Basically the title. Was laid off in September and currently trying to get back on my feet. I am using LinkedIn mostly and other job boards as a search engine and then apply on companies websites/portals. Tailor resume, cover letter - whole nine yards. Outcome - zero.

Due to highly specialized biotech flavors, there is probably not a single job I fit 100%. I use AI typically to assess my fit and apply to everything above 80% fit. Outcome - zero.

Reached out to all connections. I do not have too many as I typically focused on work rather than politics. Some connections did refer me to postings in their organizations. Outcome - zero.

Did cold outreach. Outcome - zero.

Talked to multiple recruiters. Had great conversations and more or less they sympathized and that was that. They offered their ear if I want to tell them how it is going. So, outcome - zero.

Is it normal or I am totally inadequate?

I'm 19 year old, going into uni next year at 20. And I'm wondering if I should study Biotech. Because Biology, nature, disease, microbiology has always been a passion of mine.

But scrolling through this subreddit, I feel discouraged. All I hear here is layoffs, AI Job replacement, hyperspecialized Job requirements, harsh working conditions and stubborn ancient Bosses and managers.

I want to study for like 5+ years, get my masters and maybe PhD.

People will really downvotes anything 😭 can't even ask a question anymore.

I'm a recent grad and have been very diligently trying to get my first job in biotech. I've been applying to all sorts of jobs, ranging from very below what I think I should be making to above. Suddenly recently, I've been actually getting calls back (idk if its my resume change or something to do with the time of year?), and now I'm juggling a few different interview processes between different companies.

To put it simply, my second choice has offered me a role today and has given 24-48 hrs to accept. This is an entry-level 6 month contract.

Just today as well, I finished the final interview for my first choice and things seem promising with them. Not guaranteed of course, but very promising! But I wont hear back from them until next week.

To me, the pay difference and working environment just seems so much better with my first choice, and I'd really really like to go with them. But I also feel like declining my second choice is far too risky.

I haven't seen the contract details yet (waiting on that right now), but how sick and twisted would it be if I accepted the second choice role and then changed my mind after a week if I get an offer from my first choice.

I have a problem with feeling too empathetic I think, but I know they have other candidates lined up after me. But I'm also scared that if I accept then they'll go ahead and send rejections to the others? I have no clue what things look like behind the scenes or if me accepting then dropping out really messes with them. My second choice is a large biotech company so I know in the grand scheme of things they dont gaf, but the people I'd be working with were really sweet and I'd feel so bad to screw them over :( but also I need a job so bad right now-- this is the spiral i am in lol

any advice is much appreciated!

2nd Edition of the Pharma R&D and Drug Discovery World Conference (PRDWC 2026) do u think this is worth it or whether it's legitimate

Hi everyone, by some miracle I was invited to an onsite for a bench scientist role at BMS. I am trying to go in prepared and want to get your advice on what helps. I would especially love to hear from hiring managers and leadership people in the same company or other large pharmas. (long shot I know). :) thanks in advance!

I’m a PhD and have been in R&D at a large pharma for 3.5 years and am ready to leave the bench. My department is toxic, my manager is incompetent, and I’ve been explicitly told that I’ll never be promoted unless I find another role elsewhere. I have been trying to pivot into medical affairs unsuccessfully for over a year and finally have an opportunity, but it’s entry-level and would be starting over on the career ladder as it does not leverage any of my R&D background. I unexpectedly stumbled upon a second opportunity in regulatory affairs which would leverage my R&D background and is a higher title. I’ve always written off regulatory until now because I thought it would bore me but I’m realizing maybe I just want to feel valued. So what would you do: take the lateral move into a department you’ve been trying to break into for a year, or a firm promotion into a new area that you hadn’t considered until recently and don’t know you’ll enjoy? What if salaries and benefits were altogether comparable?

With the new Elizabeth Holmes & Nathan Fielder documentary coming out this Friday, I'm very curious to hear from actual former employees on what it was like to work there, and when you realized something was up with the company's strategy.

Hello, I apologize if this is the wrong subreddit for this.

I have been thinking of changing my major into something agricultural related and after scrolling through linkedin i came across this job posting. And I’ wondering if anyone has had experience working in this position or knows someone that has. I have experience in pest control and working at a vegetable processing facility and I’m wondering if it would be a good move. The pay seems good and the requirements don’t seem to ask for anything special

Operate equipment in the research sites and leveraging real time data to maximize existing procedures;
Perform preventive maintenance and inspections; troubleshooting problems associated with equipment, processes, and systems as needed;
Support areas across the plant in driving the adoption of continuous improvement practices and programs (5S, Lean, Six Sigma) conducive to an organized and clean work environment;
Management and coordination of seed inventory for entire process from beginning to end (planting through harvest);
Utilize Focused Improvement (e.g., 5WHYs) techniques to initiate process and standard work improvements;
Provide coaching and training to seasonal workforce, area trainees and peers supporting achievement and personal development;
Ensure upstream activities (e.g., field inspection, grower contract) are handled within company standards and business requirements. Cultivate partnership with key business partners to plant / field operations (e.g., grower network;)
Use SAP to support administrative procedures, documenting key readings, maintenance orders and production information;
Maintain key process documentation (operating, start-up, and shut-down procedures; standard work; process flow and instrumentation diagrams; etc.)
Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to Bayer’s Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) standards (e.g., general shop floor/machine safety and operating procedures;)
Comply with internal procedures and support compliance with legal requirements applicable to area activities;
Participate and prepare to lead Daily Direction Setting (DDS) meetings as needed; articulating shift objectives and allocating resources accordingly across all active production areas;
Support and maintain metrics and relevant information on current Visual Management boards to drive teamwork and facilitate shift change over;
Position entails driving a company vehicle (pooled or assigned to the individual). This may include being required to drive greater than 8,500 business miles annually in a personal, pooled, or rented vehicle OR being expected to frequently drive a pooled car as part of your job duties – regardless of mileage.
 
