Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers wrote this blog for Bio Careers as part of her monthly contributions. To learn more about Bio Careers, see link: https://biocareers.com. To see this link directly on the BioCareers site, see link: http://biocareers.com/bio-careers-blog/importance-elevator-pitch

Have you ever been in the situation where you meet a person who you have never met before, and they ask you for a description about yourself or what you were looking for. They were in essence asking for your "elevator pitch," that is, key information about yourself delivered in a short amount of time. The information should be memorable. What you say will create an impression and will be what the person walks away from the conversation remembering you by. These elevator pitches are wonderful tools to open conversations and provide the person you are talking with a short snapshot of who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for. They should be short (~30 seconds) and highlight key points that you want to get across. They should entice the person you are talking with to want to learn more. They should be clear, concise, and focused. A key point to remember, if the person you are talking with wants to learn more, then can always ASK for more details. These should also be practiced – you want this to come across as easy to deliver and seamless. If you remember anything from reading this article, remember, concise, focused, and practiced.

As you deliver your elevator pitch, you want to be respectful of the listener's time and attention. Remember, people can only comprehend so much information at one time. Giving it to them in short snippets will help them remember what you are sharing with them. It will also make you look more prepared and savvy in the world of networking. When delivering your elevator pitch, don' t make the most common mistake of turning this into a 10 minute dialogue about everything you have ever learned, about your entire research focus, or about why you don't like what you are doing. If you barrage someone with too much information, it will probably turn them off and cause them not to engage in further discussion.

Below is an example of an elevator pitch that could be used for a postdoc who is looking to move into industry. The parts that are underlined are ones that you could replace with your information allowing you to tailor this for yourself.

Hello (PERSON YOU ARE TALKING WITH). My name is (INSERT NAME) I am a (postdoc) at(LIST University) studying (neuroscience – specifically Alzheimer's diseases therapies). I will be finishing up in (6 months) and looking for a (research role) in a (smaller biotech) in the (Boston area). What is your background?

At the end of the pitch, instead of just finishing up talking about yourself, ask them about their background. This will easily lead you into a conversation, and it seems seamless.

Why does this example above deliver key elements about you? Well, it tells a few things.

1. Institutional Link: That you are a postdoc at a certain university. Maybe the person you are talking with also went there or perhaps knows people who are there. This could help with relationship building.

2. Thematic Link: It tells what you are focusing on – in the larger context. People like to hear disease or therapeutic relevance as compared to something like – I study intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Most people will have no idea what this means. More than likely, they won't know that this is related to Alzheimer's research. Start high level – you can always dive deeper into specifics if the person you are talking with asks about it.

3. Timing Link: You mention when you will be finishing up which is helpful in case the person you are talking with knows of companies that may be looking for someone in ~6 months time. It's always helpful to give people an idea of when you may be making a transition especially if you are a student or postdoc.

4. Aspirational Link: You tell them what kind of role you are looking for – Research. As compared to consulting, project management, etc

5. Preferred Organizational Link: You mention that you want to be in a smaller biotech. This enables the person you are talking with to start thinking about who they may know at smaller biotechs who they could potentially introduce you to.

6. Geographic Link: You mention location – Boston – great! Now the person can think about who they might know in Boston. What you don't do here is specifically ask for a job, which is wonderful. Asking specifically for a job makes the conversation awkward. If the person you are talking with knows of a potential opportunity, they will probably mention it to you if they like the dialogue that you are having.

People generally want to be helpful and like to do so. But they can only do this if you make it clear what you are looking for. If you are not sure about what you want, perhaps you modify the elevator pitch slightly to:

Hello (PERSON YOU ARE TALKING WITH). My name is (INSERT NAME) I am a (postdoc) at(LIST University) studying (neuroscience – specifically Alzheimer's disease). I will be finishing up in (6 months) and looking for a (research role or a consulting role) in an(entrepreneurial company) in the (Boston area). What is your background? It's okay to mention that you are looking for a research role or consulting role – this is your time to explore options. By being specific, though, you allow the listener to understand more about what you are looking for. Perhaps they know of people in both types of roles that they can introduce you to.

