Job hunting for snowflakes

August 7, 2016 7:58 PM

I'm looking for a new job, in Quality Assurance or Scientific Affairs, FDA-regulated industry (food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals), in the US. What's your best advice for a mid-career, older person on finding and getting a good job in those fields, specifically? Maybe you'd be willing to critique my resume? More about who I am and what I hope for, inside.

Hi AskMe!

I am a Scientist in Scientific Affairs at a large dietary supplement/foods company, and before that I was in QA at drug company, and before that QA at a cosmetics company. I like my current job OK, but am at daggers-drawn with my new manager. I can't see that relationship improving much, so it's time to move on. I tried looking internally, and that may yet bear fruit, but I don't want to wait for it. So...

How do you search for a mid-level job in 2016? I'm looking on LinkedIn and Indeed -- where else should I be looking? Is there a website that gives the names of all the companies in my chosen industries in my area? How do I find start-ups?

And what should my resume be saying? I have heard that your should tailor your resume to each job to which you apply -- but that is very time-consuming, and would necessarily cut down on the numbers of jobs I can apply for in a week. Is there a happy medium? Please memail me if you are willing to critique my resume -- I would love to know what it says to someone who doesn't know me!

Does anybody read cover letters? Those must be tailored to the job, I understand. Any tips?

What about headhunters? Do they hunt heads down in the $90K/year range? Career coaches? It is a point of pride with me that my resume and my professional website (under construction) are my own work, but I am not (as you can see!) averse to advice! If you can recommend someone in the greater LA/OC area, I'd love to hear about it.

My central problem, I think, is that I make decent money without a graduate degree or managing people -- and I would like that to continue. Also I'm 46.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

posted by pH Indicating Socks to Work & Money (3 answers total)

I can't speak to your industry in particular, but in my experience lots of those higher-paid, mid-level type jobs are largely filled via networking and word of mouth. Do you have a network of people who works in your field who you could start feeling out jobs with? Are there meetups or other similar events you could go to?
posted by Itaxpica at 8:29 PM on August 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Is there a website that gives the names of all the companies in my chosen industries in my area? How do I find start-ups?

You are probably already aware of many of these, but here is a list of employers who participated in the 2016 BIO Convention career fair. There is also a ginormous list of all the exhibitors.

I know what it's like to be in an unbearable work situation, but if you can wait it out, there's next year's 2017 BIO Convention, being held at the San Diego Convention Center.
posted by invisible ink at 9:04 PM on August 7, 2016

One of my best friends just went through a job search very similar (personal demographics, similar field and position level) to yours. I can't speak to your region, but in the Northeast, Itaxpica's advice is dead on. Reacquaint yourself with old coworkers and colleagues with whom you had good relationships, and let them know that you're looking to move on. You're at a point where some of your colleagues from previous jobs might have chosen a different professional track, and be interested in hiring you because you're a known quantity...or they're in a position to recommend you to someone who's hiring.

My friend has also tried headhunters and did get interviews, but ended up getting her second-last job from an ad in a publication put out by a professional organization similar to ASQ's. There are a few QA professional associations, apparently, so there may be some detective work to find out which one is most active in LA/OC.
posted by gnomeloaf at 7:15 AM on August 8, 2016