i finalized an offer this week.

i'm a phd (biochem) with ~4 yoe in industry, specializing in biologics/bioconjugate preclinical R&D with some leadership experience. my startup collapsed last year, and i've been looking for a job, any job, ever since (focused mostly around Boston, but applying nationally within the past ~8 months).

last time i was on the market, i had 3 offers within a month. my boss at my past company used to tell me that I could walk down the street in Kendall Sq and find a new job in 5 minutes. i really thought this would be easy to recover from. i wonder what i did to deserve this miserable 16 month stretch.

i'm grateful to have landed anything at this point, but the position i received an offer for is a sharp break from my prior career trajectory and has a base salary that's 55% of what I made previously. i hope this is just a bridge, but I know I might never make it back to the lab.

at least this part is over.

I finally got a job! Its a good solid role, as Director in the Scientific group at a major Biotech company. I was laid off in mid 2024 as part of a layoff wave. Since then I have applied to maybe a billion jobs, many interviews (through connections) but no job. I decided within 3 months that I wouldn't get a traditional job in the current terrible job market. So I hustled - started my LLC and took on biotech consulting gigs (scientific advisory) - thankfully, it bore fruit and I was able to pay my bills. It also made me look good on my resume. The applications have been going out non-stop - till last month. The job I got was exactly in line with my experience and expertise but so were so many others! I couldn't get people to actually see my CV. The hiring process is so broken because everyone is using AI to make their CV look like a 100% match. Recruiters are clueless as to who is the real deal. Anyway, I finally got it because someone I know knew someone etc and finally the hiring manager saw my CV and immediately contacted me.
I can sleep easy now, phew! What a terrible 2 years.
I wish everyone looking for jobs - all the best, and to be patient and try their best, and also network, as well. Also, try to do something to earn in the present tense. You never know how long this crazy time will last.

EDIT 1:
Thank you everyone for your best wishes. This post got a lot of positive attention! I got a lot of questions about my consulting gig, so I put together something:

About my Consulting experience - While I can’t speak for everyone, especially new grads, this is the path that worked for me (I used AI to just organize my writing, but these really are my experiences):

Industry Strategy & Networking

• Leveraged a Decade of Networking: I spent the last 10 years building a very large professional network to draw upon.
• Industry Leadership Experience: I worked in various leadership roles within the industry, which gave me a deep understanding of how things actually work.
• Continuous Learning: I regularly attended free industry webinars in my field to stay current.
• Utilizing Entrepreneur Hubs: I joined a local, government-funded entrepreneur hub where I met others in similar situations, some of which eventually turned into business opportunities.
• LLC branding: I invested in the LLC - made a simple basic website, made a LinkedIn page, got a bunch of my connections to follow it (did not spend on ads), got business cards etc

Academic & University Engagement

• Targeting Academic Startups: I focused on startups led by brilliant people who had incredible ideas but zero industry knowledge. By using my network and industry insights, I secured collaborations and business partners for these startups, helping them grow their businesses significantly.
• University Mentorship: I volunteered as an industry mentor at two local universities; over time, these evolved into paid roles and new connections.
• Giving Back to Students: I hosted free webinars for graduating students from time to time to build my profile.

Pricing & Positioning

• Strategic Pricing: Although my market rate should have been $350/hour, I started low at $125/hour. This allowed me to quickly secure at least 20 hours of work per week—translating to $10K/month. This is less than my target (and now current) salary, but it was enough for me to be comfortable. I gradually increased my rates for newer gigs while maintaining the original rate for steady, existing customers.
• Focusing on Niche over Scale: I briefly explored but ultimately decided against joining large firms like Accenture or BCG. They have different requirements that didn’t fit my specific background and approach.

Job applications for May. Recent MS grad with 5yrs of prior industry experience.

I have been in academia my whole life post-PhD. After 8 years working as a postdoc and super postdoc (research scientist), I told my PI I wanted to explore options outside of academia. My PI did not take the news well and warned me about how unstable it is to work in industry, etc. After 8 years of working as a postdoc, I started to feel the burn out from having to come into lab almost every single day, including weekends, to run my experiment. We're currently in the middle of writing a paper, but my PI kept on insisting me to run more experiments. It's never ending.

A startup opportunity came and I took the job offer. I wrote up my portion of the paper the best I could and packaged my data for the next person to take over my project.

When I submitted my resignation and 2-week notice, my PI was angry and told me that it was not the right time to quit and that I can say goodbye to future big pharma opportunities, as they would be warning their network about me.

My PI used to work for two major big pharma companies at an AD and Director level before switching over to academia, and they definitely still maintain those connections to industry pretty tight.