By changing smaller biotech to entrepreneurial company you still show the listener that you are looking for something smaller. A smaller biotech is an entrepreneurial company, and there are many boutique consulting firms which are entrepreneurial.

Good luck as you go through your process. If anyone has any great elevator pitches or stories about how your elevator pitch worked well, let me know.

On May 22nd, 2012, we will host our 5th Futures in Life Science Event of 2012. The focus of this panel is Clinical, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs focused roles within the life sciences area. We are fortunate to have an esteemed panel of leaders in the life sciences space who will share information about their career paths, what they do, and their insights for individuals starting in their career. The panel includes: Eric Silberstein, CEO, TrialNetworks, Joanne Lager MD, Project Head for PI3K Inhibitors, Sanofi Oncology, and Shawna Cullen, PhD, Clinical Trial Head - Oncology Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. Laurie Halloran, President and CEO, Halloran Consulting Group will moderate the panel. The link to register is here: http://fils52012.eventbrite.com/

The event will be held at the NEW MassBio Offices, at 300 Technology Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139 from 5:30-8:00pm

More Details about the Series:

Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd have joined together to organize a series of networking and panel events focused on raising awareness of career paths that exist in life sciences for individuals with advanced degrees. This Futures in Life Science program will bring together experts across a wide range of disciplines and functional areas within the life science industry, who detail their roles and provide a rich context for the audience to gain a clear understanding of the skills, aptitudes, competencies, and personalities that thrive in their particular functions. Attendance for this program is open to current graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and medical residents who are interested in careers in the life sciences industry. To see other events in the series, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ About the Organizers

MassBio - MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbio.org.

MassBioEd - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, founded in 2001, is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. MassBioEd is closely affiliated with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and helps the Council in fulfilling its goals to nurture the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit http://www.massbioed.org.

Propel Careers - Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm founded in 2009 to foster entrepreneurship and to cultivate leaders in the life sciences industry. Propel recognizes the importance of job creation and career development opportunities to the success of the industry as well as to next generation of industry leaders. The mission of Propel Careers is to make connections that fuel innovation, and we do this through placement, networking, coaching and mentorship. To learn more, visit http://www.propelcareers.com.

Of all the careers available in the life science industry, research and development often seems the most attractive and straightforward point for academic researchers to enter the private sector. But what are the differences between academic and industrial research? What is the best way to get a job at a biotech or pharmaceutical company? What are the differences between working at a startup compared to a large biotech/pharma? A distinguished panel of PhDs from a number of local companies discussed these questions and many others at the Futures in Life Sciences Series held at the new MassBio offices in Technology Square, Cambridge, on April 17th, 2012.

The panel discussion/ networking event series, organized by Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd, was designed to raise the awareness of individuals with advanced degrees to the variety of career paths in the life sciences. The panelists included Kenneth J. Olivier Jr., Ph.D., Director of Toxicology, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Erin Whalen, Ph.D., Lab Head and Project Team Leader, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Greg McKenzie, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Sample6 Technologies, and Heather Blanchette, Ph.D., Director of Nonclinical DMPK and Bioanalysis, Cubist Pharmaceuticals. The discussion was guided by Lauren Celano, Founder and CEO of Propel Careers. Emmanuel College, Averica Discovery Services, and the Massachusetts chapter of the Association of Women in Science sponsored the evening's event.

The experience of the panelists, which spans the industry from startups to established mid-sized companies to pharmaceutical giants, gave the audience valuable insight into how to succeed in these distinct environments. A major difference between academia and industry is the focus on teamwork. Therapeutic development is a more complex, more expensive, and more regulated endeavor than academic research; it requires the coordinated efforts of hundreds of people. Success in industry includes not only performing your assigned responsibilities efficiently, but also facilitating the success of others as much as possible. Companies have a more pragmatic view on data generation: speed and efficiency are more valued than aesthetic perfection.

