BioSpace: Careers for Laboratory Professionals Who Wanna Get Off the Bench: Molecular, Cyto, Histo, Med Tech, etc.

BioSpace is a amazing site for biotech, medical research, and medical news and jobs.  You can search jobs, get the latest industry news, check out the forums, see company profiles, and more.  It’s really just massive.  Anyway, I am thrilled that they’ve published one of my articles about jobs for medical professionals who want off the bench.  It’s also been featured on DeviceSpace (for pathology device and diagnostic news and career opportunities) and ClinicaSpace (medical research).  If you’re interested in a career in medical sales, pharma sales, laboratory device sales, biotech sales, medical diagnostics revenue, pharmaceutical sales, or any other health care sales, you should absolutely check those sites out.

(Here’s the article)

When we go off to college, sometimes we choose a career that just does not satisfy our needs.  Many times scientists with the BS, MS, or PhD in the lifesciences or other science areas discover themselves to be unsatisfied with the career opportunity that they find themselves in a year or 2 after graduation.  What seemed fun and exciting is now boring and oppressive.  Often the love of science and the desire to continue learning is still there, but not the desire to continue in the present career path.  If you find yourself in this position, here’s a list of possible positions for you, complete with brief descriptions where needed.  These positions in revenue, service, and product management exist in all areas of pathology sales:  pharma, clinical diagnostics, molecular, cellular, medical device, biotechnology, histology, laboratory, hospital equipment, and pharma.  If I miss any potential careers, feel free to add them in the comments below.  Okay?

POSSIBLE CAREERS FOR THESE WITH STRONG SCIENCE EDUCATION BUT NO LONGER WISH TO BE ON THE BENCH:

Sales

Inside Sales Positions – These are usually like call centers.  The key here is to be okay with the cold call and to have the optimistic attitude for success.  These career opportunities can be fun and lucrative.  They usually have set hours and require no journey.

Outside Sales Positions – These are usually field-based positions.  They require someone with a lot of self-discipline and of course, that “sales personality.”   These career opportunities can be extremely lucrative and have a lot of flexibility.  Depending on the size of the opportunity, the trip can be daunting.  You should consider going on a ride along if this is interesting to you - see this video getting into pharma sales for more info….  While I’m at it, I have 3 posts that explain different types of pharma sales– Part I, Part II, and Part III, as well as posts on medical sales vs. medical device sales, and how pharma sales compares.

Business Development/Technology Transfer – These positions can range from someone who has a very strong technical understanding who investigates future products or acquisitions to someone who is a super salesman.  You got to clearly understand your personality and specifically the job you’re looking at.  These jobs are all different.  Assume nothing – ask a lot of questions.

Technical Service

Applications Specialists – Usually the “applications” part means that you will help make sure that the assay or test is working.  Your company may provide a platform and your responsibility is to help the customer get their assays working on your instrumentation.  This can be very challenging, and a nice field apps person has to be a great communicator.  These can be high-travel jobs.

Field Service Jobs – This career opportunity is usually responsible for setting up a new system that a customer purchased and troubleshooting when that system is not functioning correctly.  These can be high-travel positions.  (click here for more info)

Field Technical Support – Same as above.

Customer Service – Maybe the company needs an extremely technical person to help the customer purchase the correct products.  This will usually be a phone-based position.  The hours will be set and include very little travel.

Technical Support – In-house – like the field-based position, but without the journey.  Communication skills for this career opportunity are really important.

Product management

Marketing:  Strategic – (It’s important to note the difference between strategic and tactical.)  The strategic marketing person is responsible for figuring out where the company should invest for future products and what the specifications for these products should be.  This is an original-thought kind of person who understands the value of customer feedback and communication.

Marketing:  Tactical – This person usually supports the field sales force with bulletins, pricing, and product training.  Marketing job descriptions that don’t clarify tactical vs. strategic are probably both.  Many scientists pursue the MBA to move into marketing.  Marketing jobs can have a lot of trip.  Be sure to ask about the requirements of every career opportunity.  Never assume anything in the interview process.

Some additional careers you might consider that use your technical background:
Science Librarian
Science Editor
Science Writer
Science Illustration
Quality Assurance

Teaching – You probably know as much about this as I do…BioJobBlog has a post on this, as well as other great info on alternative science careers.
Patent/IP work – Some scientists actually pursue a law degree to marry with the technology.  Every company will have one of these on staff or on retainer.

Can you think of any more?

If you’d like to be considered for revenue, marketing, or technical support positions like these, submit your RESUME to PHC Consulting.

Article courtesy of  Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized pathology and pathology sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
© Copyright 2008 PHC Consulting | All rights reserved

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BioSpace: Careers for Lab Professionals Who Want to Get Off the Bench: Molecular, Cyto, Histo, Med Tech, etc.