As a part of career development Q & A session (Feb 21st), Biophysical society gave us the opportunity to interact with group leaders in industry and ask questions. It was an incredibly insightful session and gave attendees to ask the key question– "How do i start a career in Industry?"
For the folks who couldn't make it to the session, but are still curious about starting a career in industry, I hope the following helps prepare you for industry positions.
Q.1. How is an industry postdoc position different from Scientist position?
Most biotech companies like Amgen, Pfizer and Genentech have well-defined postdoc program where the postdocs drive basic research. How’s it different from scientist? Postdocs are not allowed to work on pipeline projects or drug discovery. They will have their own project and publish, and the focus is on science that eventually will make a great scientist. They are usually not hired internally into a scientist position. However, this can differ between companies. While Genentech doesn't hire internally, Pfizer hires about 30-40% postdocs internally.
Q.2. Do group leaders need a B-school/ Management background to be good managers?
There aren't so many managers and Internal candidates may be promoted to those roles or hired from outside. Hiring is based on experience. Group leaders do not need to have management/ B-school training. Timing is critical in getting managerial roles within the companies. Group leaders need to be people managers. If you have even one person reporting to you, you’re a manager.
Q.3. If my PhD is in basic or fundamental research and a niche technique (e.g single molecule assays), what are the chances of making a transition to industry without doing a postdoc?
Transitioning into industry will depend on the Job description for that particular position (e.g. someone hired for Cryo-EM should have expertise in cryo-EM). One needs to only demonstrate that they can do good science and tailor their resume and cover letter to highlight the transferable skills they bring to the table for that particular position. Tailoring your resume/ CV is key.
If you worked on a niche technique and there’s a commercial manufacturer of the instrument you used, start your job search there.
Q.4. How keen is the industry on sponsoring work visa?
This question is close to my heart, and for all folks comtemplating industry careers but need a work visa/ permit to get hired. Getting a visa is hard, and it's only getting harder. Not having a green card or work visa makes it harder to get hired as the company has to make an extra effort to get visa for you. You have to be highly desirable for the company. When there are applicants with similar skillset, the one with the right paperwork is more likely to get hired.
Q.5 How does the industry look at a candidate who already has an academic psotion?
The only cause for concern or pause is whether the candidate is ready to give up the leadership position that academia offers. Most of the hires are typically at PhD and postdoc level. When people do transition from academia to industry, they come as a group leader who has done great science and has had a good track of publishing.
Q.6. How is the publishing aspect in the industry?
Short answer– It will depend on the company setup and culture. It will also depend on the stage of the project or drug discovery. Most companies don't allow publishing the drug molecule identity, but one can publish basic science around it once it's in Phase I or II.
Q7. How do I get my resume/ CV on the hiring manger's desk?
– Tailor your application to the position and its job description. Generic boilerplate resumes/CVs without cover letter are likely not going to get through the recruiting people who do the initial screening. You need to add a personal touch to your application to make you stand out!
– Networking with someone you have worked with makes it easy to pass the filtering process.
Q.8. Does industry prefer a jack of all trades vs someone with deep knowledge of a particular field / technique?
The preference depends on the position and job description. For example, someone hired to lead Cryo EM facility will need someone with Cryo EM expertise. However, most job descriptions that don't have extremely specific requirements will hire someone who is a jack of all trades, which showcases that you are moldable and adaptable.
Q.9. Is there Freedom / flexibility in research in industry position and how does it compare with academia?
Yes, there is flexibility, but with some boundaries. Usually the boundary in the industry is that the project should affect human health. Sometimes industry positions offer more flexibility than academic position as there is no need for procuring scientific grants, and you can pursue your ideas as long as your boss approves.
Q.10. Are there any soft skills you look for in candidates? How is it different from academia?
Firstly, the key difference between working in academia vs working in industry is working in teams. Even if you collaborate in academia, it's not as large as working in a large cross-functional team in the industry. Most people have a hard time with the transition to working in large teams. PhDs are trained to treat their project as their baby, which is very different from teamwork.
Secondly, Communication and presentation skills are very important for presenting your science in a clear and concisely. It is imperative that you be able to present your science in an interesting way to non-experts as well.
Thirdly, being able to give and receive feedback is an important skill. It is important to cultivate this skill to not be defensive and be open to receive feedback, which is important for doing good science.
This discussion was useful to me and I hope these questions help train you better as you transition from academia to industry. Here's wishing you all the luck with tailoring your CV and growing your network!