What are the critical elements for obtaining a position in industrial R&D? Technical competence is the minimal qualification. Unlike academic institutions, companies are focused on delivering tangible products under financial constraints so qualified candidates will already need to have specific skills before applying for a position. As equally important as technical competence is culture fit. As previously mentioned, the team is the functional group of industry, so working well with others on a daily basis is paramount. Nowhere is this more apparent than at a startup, where the success of a fledging company rests on the ability of a very small group of people to overcome challenges large and small, together. In this environment success entails ignoring formal job descriptions and doing even the most menial tasks to advance the big picture as fast as possible.

Teamwork and communication skills play an equally important role in larger organizations. At larger companies individual responsibilities tend to be more compartmentalized than at smaller companies, so teamwork involves working with people not only in different departments, but also at sites often physically removed from your own. Outsourcing and strategic alliances with other companies are becoming more commonplace so the ability to listen and empathize with others is critical.

Given the emphasis on soft skills and teamwork in industry, obtaining relevant experience though volunteering in student organizations, professional associations, or even part-time internships is invaluable for enhancing your resume. These activities also serve as an important source of networking contacts.

The panel unanimously underscored the importance of networking to their professional survival. Like many business sectors nowadays the biotech and pharmaceutical industry is facing economic challenges that have permanently altered the concept of job security. While the industry remains healthy, the new reality is that lifelong employment at a single corporation is a relic of the past, and everybody needs to have a network to call on at all times. While jobs are advertised publicly, hiring managers often fill them based on "warm" personal recommendations from colleagues rather than "cold" resumes. While network connections get you consideration, ultimately the quality of your work and your professional reputation ensures your longevity. Conversely, negative associations are difficult to escape in the closely linked Boston biotech/pharma community, so avoid burning bridges. In addition to general networking events like the Propel/MassBio/MassBioEd Futures in Life Sciences Series, there are also more specific ones organized by professional discipline that are good places to develop contacts in your field of interest.

The next event in the Futures in Life Science Series, on careers in Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs, will be held on May 22nd at the MassBio offices in Technology Square. To register, see link: http://fils52011.eventbrite.com/. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers wrote this blog for Bio Careers as part of her monthly contributions. To learn more about Bio Careers, see link: https://biocareers.com. To see this link directly on the BioCareers site, see link: http://biocareers.com/bio-careers-blog/importance-tailoring-resume-when-applying-jobs

Resumes are important to showcase your "personal brand". They are what companies and individuals see when you apply to jobs. They highlight your skills, tell a story, and explain why your skills are relevant for a particular job. Many times, people create a "standard resume" that they use to apply to jobs and in theory this document is transferable between different types of jobs. While a standard resume is good and the exercise of writing down your experiences and skills is helpful, it is always better to customize this to draw out the specific experiences that you have that are applicable to the specific job that you are applying for. Without this, a company may overlook you in favor of others who are more blatantly obvious.

When people apply to jobs, they are usually one of a hundred or of a thousand applicants. Because of this, it is critical to make sure that your information is clearly presented. You definitely do not want to rely on the ability of the HR person to guess that you are relevant. Therefore using a tailored resume will in most cases, allow you to bubble to the top of the pile, IF your skills and experiences are truly relevant. Tailoring a resume can be as simple as stating the key words that the company is looking for from the job description in your resume under your experiences, as long as you have these experiences. When you send in your resume, companies evaluate not just your hard skills, but your leadership skills and other "soft skills". They want to see that you are a well-rounded person, that you can take initiative, and that you can make the company better for being a part of it. Leadership skills can be gained from leading a student group or post doc association as well as taking on leadership responsibilities in jobs that you may have worked in (whether or not they are related to the final career choice that you pursue). Networking abilities are also valued by companies. The more you get involved in the community, the more appealing you could be to the company. Also important to highlight are internships especially if they are relevant to what you want to do, as well as papers and presentations. Most companies want to see that you have good communication and presentation skills. Typically if someone has presented numerous times, they have this.