 
WHO WE ARE
 
Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:
 
 
Required Qualifications:
 
High School Diploma or GED;
Basic knowledge of IT (Internet, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, or facilities with systems;)
Valid Drivers’ License. To be eligible to drive a company car, your driving record must meet guidelines based on the company’s Risk Screening for Hiring Drivers – MVR will be reviewed as part of pre-employment screening;
Must be able to lift, push, and pull 60 pounds regularly;
Ability to workdays, nights, rotating shifts, weekends, and overtime as business needs require.

I graduated last July with a BS Biotech degree. After that, I landed my first job and its in biotech sales! It is purely remote. I immediately started in August, trained for a month and in September, we generated leads and sent cold emails. Fortunately, we have no quota so there’s not much pressure. But the job’s worth is tied to its deals. Until now, I still haven’t made a single sale. Very low email replies. LinkedIn gives me a bit more responses. Somehow, I think there’s something I’m doing wrong or missing a perspective to make a sale. Any tips?

Hoping I can get some feedback on my resume. I luckily currently have a job but it is a contract position with no room for advancement/growth. Ive been applying the past couple months to roles I think Im a good fit for but have only received a few HR screening calls that turn into ghosting. Recently I have applied to a few jobs where I think I am a great fit, like 95% perfect match, but I still get auto-rejections. Any tips? Thanks!

I’m a medical student interested in medtech, the pharmaceutical industry (particularly clinical trials), and health policy. I’d like to get involved with organizations that are genuinely moving the needle, especially at such a transformational time in medicine, and I’d appreciate any advice on where to start and who to talk to.

For background, I was a computer science major before switching to biology as my interest in medicine grew. I have experience working with and analyzing clinical trial data, primarily in psychiatry and dermatology.

The medical student seat on the AMA Board of Trustees interests me, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about the AMA and I’m unsure whether it’s worth pursuing.

I know grades and Step exams matter, and I feel I have a good handle on coursework. I’m mainly looking for advice on extracurriculars that would help me build a more distinctive profile.

Thank you in advance!

I'm an incoming postdoc at Boston children's and I'm hoping to start networking a little now that I'm in a biotech hub. Does anybody have any recs for casual biotech networking or social groups that postdocs can attend (in addition to industry folks)?

Hello! I have a question; I'm starting my first year in uni and I'm studying biotech due to unforeseen circumstances. Though while reading about the course I got interested, alongside the positives I read there were also negatives...like how biotech undergrads can't get entry level jobs without a master's degree? This gives me anxiety and makes me extra skeptical icl, does that mean biotech is the wrong degree to pursue? Cause my plan is to graduate and start working immediately, but if I need a master's degree before anyone hires me then my future is thrown off balance. So yeah, is it really necessary or does it depend on the job I want? And, if it is necessary without compromise what're the other courses I should start looking to switch to that don't require a master's degree before I start working?

Would like to get thoughts on ViiV (GSK). Is it accelerated like a small biotech? How about the Culture and career development potential? TIA.

Hi all, I’m a fairly recent graduate from the University of Washington who just earned a Masters in bioengineering. I’m currently working at Fred Hutch but am really interested in breaking into the biotech industry. I was wondering if anybody knew of any good meetups or networking advice? I would love to hear from others on their experiences and even any possible positions in biotech. Thank you!

Yesterday, X, formerly known as Twitter, was inundated with posts about a new biotech company promising revolutionary innovation through AI and automation... to accelerate x, y, and z... It was already funded with millions. Does it sound new?

Year after year, there is a version of the charismatic leader/entrepreneur with a minimal or total lack of technical or scientific education. CEOs promising things that are (literally) physically impossible. How many times has the revolutionary automation miracle been promised? How many times has a startup promised to cure cancer?

Biotech is hard, very hard. A very capital-intensive business and super risky. Biotech companies have a 10% success rate, meaning 90% will fail within 5 years. Nobody has a magic ball. Nobody can predict what will work and what won't. Every year, science-backed startups are launched and fail; some are never funded. But my point is that over and over we see that investors are fooled by obvious scams, something that a simple panel of scientists can flag the major flaws, unfeasibility, and simply detect pseudo-scientific claims.

Why are biotech investors this naive to fall for it over and over? Are they doing any due diligence at all? Are investors not surrounded by a committee of competent people before writing a check?

My department has finally been asked to return back to office 50% of the time (LVL for me) in Jan. My manager is very lax and even she herself says “I don’t care if you come in or do your work from a movie theatre parking lot.” Of course I know it’s not up to her. Can anyone attest to how strict they are if you miss a day? Or just their flexibility in general?

Edit: thank you to all who answered! Was just genuinely curious.

I’m new to pharmaceutical manufacturing and on both the IT and OT side. I know of the ISPE conferences, and I’m looking for more like the Pharma 4.0 conference that get into the digital automation. What are the other big ones in this space?