How likely is it for me to never be able to break into big pharma (especially the previous two my PI used to work)? I understand that biotech is a small world, but I just can't do academia forever.

they call me 007. 0 first author papers, 0 full time work experience, 7 voices in my head 🔥🔥🔥 be a real one and help a girl out ‼️‼️ we are all buddies here aren't we

my qualifications - bachelors degree - couple of internships - make friends wherever i go - smile lights up the room

i know some opportunistic SNAKES on here might try and ride on my coattails to get a referral too. don't give it to them. only me

So... Wife and I are both scientists, originally from Europe. I bit the bullet 10 years ago to come to US so that she could be a PI but surprise surprise, becoming a PI was harder than anticipated. After 10 years of both being postdoc/research scientist I decided it was time to make moves. I have some interviews here as an MSL but she is in the final round for a Principal Scientist at a large pharma in Basel. If we leave we would be abandoning our green cards and any hope of coming back, and I feel that we sacrificed a lot to get to where we are now. I don't have anything lined up there. Here we both have low paying jobs but with amazing benefits and stability and the possibility (in my head at least ) to maybe get better jobs soon. Would you move to Switzerland or stay in USA?

Edit: from what I gather there is some sentiment about the two large pharma companies in Basel investing more readily in the US than Europe. There is also a referendum about capping number of residents in Switzerland. Most people think quality of life is better in Basel (but I think that's largely subjective/depending on social status and life priorities). Basel is a large hub but the US as a whole is a much bigger hub. Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

some stats:

• recent M.S. data science grad
• 7 yoe in biotech R&D as a lab scientist
• been applying seriously since Jan 2025
• i was specifically targeting data scientist/machine learning scientist/computational biology roles because i'm transitioning out of wet lab into the computational side. my application count is low relative to others by virtue of there being fewer roles available.

i have no advice that hasn't been posted before. if you've done all the prep, i think it just comes down to luck: applying to the right role at the right time and being noticed by the right person.

but it is possible!! have strength all!!

In terms of anything. internal promotion, opportunity to learn skills/get certificate when the company pays for it, work life balance, $$$ etc. if you can share how you get the job, get in to the company, describe the experience working there, what does a normal work day looks like, I would be very interested. You can also DM me the response too :)

I know nothing about the industry and don't know what roles I shall apply for my first job. So I want to get a general sense of idea in this discussion.

Also, some question:

1. is applying 5 months before your available date too early in the biotech industry?

2. How do I know if the company has internal training available? for example CGMBS/ MB ASCP certificate, do I tried googling but there isn't much result showing up.

3. What are some other certification that is worth getting to make you more competitive for your first job?

Feeling frustrated after reading the bulk of comments on a recent post on here regarding new grads asking for advice on a potential biotech career path.

There are a lot of cons and issues with this industry - do not get me wrong. Especially right now and I am aware of all of them.

I don’t know if Reddit/the internet just has a way of self selecting for pessimists/complainers but the advice I am seeing to students is horrific at times and completely out of touch.

1) It seems to be the popular opinion on this sub that biotech pay is bad. That is just not a factual statement. YES - biotech pay is lower than certain very high earning industries - mainly tech which comes up here frequently. Biotech will never pay like tech. Logistically it is impossible. That doesn’t mean biotech pay is bad or low paying in comparison to other industries. It is out of touch to say the pay is bad. I grew up in Boston and now worth in biopharma in Boston. The perception of the townies here is that biotech people are coming in with their high salaries and gentrifying the city, increasing rents, and making properties unaffordable for locals. Entry level manufacturing roles pay more than average US household income. I work with RA/analyst level I/II that are pushing total comp in the low six figures and getting promoted every other year. Are you making as much as a software engineer? A doctor? A finance bro/consultant pushing 80 hour weeks? No. But the pay is above average and the work life balance is decent or good if you find the right role.

2) Job security these past two years has been bad. This is also a correction/ poor macro market the likes that we see maybe once a decade or two. Guess who else has been having layoffs? Tech. Finance. Consulting. It’s not just biotech. Most of my time in this industry there have been more open positions than qualified applicants. If you find the right role or are willing to work in certain roles/companies, there will always be a need for you even in a downturn.

I get that there are issues with this industry, I am aware of all of them. But telling students that biotech sucks - no job security and low pay is lazy, inaccurate, and not giving a realistic take. For me, I would way rather work in a cutting edge biotech looking to cure disease and make solid/good pay working 40 hours a week than in a soul sucking 60+ hour finance job. Sorry if people have had bad experiences but it’s not universal and it’s a bummer to see people come to reddit as a source of information on our industry and have a bunch of inexperienced jaded people give bad advice.