As you apply for roles, think about what the reader is evaluating and what they are looking for. Based upon this, tailor your resume to enhance odds of being looked a further. Good luck on the application process.

On April 17th, 2012, we will host our 4th Futures in Life Science Event of 2012. The focus of this panel is research and development focused roles within the life sciences area. We are fortunate to have an esteemed panel of leaders in the life sciences space who will share information about their career paths, what they do, and their insights for individuals starting in their career. The panel includes: Kenneth J. Olivier Jr., PhD, Director of Toxicology, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals; Erin Whalen, Lab Head and Project Team Leader, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research; Greg Mckenzie, Senior Scientist, Sample 6 Technologies; and Heather Blanchette, Director of Nonclinical DMPK and Bioanalysis, Cubist Pharmaceuticals. Lauren Celano, CEO of Propel Careers will moderate the panel.

The link to register is here: http://fils42012.eventbrite.com/

The event will be held at the NEW MassBio Offices, at 300 Technology Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139 from 5:30-8:00pm

More Details about the Series:

Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd have joined together to organize a series of networking and panel events focused on raising awareness of career paths that exist in life sciences for individuals with advanced degrees. This Futures in Life Science program will bring together experts across a wide range of disciplines and functional areas within the life science industry, who detail their roles and provide a rich context for the audience to gain a clear understanding of the skills, aptitudes, competencies, and personalities that thrive in their particular functions. Attendance for this program is open to current graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and medical residents who are interested in careers in the life sciences industry. To see other events in the series, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/

About the Organizers

MassBio - MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbio.org.

MassBioEd - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, founded in 2001, is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. MassBioEd is closely affiliated with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and helps the Council in fulfilling its goals to nurture the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit http://www.massbioed.org.

Propel Careers - Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm founded in 2009 to foster entrepreneurship and to cultivate leaders in the life sciences industry. Propel recognizes the importance of job creation and career development opportunities to the success of the industry as well as to next generation of industry leaders. The mission of Propel Careers is to make connections that fuel innovation, and we do this through placement, networking, coaching and mentorship. To learn more, visit http://www.propelcareers.com.

This blog post is written by Yuly Fuentes-Medel PhD, Propel Careers Intern

On Saturday, March 17th, 2012, the NanoWorcester group had their second annual NanoWorcester Symposium hosted by the Worcester Polytechnic institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA.

Since last year, the attendance doubled, and the attendees joined together to focus on their common scientific interest, nanotechnology. This symposium was organized to exchange ideas on nanoscience, nanotechnology and nanomedicine and to focus on creating new possibilities and cross collaborations in the New England area. Students had the opportunity to share their work not only by showing their scientific work in a open poster session, but also by sharing their ideas in an elevator-speech format that resulted into a great learning experience for them and for the people in the audience. Please look at the following link to look up the future leaders and finalist of the event. http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Physics/AFM/2012.nanoworcester.summary.html

NanoWorcester is a group of faculty members within the Colleges of the Worcester Consortium (COWC) who share an interest in research related to nanotechnology. The goal of the group is to promote interactions and collaborations within the field of Nanotechnology. This year committee members are: Nancy Burnham (WPI-PH), Jianyu Liang (WPI-ME), Reema Zeineldin (MCPHS-Pharma), Alice Gardner (MCPHS-Pharma), Arshad Kudrolli (Clark-PH), Sergio Granados-Focil (Clark-CH), Robert Bellin (Holy Cross-BIO), Ananta Adhikari (Assumption-Natural Science)and Eihab Jaber (WSU-CH).

