Will Cure Dengue Fever for Food!

May 20, 2013 12:40 AM

So I've spent the past year and a half burning through my severance package as slowly as I could, accomplishing some things, learning some stuff and generally getting my soul back. Now I'm feeling the urge to find a job and do science again, but I'm serious about the do science part. Help me rebuild my resume to get something I can live with.

So I'm an analytical biochemist with ≈20 year of industry experience. While there I was paid very well. Unfortunately, after an extended parade of of mergers, acquisitions and layoffs it really felt like our motto was "There' never time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over!" and that the data I was producing would get hand-waved away by certain project managers. It was pretty soul crushing.

In the last year I've reevaluated my situation and priorities - I've got a really good retirement nest egg built up and I should never need to tolerate that much job dissatisfaction in exchange for mere money ever again. Right now I'm looking at some positions at university research labs, but I think they're seeing me as a guy who is going to bolt the moment a "real" job comes along, when, in fact, I'm a guy who wants to do science and if I never have to argue about how mediocre a validation can be before the FDA throws a yellow flag, I will consider my life well lived. How do I say that in a resume and cover letter?

Secondary question - how do I describe the evolution of my job over two decades through three different corporations. Is there a point in making it clear that I parked in the same parking lot through the whole thing or does it matter?

posted by Kid Charlemagne to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Given that you're an experienced professional looking to make a career transition (even though it's a small one) and that you have what could be viewed as a non-standard work history, this is one of the handful of situations where I'd recommend hiring a pro CV person with experience or specialisation in the sciences.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:52 AM on May 20, 2013 [2 favorites]

I have been in a similar situation. My wish to take a much less well paid and stressful job was associated with severe mental health problems. The approach that worked was to be totally open and honest at application and interview. Eventually I was employed by an organisation that values my skills and is totally embracing of my peculiarities. I wish you luck.
posted by BenPens at 3:16 AM on May 20, 2013

I will suggest that you may want to consider working for the CDC here in Atlanta? The Government is a pretty amazing employer with great benefits and good pay.

One thing I'd do in a cover letter is discuss how after a fulfilling term of employment in the private sector that you now want to concentrate on research in the public sector.

I did something similar when I was laid off after a career in telecommunications. I explained that I wanted to shift into a different job role and that I didn't want too much responsibility. I've had NO trouble landing positions that have allowed me to learn my new skills. Also, most interviewers seemed charmed that I was ready to go into a semi-retirement.

I've had great success with the narrative that I've made my comfortable nest-egg/retirement, and now I want something that gets me out of the house. The exact phrase I've used was: "You know, at first it was novel, but after about a month, I started getting ideas to make outfits for the cats, and you know, I've got to get out of this house."
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:35 AM on May 20, 2013 [2 favorites]

Well, it ain't Dengue, but my oncologist tells me that researchers are now addressing the possibility of finding a cure, or perhaps even a vaccine, for Myeloma. They aren't quite there yet, so for now, it's the same-o-same-o. That might be a soul-restoring job to get in on, eh?

I'll be waiting.
posted by mule98J at 10:10 AM on May 20, 2013