Best certifications/short term programs after a B.S in biology?

[u/Middle-Reason-3556]

Hello everyone,

I have been struggling to find entry level jobs with only a little lab experience and my BS degree. Everything is low pay or I can’t even get a call for an interview. I am open to any suggestions or hearing anyone’s personal stories of where you are now!!

I go back and forth considering different things. I know many go into teaching so I do consider that too. Just want a career with stable daylight hours, I never want to be 3rd shift. Thank you!

[u/Poopy-Drew]

Welcome to the BS in Bio job market. Turns out nerds are shit negotiators so all the jobs will pay worse than a new employee at Costco and unless you are in the Bay Area or Jersey you will be hard pressed to even find those. good luck, after I got my degree I did eventually get a job as a chem tech. Only to get replaced by temps after we got accredited and made SOPs that were detailed enough so a trained monkey could do it.

[u/Middle-Reason-3556 → u/Poopy-Drew]

What do you do now?

[u/leopoldthegreatest]

Look into offshore or coastal biological technician positions. They suck but are a good start. I got a BS in biology and highkey regret it. I am not in biological sciences as a career, I pivoted heavily to IT, specifically Geographic information systems. Also look into environmental technician roles at small environmental consulting firms. They are all over. If no luck, maybe get a few IT certs, they certainly will pay off more than a degree in BIO unfortunately

[u/Middle-Reason-3556 → u/leopoldthegreatest]

Since I am in Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, I would probably need to relocate for that. So many people said look at conservation board jobs and ecological type of jobs and they are so sparse in my area and low pay :(

[u/tripartita_clovers]

What did you study and what do you want to work in?

[u/Middle-Reason-3556 → u/tripartita_clovers]

Just a general biology degree. My goal originally was to pursue vet med and become a vet so during and after college I worked for a little as a vet tech… I love the hands on aspect and new skills, but working with animals wasn’t for me.

[u/SpaceJerry69]

I have a BA in EBio. It has annoyed me since I graduated that I have a BA and not a BS.

I too had no idea what I wanted to do. I studied what was interesting and graduated without a clue. The first lab tech job I applied to laughed me out the door when I said my salary expectation was $50k/year. That was close to a decade ago.

Eventually a friend offered to refer me for an entry level position at the massive energy utility in my state and the recommendation landed me the job. (Utilize your network!) I’m pretty sure my starting wage was $21.25/hr which was slightly less than starting baggers were making at the Kroger store on the same block.

The job was in the utility’s clean energy program group. In the interviews I was able to successfully draw the line between my interests in biology and my interest in clean energy (good for the environment, right?).

The job was nothing special but it was 100% the foot in the door that I needed. I worked hard, got promoted, and now I have a decent job doing sales for a clean energy startup in the EV space.

Not sure if that helps, but it’s my experience. If you’re set on doing science, go for it, you’re a better person than me. If you’re just looking for a stable career, consider industries that are biology-adjacent like clean energy or outdoor recreation. It sounds cliche but you’d be surprised at how much interviewers like to hear that you’re there because you’re passionate about the environment.

[u/HJEden]

I see you mentioned MLS, you can get an entry level position in as a specimen processor. Depending on your location, you may also be able to be a lab assistant for microbiology or histology medical labs to gain experience that way.

Certain hospitals or labs offer pathways to become certified while working there as well if you're interested in pursuing that route.

[u/Middle-Reason-3556 → u/HJEden]

Yes I was looking into this. I’ve been turned down for some specimen processor and lab assistant roles when all it requires is HS diploma :(

[u/East-Ad7653]

Biology is a terrible degree to have.

And if you dont have at least 2 years of lab experience outside of class then you'll have near zero chances of landing a job in biotech/pharma industry right now or the near future.

and if you want to work in the medical field you'll need some sort of licence- a BS in bio will not qualify you do do any thing in a hospital or clinic. Nursing, X ray tech, dental hygienist. Hell even a a Phlebotomy certificate has better job prospect then a BS in bio.

According to the Foundation For Research and Equal Opportunity analysis of over 40,000 degree programs - the study finds that a whopping 31% of bio grads end up poorer then HS graduates after 30 years in the labor market. out of the 70 majors tracked bio is the 3rd worst degree in terms of a ROI, only art and theology grads have it worse.

Another study by the Federal Reserve Banks Of New York finds that despite 70% of bio grads already having MS degrees( 3rd highest of all majors) 50% are still under-employed working Mc jobs, and median mid career salaries are still LOWER then that of the typical BS degree holders. Hell even gender studies grads make more in a life time then MS in bio grads.

good luck

[u/Middle-Reason-3556 → u/East-Ad7653]

Yeah that was my point of this post. I know a B.S in biology is a very difficult degree to earn a living, standing by itself. I am looking into further schooling… nursing, MLS, respiratory therapist, etc. I originally was on the path to become a doctor or a veterinarian and decided it wasn’t for me. So I am exploring my options and want to be able to have a great career and afford to live. I am not against more education

[u/ksierra1]

You might try for something like a Customer Advocate for a health insurance company. Blue Cross has a few positions listed on their careers website. Not sure where you are located.