The day started with Dr. Nancy Burnham the leader of this year organizing committee and associate professor at the department of Physics at WPI. She welcomed everyone, encouraged students to ask questions and provided the logistics for the day. Then Dr. Jianyu Liang an assistant professor at the department of mechanical engineer at WPI introduced Dr. Selçuk I. Güçeri, Dean of Engineering at WPI. He welcomed everyone and thanked Dr. Burnham for taking the led on this initiative. He referred to the historical perspective of the field of nanotechnology and encouraged the group to reflect on what things can we do that we couldn't do before. Also, Dr. Karen Kashmanian Oates, Dean of Arts and Sciences also shared her enthusiasm and support for this initiative. She wished the best to students for choosing this exciting field as their future.

The morning program included a variety of different topics. Dr. Christopher Lambert, from the Bioengineering Institute at WPI started the session with his talk titled "Self-Assembled Monolayers as Chemical and Biological Sensors". The second topic was presented by Dr. Evelyn Kurt-Jones from UMass Medical Center. The title of her talk was "Size and Shape Matter: Studying the Immune Response to Synthetic Microparticles". She was followed by Dr. Gerard D'Souza, from MCPHS Boston, who presented "Organelle-Targeted Intracellular Delivery". All of this exciting science is being developed in the local laboratories of central Massachusetts. In addition, this year, the symposium had two invited speakers. Dr. Thomas Vogt, from the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at USC, share his new findings in this talk, "Imaging at the Nanoscale". His talk amazed the crowd with imaging data and analyses at the level of single atomic resolution. He was followed by Dr. Heinrich Hoerber, from the University of Bristol, UK. He presented his work titled "Molecular Motors and Force Microscopy". His findings and research lead to a model of the way motor proteins interact in the cellular environment. The afternoon was mastered by the talent of students who shared their ideas with the audience with enthusiasm and joy.

Congratulations to this inspiring group for enabling the students to dream and make science happen. Just like last year, this was an amazing opportunity to learn from the presenter's scientific ideas and enthusiasm. Their vision to foster the advancements of science within the central MA area is admirable.

On March 20th 2012, over 100 graduate students, post docs and medical residents joined us at Genzyme Center in Kendall Sq Cambridge for the 3rd Futures in Life Science Event of 2012. To view a picture video from the event, click here: http://video214.com/play/NhVWW108Sbi20irU03SPQw/s/dark. Below is the blog writeup from the event.

Many people involved in academic medicine and research are interested in shifting to more business-oriented positions in the private sector. However, the path to such careers is unclear. How do you convince prospective employers of your qualifications in a discipline with which you have limited experience? The March gathering of the Futures in Life Sciences Career Panel, presented by Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd, discussed these questions and more. It concentrated on Marketing, Product Management, and Business Development careers. The panel included Catherine Thut, Ph.D., Director, Strategic Alliances, Ophthalmology, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Eric Olson, MBA, MS, Senior Associate, Genzyme Ventures, Frank Deane, Ph.D., Founder, Lumleian, LLC, and Maude Tessier, Ph.D., Licensing Manager, Technology and Innovation Development Office, Children's Hospital, Boston. John Hession, J.D., Partner, Cooley LLP, contributed his wealth of experience to the discussion as well as moderated the panel.

The answer to the primary question, "How do I get into a business-related position from academia?" is in short, networking. While there are many jobs posted on the Internet, a significant number of the desirable ones are not. Getting an interview "cold" by simply submitting a resume online is difficult when you are qualified, but as an academic with limited business experience it is even harder. A "warm" connection through a personal referral is much more likely to get your resume the attention you want. For hiring managers a referral reduces the burden of choosing amongst similarly qualified applicants. It also indicates that a candidate has the basic interpersonal skills necessary and motivation to navigate the business world. It is worth keeping in mind that networking is not only about finding potential job leads; it is also about meeting potential mentors or advisors or future colleagues. Conversely, as part of a network you should endeavor to "pay it forward," by offering assistance wherever you can.

