Looking for advice to break into my career.
October 27, 2014 8:27 AM Subscribe
I am really hoping for some advice to help get me my first entry level job in a lab. Preferably relating to my forensic science/chemistry degree.
Background: I have a BS in forensic science/chemistry from a small school in Pennsylvania. After graduating, I moved home to Denver, Colorado and waited a year before trying for Grad school. After two years of applying to the local grad schools, I am feeling very lost. Over the years, I have applied to different entry level jobs. I find that most jobs requiring a BS also want at least one year of lab experience. I have applied to jobs that only require high school diplomas and am still having trouble getting interviews, to say nothing of landing the job itself. I have tried using a couple of temp agencies and only received job offers for non lab jobs. I’m currently working in manufacturing and I really need my first lab job. I have not applied for any phlebotomy jobs because I don’t think I am particularly qualified for them, nor am I sure that I could handle drawing blood.
I am considering trying to get some sort of lab certificate, such as ISO. Will this actually help? Is there a better certificate? I feel very unsure that a certificate would help distinguish my resume. Are there other ways to help improve my resume to get my first lab job?
The other hope of getting a certificate is that I could network during a local class, but that seems like a shot in the dark. Since I went to undergrad in another state I do not have any solid network in Colorado. I have family here, so I am very reluctant to relocate. I feel like my only option is to desperately attempt to network. What sorts of networking should I be doing? Take undergraduate courses at local colleges? Inquire about lab jobs in grad schools?
Background: I have a BS in forensic science/chemistry from a small school in Pennsylvania. After graduating, I moved home to Denver, Colorado and waited a year before trying for Grad school. After two years of applying to the local grad schools, I am feeling very lost. Over the years, I have applied to different entry level jobs. I find that most jobs requiring a BS also want at least one year of lab experience. I have applied to jobs that only require high school diplomas and am still having trouble getting interviews, to say nothing of landing the job itself. I have tried using a couple of temp agencies and only received job offers for non lab jobs. I’m currently working in manufacturing and I really need my first lab job. I have not applied for any phlebotomy jobs because I don’t think I am particularly qualified for them, nor am I sure that I could handle drawing blood.
I am considering trying to get some sort of lab certificate, such as ISO. Will this actually help? Is there a better certificate? I feel very unsure that a certificate would help distinguish my resume. Are there other ways to help improve my resume to get my first lab job?
The other hope of getting a certificate is that I could network during a local class, but that seems like a shot in the dark. Since I went to undergrad in another state I do not have any solid network in Colorado. I have family here, so I am very reluctant to relocate. I feel like my only option is to desperately attempt to network. What sorts of networking should I be doing? Take undergraduate courses at local colleges? Inquire about lab jobs in grad schools?
If you can, volunteer in a lab. Send out a resume/cover letters to PIs, or through the HR department at an institute. Gaining experience is key, and volunteering will introduce you to a larger network of contacts that can help you get a job later on. I was in the same boat as you after I graduated from college, and volunteering is exactly what jumpstarted me out of limbo.
posted by extramundane at 9:13 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by extramundane at 9:13 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Check State, Federal and Local jurisdictions.
There are also private industry gigs. Here's a random one.
If you have a college degree, apply for the jobs asking for experience. You never know. It's not like they'll be mad at you about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:27 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
There are also private industry gigs. Here's a random one.
If you have a college degree, apply for the jobs asking for experience. You never know. It's not like they'll be mad at you about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:27 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Anecdotally, my government forensic lab has more than once posted jobs requiring experience but ended up downgrading to an entry level position if they didn't find a higher level candidate, so you might as well apply.
posted by Flannery Culp at 9:56 AM on October 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Flannery Culp at 9:56 AM on October 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
You could try temp agencies. Also pharma is almost always looking for new lab techs and maybe with that experience you could move to your dream area. Good luck!
posted by Kalmya at 10:46 AM on October 27, 2014
posted by Kalmya at 10:46 AM on October 27, 2014
My sister has a BS/MS in forensic chemistry. She worked at the county morgue (in California) as a morgue attendant while in college and to gain experience in the field. Apparently she has had several colleagues move from that position into a forensic lab position. She decided to stay with the position she has since she likes fieldwork as opposed to labwork (apparently real forensics bears little resemblance to CSI :)). YMMV and this is 2nd hand and from memory :).