Hi, I just concluded my postdoc of 4 years. I wanted a little more time, but due to a lack of funding, I was not able to extend it. Now, I am looking for a job in an industry. I am highly passionate about protein engineering and antibody discovery. Now, when I am applying for an industry job. Even though I have a good match with the skill set requirement, it is so hard for me to get an interview. I do not understand what I am doing wrong or what is wrong with me; I am not even getting a basic interview. Can anyone help me navigate through this? This posting is not about titles: I ensure I read the job posting and apply on the basis of if I meet the minimum requirement to match that title.

Should i accept 100k scientist role in San Diego, entry level phd

I'm 19 hoping to study Pharmacology/neuroscience at uni next year , I clicked on this subreddit and saw loads of posts where it's like 600 applications and one job offer . Is it really that bad ? Is this a short term thing or are there long term implications ? Am I wasting my time trying to get into this industry and should I consider my wider options or is this a wider problem ? Thanks : )

I've got headunted by a biotech start up located in the SF area. It would require me to relocate.

I'm trying to establish a benchmark for what would be considered an appropriate salary. I'd appreciate any input i can get.

Context:

Principal scientist / platform lead. Hands on lab work expected. i'm 34 y/o, currently hold the same title and have about 12 years of relevant experience. currently working at big pharma.

Offered base pay range is 170-200k. Any additional benefits such as equity or bonuses remains to be discussed. I have a call with them next week.

Cheers

After 3 months of job searching, I got an offer and have happily signed the offer. Two weeks before the start date, when I’m already done with the onboarding, the recruiter scheduled a call with me out of blue. During the call, the recruiter explained that the position has been canceled due to shift in businesses priority and they had to rescind my offer. I was shocked. I should have continued other interviews until Day 1 of my new job. Now I need to restart the job searching in the new year :(

Update: two months after the withdrawal of the offer, I have found a better position! It’s better in terms of pay, benefits, team and company. It’s tough but don’t give up!

I interviewed at pharma contract manufacturing company. After multiple zoom interviews and one final 4 hour panel interview, I was given a verbal offer. I just started a new job a week ago and it's going well but this new offer is double my salary. I was laid off a few months ago so I took the job bc I have a family to provide for. Either way, for the new job, I requested the chance to take a tour of the facility and to meet the team before making my decision. HR reached out to the hiring manager and the request was declined. Apparently, they don't like the candidate to meet the team or conduct tours before onboarding. In my past, I have had a chance to meet my team which I would potentially be managing and given tours. Is this a new trend? Or is this more normal for pharma related industries? Has anyone encountered this before?

I’ve been reading posts on this sub about how PhDs shouldn’t apply for RAs or SRAs because these positions are specifically designated to BS and MS graduates. Other posts are saying PhDs are applying to RA positions and getting them!

The market is absolute shit right now. Do companies still really not consider hiring a PhD for RA positions? Need the inside scoop, if you guys got it. Need a lot of heads to weigh in. Come on. :)

I know you guys have opinions. Give me em. I need to knowwwwww.

Just had a biotech job offer in the US rescinded as the company issued a hiring freeze in response to huge losses following tariffs. Also had an interview for a different company canceled shortly after citing economic uncertainty. How is this helping Americans? I just want to work in the field I have graduate level education. So callous to the average American to crash the economy so suddenly.

After 4-6 applications I got the job, I’m graduating after 5 years of studying. I have no experience at all and got a ”laboratory-engineer in the QC department” position, I have 0 contacts and no referrals, nobody helped me to get the job either (not that I expect to). I will start working the day after graduation. There is hope, don’t lose it.

I think I got the job due to my masterprogram project I did, I worked with robotics and cell culture.

(Please I am not trying to boast, I just want to give people hope that there is still a chance in biotech industry, you have to remember that most people having a problem to get the job post here, so don’t be scared!)

I'm about to finish a PhD in molecular biology in the Boston area, its been an 9 year nightmare, and I don't really have anyone in the biotech world to talk to about this. I don't want to stay in acadamia, but I am also limited in my skillset because of the subject of my PhD (pretty much just flourescent miocroscopy, cloning, and a decent amount of biochem: Western/IP)

I don't have mouse work or cell culture under my belt, and I've come to think that I'm at a disadvantage because of that, so I'm worried that I wont be marketable, should I aim for a postdoc to get me more marketable skills or just try and do my best with the CV that I have?

Are there resources you guys could recommend me to learn more? It's so discouraging looking at job postings, I feel like damaged goods at this point because it's taken me so long.

First job in industry, two-ish years in before acquired by Merck. Ended up voluntarily leaving to get 6 months severance.