Another common question for academics looking to transition to business roles was "How do I get the business experience that hiring managers want?" Taking classes in a business school is one possibility, but there are more informal avenues to gaining knowledge. Seminars offered by the MassBio committees on finance and business development are one route. John Hession is in the process of organizing a "Business Development for Scientists" seminar series through MassBio that will begin this May. Another method for academics to obtain some relevant experience is to intern at your institution's technology licensing office.

Are there advantages or disadvantages to working for smaller startups vs. larger, more established corporations? Simply put, the tradeoff is typically opportunity for stability. Since younger/more entrepreneurial companies operate with only critical staff, there are opportunities to assume responsibilities outside your experience level. At a larger company you may not have as many chances to expand your competencies and upward mobility may be slower, but you are more likely to receive formal training and guidance. Alternatively, choosing to work for smaller divisions at a large corporation may provide some of the experiential advantages of a startup. For your career development, try to get involved in projects that involve many different internal groups to maximize your exposure to different business aspects and build your network within the company. Regardless of your organization size, it is important to understand how you add value to the greater enterprise. Do not just focus on your assigned responsibilities, but try to see where you can make the greatest contribution overall.

While technical competency is important in business positions, "soft" people skills are even more important. Every panel member affirmed the importance of being able to understand people's needs, listen, empathize, and communicate with others to execute their responsibilities. Business is a human enterprise, which means you need to convince people of your viewpoint and build consensus in a group.

The next event in the Futures in Life Sciences Series, on careers in Research and Development, will be held on April 17th at the new MassBio offices in Kendall Square. To register, follow this link: http://fils42012.eventbrite.com/

Lauren Celano, CEO of Propel Careers, wrote this blog post for MassBioHQ to provide career insights for individuals in their job search. To see the original post, click here: http://massbiohq.org/2012/03/13/guest-post-by-lauren-celano-of-propel-careers-focus-focus-focus/

Quite often, people ask me for advice regarding their job search and, in particular, whether there is something universal that companies look for. In my experience, there are a few universal qualities aside from the obvious (e.g. honesty, intelligence, hard work). One that comes up over and over again is "Focus." Focus is one of the most important characteristics that companies look for when evaluating potential hires. Moreover, focus is critical for all aspects of your job search, from start to finish.

Focus is more than applying for the right job. Focus is about knowing what you want to do, why you want to do it and, most importantly, being able to articulate your thoughts. This focus should be evident in your resume, cover letter, and social/on-line presence. If you can't make it perfectly clear why you are a good fit for a particular role, chances are you won't get a second look.

Focus Your Goal

As you approach your job search, you need to constantly be asking yourself what it is you want to do and why. This will go a long way in keeping you focused on your search. Self-awareness and situational-awareness are critical to all successful job searches. Take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses, the pros and cons of potential career paths, and your long term goals. This will help you stay focused on relevant roles and accelerate your career search.

If you are not sure what you want to do or if you are choosing between a few different options (i.e. research or project management), then conduct informational interviews with people who are actually in these roles. Informational interviewing is a wonderful way to find out if a specific role or company would be a fit for you. If an interviewer asks why you are interested in the company or the role, he/she will respond positively if you mention that you did a lot of soul-searching, networking, and informational interviewing which provided you with the context to know why this opportunity is a perfect fit. I cannot stress enough that companies want to hear that you know what you want to do and that you are focused on what you are looking for.

Focus Your Passion

When you apply for jobs, companies want to see that you are passionate about the position that you are applying for. They want to see that you are eager to join their team and excited by doing the activities of that position. I know this sounds incredibly basic, but so often, it is hard to assess whether people who are applying for roles are really interested and relevant.

It is also important to think about the types of people you would like to work with, including but not limited to:

- Ideal management style

- Your preferred company culture

- Size/stage of company

Attention to this type of detail will allow you to focus your search on only those opportunities that could be a fit for you. (Every minute you spend applying for positions that are not a good fit is time that you could have spent perfecting your application for the position you really want. If you are guilty of sending out resumes with generic cover letters in bulk, hoping that something will magically stick, STOP.) Focus your efforts on positions you are truly interested in and, equally important, that are a good fit.