posted by elmay at 10:48 AM on October 27, 2014
posted by elmay at 10:48 AM on October 27, 2014
Oh just realized you said you tried temp agencies. A qa job in pharma could quickly turn into a lab job with a positive attitude. The pay is okay but it's not super exciting. But other people's boredom may allow you to move around quickly.
posted by Kalmya at 11:07 AM on October 27, 2014
posted by Kalmya at 11:07 AM on October 27, 2014
Its generally accepted now that graduate schools have been accepting and graduating too many people in the sciences. The reasons are manifold, but one of them is that the funding was available, and grad students are cheap labor (like $6-7/hour cheap).
One result is that jobs for lab technicians in an academic research setting have become increasingly rare and poorly paid. This, unfortunately, probably also has an impact on related jobs in the private sector.
As for what you can do about it, I think the first thing is to reconsider your job search approach. Combing job listings and sending in resumes doesn't generally work well when you are underqualified and/or its an employers market. People will be looking for any reason they can to cut down the number of applications they've received to a smaller set for serious consideration and then interviews. You need to find a way to get past that initial screen.
Another thing to look at is, as others have noted, whether your resume and cover letter are presenting you in the best possible light for the jobs you are applying for.
Finally what jobs are you applying for, and where? I don't know if Denver has any major pharma, specialty or industrial chemical manufacturers, but I imagine that it has employers that serve the petroleum industry in some way. I don't know if mining/metals are as big as they used to be, but I can't imagine that they've vanished. Medical diagnostics labs are pretty ubiquitous. There is probably also a bump in analytical chemistry and general quality control work in service of legalized pot sales. It may be though, that there are other areas with more demand for your skills.
All of them are probably going to be looking for similar fundamental skills as well as industry-specific skills. The thing is, that they may all have their own language for talking about general skills. You'll do better at getting interviews and getting offers if you can learn more about the language of the various niches and presenting your skills in those terms.
Don't rule out relocating, but don't do it until you pretty sure that the move will be worthwhile. One strong indication of strong demand for your skills in an area is if you can get interest in your resume without having relocated first. However, not getting interest from afar doesn't necessarily mean that the market isn't strong from your skills.
More broadly, any familiarity with stats you picked up might be applicable in other areas, like analytics/reporting, which are generally needed across industry.
Best of luck. Getting your footing after college can be challenging, especially these days, but something will click if you keep trying and adjusting.
Whatever you do, don't go to grad school without a really clear idea of what you expect to get out of it. If you just do it to kick the can down the road, chances are good that you'll be in this same position again in a few years.
posted by Good Brain at 11:44 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
One result is that jobs for lab technicians in an academic research setting have become increasingly rare and poorly paid. This, unfortunately, probably also has an impact on related jobs in the private sector.
As for what you can do about it, I think the first thing is to reconsider your job search approach. Combing job listings and sending in resumes doesn't generally work well when you are underqualified and/or its an employers market. People will be looking for any reason they can to cut down the number of applications they've received to a smaller set for serious consideration and then interviews. You need to find a way to get past that initial screen.
Another thing to look at is, as others have noted, whether your resume and cover letter are presenting you in the best possible light for the jobs you are applying for.
Finally what jobs are you applying for, and where? I don't know if Denver has any major pharma, specialty or industrial chemical manufacturers, but I imagine that it has employers that serve the petroleum industry in some way. I don't know if mining/metals are as big as they used to be, but I can't imagine that they've vanished. Medical diagnostics labs are pretty ubiquitous. There is probably also a bump in analytical chemistry and general quality control work in service of legalized pot sales. It may be though, that there are other areas with more demand for your skills.
All of them are probably going to be looking for similar fundamental skills as well as industry-specific skills. The thing is, that they may all have their own language for talking about general skills. You'll do better at getting interviews and getting offers if you can learn more about the language of the various niches and presenting your skills in those terms.
Don't rule out relocating, but don't do it until you pretty sure that the move will be worthwhile. One strong indication of strong demand for your skills in an area is if you can get interest in your resume without having relocated first. However, not getting interest from afar doesn't necessarily mean that the market isn't strong from your skills.
More broadly, any familiarity with stats you picked up might be applicable in other areas, like analytics/reporting, which are generally needed across industry.