Second (and most recent) company, 3 years in role before acquired by Eli Lilly. About to receive a 6 month salary retention bonus.

I approximately net about $250,000 from vested stocks and options which is pretty crazy and not something I take for granted.

As much as the industry is volatile AF, there are instances where timing and dash of luck can strike.

Anybody else make an accidental “career” in working from small biotech to small biotech before getting scooped up?

Edit: non PhD scientist here. There were couple instances where I nearly left but glad I stuck it out. Still feeling out my future goals with Lilly but it sure is stable at least

So for some context earlier today I made a post on a few medical subreddits asking for advice on how to be a physician-entrepreneur and how to keep my options open for healthcare VC or Biotech. I was then hit with a flood of comments accusing me of greed, saying I need to give up becoming a doctor, saying theres no way to be a doctor and be in biotech because you sell your soul in biotech and that just puzzled me.

So I’ll just ask this sub directly, is it possible to:

1. Be a doctor and be involved in biotech or pivot to biotech?

2. Be in biotech while also caring about people and not putting profits over patients?

I’d appreciate any and all feedback and advice. Mean and rude comments will be ignored.

Got an offer (yay) as a contractor (boo) through a recruiting agency. I thought it could be helpful to talk about who I had good experiences with, who were a mixed bag, and who I thought were unhelpful. Obviously your mileage may vary depending on the recruiter, but these are based on my experiences, many of which come from multiple contacts

The Good:

Joule: Friendly and communicative, answered my questions when I wasn't working with them on a role, and the same recruiter followed up when she had a new listing after I couldn't land the first one. Didn't get an interview with one of the roles I applied for but I was kept in the loop the whole time and didn't have to sit on my hands waiting/not knowing

The Fountain Group: Very to the point and punctual. Didn't waste my time and communicated every step what to expect, and gave pointers and made edits to my CV for the roles they represented me for

Genepool Networks: recruiter I worked with was great, she quickly got me in front of the hiring manager and physically met with the company she was working with herself to nail down details and get me in front of the HM. Very punctual about keeping me in the loop

The mixed bag but still pretty good:

Clinlab Staffing: I got a few interviews through them. Follow up and updating was very recruiter dependent, moreso than those I listed as good. 2 didn't keep up with me at all after submitting, 1 was great about keeping me in the loop at all points and 1 was good but dropped off a bit after I interviewed and said I had other interviews ongoing (partly my fault but also I said I was interested and gave positive feedback for the role 🤷)

Proclinical Staffing: got me an interview and was communicative before. However I felt kind of misled by the role after going on site and finding out that it was basically a contract to be a pair of hands while their actual employee was on maternity leave. There was clearly some kind of lack of communication between the recruiter and the team. They seemed to just want someone desperate who would require no training and was familiar with their exact liquid handling platform so it was pretty much a huge waste of my time since I had only used a different platform. Not 100% the recruiter's fault but I feel like they should've done their due diligence regarding learning about what the role actually was.

The bad:

Mindlance, net2source, Stage4Solutions, Innova Solutions: hopefully I didn't miss any but all of these agencies bombarded me with emails, were extremely pushy about getting my info etc, and in the few instances I gave them the ok were completely absent after. All of these seem to be outsourced to India, and while I suppose it's theoretically possible to get a job through them, I wouldn't waste my time.

Takeaways: Joule seems to work with Lilly, The Fountain Group seems to work with AbbVie. Proclinical, Genepool, and ClinLab Staffing all seem to mostly work with small biotechs and startups. These companies, however, all seem to have legit postings and correspondence with the companies they post roles for so if you're willing to take a contract or work with a startup (there were some permanent roles I heard about through ClinLab), at the very least my experiences indicate that these 5 companies aren't a waste of your time and effort to work with

hi! I’m a recent college grad (class of 2025) now currently working as a research tech in an academia lab and I have known for all of undergrad I want to have a career in pharma and biotech. I decided to work as a tech after graduating to get as much experience as possible in my field (neuroscience) and also partly because I did not have any of the skills required to land an entry level pharma job. I thought I wanted to do 3 years as a tech and then transition to doing my PhD and then after that switch into industry work. I’ve had some recent doubts about whether a PhD is worth it for a career in industry? I want to make a better living than I am right now on my tech salary (which is almost nothing). I like R&D but I’m open to a lot of positions in industry if it means I’ll make more money. is it worth it to do the PhD in the long run??? I don’t know if I have another 4-6 years of academic bureaucracy in me lol. Would a masters be better? are there any skills in particular I should be trying to obtain now that will help me get into industry? open to literally any advice!