Focus Your Scope

Try not to apply for multiple types of jobs within the same company. This will make you look unfocused and could discredit your application for any and all of the jobs. For example, if you apply for a research job, a project management job and a business development job, within the same company, with the same resume and cover letter, the company will wonder if you are actually serious about any of these. Instead of contacting you, they will most likely contact other applicants who seem much more focused in their search.

Focus on Relevancy

As you begin applying for different roles, apply only for ones that you are relevant for. If you are applying for a role that is a reach, explain why you are relevant. Don't just gloss over it and assume that this will be obvious to the HR person(s) reviewing your resume. Trust me, it will not.

Focus Your Resume

When applying for jobs, ensure that your resume and cover letter are tailored for each role. I can't stress this enough. If you are applying for a research role, make sure your relevant research experience/techniques are front and center. If you are applying for more business focused roles, send a resume that reflects more of your business experience and training. You want companies to see that your background is a fit. If you have the right skills to fit their job description, then make it clear and tailor your resume and cover letter to the job. It's that simple.

Focus Your Presence

LinkedIn is important. Don't give mixed messages. If you apply for a research role, an HR person may look at your LinkedIn page after you apply to learn more about you. If they do this and see that most of the emphasis is on business development, finance or other non-research areas, they might doubt the sincerity of your research interest and go with a stronger research-focused candidate. Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your job interests.

Focus Your Pitch

My last piece of advice for today is that everyone should have a 10-30 second "elevator pitch" ready when someone asks, "What do you want to do?" If you cannot come up with a succinct pitch, then you should do more research to solidify what you want to do and why. People generally want to help individuals get connected and find the right opportunities, but it is really difficult to do this if you cannot articulate to them what you want.

In Conclusion...

The key to any successful venture, including looking for your next big thing, is first and foremost FOCUS, second FOCUS and finally FOCUS! Finding a new career can be daunting, but it can also be a wonderful opportunity to discover your passion for an exciting new career. With focus comes tremendous opportunity!

Join us on March 20th 2012 for our next Futures in Life Sciences (FILS) Event which will discuss an overview of Life Sciences Career Paths in the commercial side of the industry. These areas include Marketing, Product Management, and Business Development. This event will occur at Genzyme, located at 500 Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 from 5:30-8:00pm. To register: http://fils32012.eventbrite.com/

Background on the FILS Series: Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd have joined together to organize a series of networking and panel events focused on raising awareness of career paths that exist in life sciences for individuals with advanced degrees. This Futures in Life Science program will bring together experts across a wide range of disciplines and functional areas within the life science industry, who detail their roles and provide a rich context for the audience to gain a clear understanding of the skills, aptitudes, competencies, and personalities that thrive in their particular functions. Attendance for this program is open to current graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and medical residents who are interested in careers in the life sciences industry.

Meeting Agenda:

5:30pm-6:00pm – Registration and Open Networking

6:00pm-6:10pm – Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors

6:10pm-7:30pm – Panel Discussion Moderator: John Hession, Partner, Cooley LLP Panelists: Maude Tessier, PhD, Licensing Manager, Technology and Innovation Development Office, Children's Hospital Boston; Eric Olson, Senior Associate, Genzyme Ventures; Frank Deane, Founder, Lumleian, LLC; Catherine Thut, Director, Strategic Alliances, Ophthalmology, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

7:30pm-8:00pm – Open Networking

About the Organizers

MassBio - MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbio.org

MassBioEd - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, founded in 2001, is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. MassBioEd is closely affiliated with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and helps the Council in fulfilling its goals to nurture the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbioed.org

Propel Careers - Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm founded in 2009 to foster entrepreneurship and to cultivate leaders in the life sciences industry. Propel recognizes the importance of job creation and career development opportunities to the success of the industry as well as to next generation of industry leaders. The mission of Propel Careers is to make connections that fuel innovation, and we do this through placement, networking, coaching and mentorship. To learn more, visit: http://www.propelcareers.com

Do you like being presented with new challenges on a weekly basis? Do you want to make immediate contributions to real-world problems? Do you enjoy immersing yourself in the details and the big picture at the same time? Then maybe you should consider a career in consulting!