Best of luck. Getting your footing after college can be challenging, especially these days, but something will click if you keep trying and adjusting.
Whatever you do, don't go to grad school without a really clear idea of what you expect to get out of it. If you just do it to kick the can down the road, chances are good that you'll be in this same position again in a few years.
posted by Good Brain at 11:44 AM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, I totally agree with the advice to apply for jobs even if your skills and experience fall short of the listed requirements. Job listings are often aspirational. Given the choice, most employers would love someone with 5 years experience in everything the job requires who is willing to work for minimum wage. Of course, most of the time, they aren't going to get that, and they'll have to make compromises.
15-20 years ago, I was about to be laid off my job and I was looking at whether to take my career in a new direction. I was interested in finding a way to combine my background with cell & molecular biology with my interest and skills with software/computing. I hit upon bioinformatics, and was thrilled to find a well funded local bioinformatics startup. I was discouraged to find that all their job listings seemed to require a masters or better in computer science AND a PhD in genetics, biochemistry or molecular biology. I was pretty sure that there couldn't be more than a few people who met those requirements, and figured that at some point, they'd have to rethink their plan to staff the company with magical unicorns. I didn't apply though, and before the company had their epiphany I'd taken a new job.
A few years ago, I met someone who would have met the requirements at the time. I asked him for his take, and he agreed with my original assessment, there were only a handfull of people with those qualifications back then, and indeed, many bioinformatics companies ended up finding different ways to to staff up.
posted by Good Brain at 12:07 PM on October 27, 2014
15-20 years ago, I was about to be laid off my job and I was looking at whether to take my career in a new direction. I was interested in finding a way to combine my background with cell & molecular biology with my interest and skills with software/computing. I hit upon bioinformatics, and was thrilled to find a well funded local bioinformatics startup. I was discouraged to find that all their job listings seemed to require a masters or better in computer science AND a PhD in genetics, biochemistry or molecular biology. I was pretty sure that there couldn't be more than a few people who met those requirements, and figured that at some point, they'd have to rethink their plan to staff the company with magical unicorns. I didn't apply though, and before the company had their epiphany I'd taken a new job.
A few years ago, I met someone who would have met the requirements at the time. I asked him for his take, and he agreed with my original assessment, there were only a handfull of people with those qualifications back then, and indeed, many bioinformatics companies ended up finding different ways to to staff up.
posted by Good Brain at 12:07 PM on October 27, 2014
I've posted this before but I will again. Posting from the perspective that one of my earliest jobs out of undergrad was in a lab, I was in a lab during grad school, and I have hired students part time to work in a lab in the past. The main ways that I know to get in are through universities/hospitals and I can't speak to other domains/places.
So when I hired students, I did not have the time to go looking for them. The ones I picked were from the two that came directly to my office. So I would suggest the following.
-Find out all the hospitals and universities in your area that hire lab techs, research associates, etc. Usually there is a central place (like an HR) to turn in your resume. If you are by a large university/med school, I think it is easy because there are many, many labs... but that is step one. Don't worry about your experience, just turn in your general resume and fill out the applications. (This was actually how I got into my first job in a lab long ago/right out of uni)
-If this doesn't work, now is step two. Find out where the biology offices are and general departments for medical schools, universities, etc. Go to the general office and ask if they know if anyone is hiring/recently got a grant and if so, who is this person (this was how one student found me long, long ago - and was one of two applicants). IF it is permissible, knock on different lab doors and just ask if anyone is hiring (this was how the second applicant found me).
-I think that another more impressive way to get in (and I've seen people do this). Go to the "about you" page for the faculty and look through their research. Anything strike your interest? IF it does, email the faculty and give a BRIEF few sentence intro, tell them that you are intersted in area X, you are looking for a job, and could you talk to them for (whatever time period ...30 minutes, let them pick). IF someone agrees, go read a paper or two. Now go in with questions, smart directed questions. I know that people have gotten in this way.
-If this is still not working, then volunteer. This is the way I have seen many undergrads get into labs (as in they volunteer for a few hours/week for a semester or two, and are then hired). Even within the last couple years, I have talked to people who have hired people this way, too. In fact, if you are volunteering and get offered a few labs - pick carefully. CAn you get your name on a paper? What kind of techniques can you learn in that lab? Etc.
