Technology Development team is seeking a uniquely qualified individual to establish anew project that combines our chemical synthesis core technology with state of the art combinatorial peptide methods.

Requirements:-PhD in Biochemistry-2-5 years of experience in industry or a combination of industry and related postdoctoral experience-Experience with structural biology, NMR or X-ray crystallography is a plus-Background in folding and purification of proteins is highly desirable-The job entails both bench work and management skills-The job demands excellent communication skills, writing skills and the ability to work in teams

Create a Summary, or Profile section:

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

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Ch’en ShuDept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics Phone: (415) 111-2222 (H) Box 000 (415) 333-4444 (W)University of California at San Francisco e-mail: shu@ucsf.eduSan Francisco, CA 94143

PROFILE

Protein chemist with more than 5 years combined post-doctoral experience in industry and academic settings

§ Extensive background in chemistry and structural biology

§ Protein purification experience

§ Experience with NMR and X-ray crystallography

§ Excellent communication, teamwork and writing skills developed through previous industry position, bench and management duties

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

Create a Summary, or Profile section:

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career.ucsf.eduØ Grad Students and PostdocsØ Career PlanningØ Non-academic JobsØ Applying

Review samples of successful Ph.D. resumes targeted at industry research jobs, consulting, academic:

Cover Letters & Resumes for U.S. Research Scientist Positions in Biotech Industry

Resume writing help – tailor your resume

Samples and step by step instructions for tailoring:

career.ucsf.edu-PhD’s-NAC (non-academic careers)-CV’s Resumes and Cover Letters

Resume writing help – tailor your resume

Resume writing help – tailor your resume

Resume writing help – tailor your resume

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Putting it all togetherDo your research by researching and talking to other specialists BEFORE you begin

Try to focus your job search on “your” industry area

Meticulously tailor each resume to fit the job description

Send a 2nd application for each application; network relentlessly

How long does it take? How much time to devote?• Often, 6-12 months for a PhD-level scientist leaving postdoc• Commit to spending x hours per week on job search• Hours spent on each technique in proportion to effectiveness

Amazing: Success rate is incredibly high!