The February meeting of the 2012 Futures in Life Science Seminar Series, organized by MassBio, MassBioEd, and Propel Careers marked the start of career panels focused on particular disciplines in the industry. To see a picture video of the evening, click here: http://video214.com/play/GDmq7c9b9CW5jKMvu7NW1Q/s/dark. Career paths in consulting was the topic of discussion in the Whitehead Institute auditorium in Kendall Square, and consultants from five different life sciences/health care consulting boutiques shared their insights into the profession to an attentive audience of over 110 participants. The panel, expertly moderated by Rob Lowrance, Senior Recruiter, Life Sciences, Collaborative Consulting, included Claudio D'Ambrosio, Director of North American Operations, Deallus Group, Joseph Feingold, Senior Associate Consultant, Putnam Associates, Marc Hochstetler, Director of Decision Science, Lumleian LLC, and Gary Gustavsen, Manager, Health Advances. The Deallus Group and Lumleian LLC were generous enough to sponsor the evening.

The term "consultant" can mean different things to people. Deallus, Putnam, Lumleian, and Health Advances are boutique firms that provide strategic advice to the life science/pharmaceutical/health care industries. They differ from large management consulting firms like Bain and McKinsey not only because they focus on the life science industries, but also in the kinds of problems they solve for clients. The difficulties and costs of discovering therapeutics and diagnostics, as well as the unique constraints imposed by the FDA and health insurance companies require unique knowledge and experience that specialist consultancy firms are better positioned to provide than larger management consulting firms. Life science consultants are hired to advise clients on how to position their product research, development, and marketing resources to best minimize risk and maximize return. Some projects the panelists have worked on include determining the market and competitive landscape for a vaccine for a rare disease, determining the commercialization and regulatory strategy for bringing a circulating tumor cell detection platform to market, and advising companies on the best way to bring preclinical drug candidates through clinical trials.

Panel members universally touted the variety and breadth of their work for clients and the collaborative work environment as favorite aspects of their profession. Projects typically last a matter of weeks so new challenges arise frequently and must be approached as teams to meet tight deadlines. Many of the panel members described their consulting experience as equivalent to an earning an MBA in a compressed, accelerated manner. Due to their smaller size, boutique firms tend to offer less formalized training than their larger counterparts and expect employees to learn on-the-job. Time-management and multi-tasking are important, as consultants at these firms must work on multiple projects simultaneously. However, boutique firms also tend to offer a better work/life balance than general consulting firms because of more reasonable hours and less travel.

A cooperative approach and excellent communication skills are central to success as a consultant. The ability to navigate the uncertain and imperfect information of the business world with an easily conveyed, logical approach is also important. Good consultants balance an appreciation for specific detail and nuance without losing sight of the client's "big picture" goal. Often much of the value-added proposition of life-science consulting is given to clients through presentations and meetings, so interpersonal skills are of paramount importance. Like most professions nowadays, networking plays an important role in obtaining a job at a boutique consulting firm. Boutique consulting firms have different cultures and approaches so learning about as many as possible increases the likelihood of a complimentary fit for both the firm and a job candidate. Participation in a graduate consulting club is helpful to learn the "case study" methodology that is common to the profession.

The next event in the 2012 Futures in Life Science Seminar Series, on Commericalization (Marketing, Product Management, and Business Development Career Paths) will be held in Kendall Square on March 20th. To register for this event, or learn about the other events in the series, check our events calendar at: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/

About the Author: Ben Leung is currently a postdoctoral associate in the Neurobiology department at UMass Medical School.