Also, nthing the suggestion to consider moving if you cannot find many lab jobs in your area. However, think about these two things - 1) you might want to pick places that are dense with med schools/universities/hospitals, blah blah blah and 2) if you can, find out the pay scale. To be honest, in my experience, it didn't pay well but it was okay for right out of college - but from friends over the years, I know that in some states it is at an economic amt that ...it would be difficult to even live in the city where you are working(as in seriously, minimum wage), whereas other places, the salary at least matches the city and the standard of living is okay. One good thing if you end up getting employment via a university or med school is that classes are usually free (not many, but a couple a year), so you can check out other programs, classes, etc.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 1:09 PM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
So when I hired students, I did not have the time to go looking for them. The ones I picked were from the two that came directly to my office. So I would suggest the following.
-Find out all the hospitals and universities in your area that hire lab techs, research associates, etc. Usually there is a central place (like an HR) to turn in your resume. If you are by a large university/med school, I think it is easy because there are many, many labs... but that is step one. Don't worry about your experience, just turn in your general resume and fill out the applications. (This was actually how I got into my first job in a lab long ago/right out of uni)
-If this doesn't work, now is step two. Find out where the biology offices are and general departments for medical schools, universities, etc. Go to the general office and ask if they know if anyone is hiring/recently got a grant and if so, who is this person (this was how one student found me long, long ago - and was one of two applicants). IF it is permissible, knock on different lab doors and just ask if anyone is hiring (this was how the second applicant found me).
-I think that another more impressive way to get in (and I've seen people do this). Go to the "about you" page for the faculty and look through their research. Anything strike your interest? IF it does, email the faculty and give a BRIEF few sentence intro, tell them that you are intersted in area X, you are looking for a job, and could you talk to them for (whatever time period ...30 minutes, let them pick). IF someone agrees, go read a paper or two. Now go in with questions, smart directed questions. I know that people have gotten in this way.
-If this is still not working, then volunteer. This is the way I have seen many undergrads get into labs (as in they volunteer for a few hours/week for a semester or two, and are then hired). Even within the last couple years, I have talked to people who have hired people this way, too. In fact, if you are volunteering and get offered a few labs - pick carefully. CAn you get your name on a paper? What kind of techniques can you learn in that lab? Etc.
Also, nthing the suggestion to consider moving if you cannot find many lab jobs in your area. However, think about these two things - 1) you might want to pick places that are dense with med schools/universities/hospitals, blah blah blah and 2) if you can, find out the pay scale. To be honest, in my experience, it didn't pay well but it was okay for right out of college - but from friends over the years, I know that in some states it is at an economic amt that ...it would be difficult to even live in the city where you are working(as in seriously, minimum wage), whereas other places, the salary at least matches the city and the standard of living is okay. One good thing if you end up getting employment via a university or med school is that classes are usually free (not many, but a couple a year), so you can check out other programs, classes, etc.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 1:09 PM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Wolfster's right on. Also, most universities have their own job boards (search for DU's hr or careers page, for instance), and those jobs either don't get cross posted to aggregators or are posted on the university page long before they hit something like Indeed. So be sure you're checking the job sites of each potential academic employer directly, if you aren't already.
posted by deludingmyself at 1:51 PM on October 27, 2014
posted by deludingmyself at 1:51 PM on October 27, 2014
« Older Do you know a website or magazine that sells "new"... | Space-saving furniture and storage for... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Have you looked at places where you might be able to volunteer? A professor who needs some part-time assistance, a non-profit or educational group that needs volunteers? Experience trumps certificates in almost every case, and there are ways to get experience without getting a full-time job.
Bigger picture, here's something to keep in mind about job searches:
- If you can't find jobs to apply to, you're probably looking in the wrong places.
- If you're applying and not getting interviews, it's because of your resume.
- If you're getting interviews, but not having your referenced checked, it's because of how you come across during the interview.
- If you're getting your references checked, but not getting offers, it's because of what your references are saying.
- If you're getting offers, it means all the above lined up right.
You're attributing your inability to get interviews to lacking experience, which might be the case, but it could also be a result of your resume, cover letter, and how you're coming across. Get someone to take a look at them for you and give you feedback; it could make more of a difference than you realize.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:56 AM on October 27, 2014 [5 favorites]