With strong demand out there for life science consultants, many of you may be thinking about fresh starts, new opportunities and new career goals.
At LSC, we live and breathe the life sciences industry and love nothing more than working with our contractors to help achieve their goals. If your career goals for this year include searching for a new contract role, we would love to help you with that. Here’s five top tips for your job search, from our expert resourcing specialists:
1 – Be clear on what you want
Before you begin your search, take some time to understand what’s driving you to change roles. Make sure you’re clear on what you want (and don’t want) from your new role, including what the deal-breakers are. Remember, this is entirely personal, and there are no ‘wrong answers’ here. You could be looking for career advancement, experience with new technology or a new project, a better culture fit, or simply a shorter commute. Whatever your reasons, knowing what your priorities are is critical to achieving your goals and finding the right role for you.
2 – Research, research, research!
Research the company and role before applying or interviewing for a new position. LSC will give you all the latest information on our client companies, but don’t be afraid to do your own research also. Consider digging deeper and taking this a step further by using additional resources, such as www.fiercepharma.com which provides you with the latest news and trends shaping the industry.
The application and interview process can be a significant commitment, so it’s best to consider all aspects as early as possible to decide whether the opportunity is a good fit for you. Revisit your deal-breakers and consider things like the contract length and commute, and how these will impact your life. If you’re considering relocating for the role, you’ll need to consider other factors, like the housing market, cost of living and amenities in the area, costs of relocating, and impact on family and social life.
We’ve worked through many of these questions with our consultants before and have expert knowledge on the locations of key life science hubs, so just ask us for help if you’re considering whether an opportunity is right for you.
3 – Build your professional brand
Your personal professional brand is something that you build over time and it’s crucial to be aware of how you’re seen by others. You can think about this on two levels – the micro and the macro:
- Micro – Once you have a particular role in mind, it’s time to go through your CV. Hiring teams are increasingly adopting automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in their hiring processes, using computers to quickly filter and screen out candidates at application stage. To ensure that your application doesn’t get screened out, make sure that you integrate the keywords from the job description and showcase how your skills align with what the position demands. Don’t worry if you need a helping a hand with your CV, our resourcing experts will review your CV and advise you on layout and content. Looking for more CV tips? Have a read of our recent blog which includes 5 tips on how to craft a compelling CV.
- Macro – It’s not all about spec, CV’s and keywords though. There will always be a human element to consider. Do you feel confident about how you come across in interviews? How do your current teammates see you and how are you seen within the wider industry? To ensure you’re building on those human elements in the long-term, you should always consider topping up soft skills such as communications, teamwork and critical thinking regularly. Our culture of continuous of learning at LSC means that you will have plentiful opportunities to build on these skills as we regularly offer soft skills training to our consultants.
4 – Sell yourself with specifics
When preparing for applications, interviews, rate negotiations and possible promotions, it’s essential to have a few examples of achievements and wins at hand that illustrate your capabilities and skills. These should also be highlighted on your CV.
As well as having the CV up to date you need to be willing and enthusiastic to talk about the specifics of what you’ve delivered, including any facts and figures, equipment names and processing terms that help illustrate and back up your professional achievements.
5- Don’t let questions go unasked
This goes hand in hand with doing your research, but also applies to asking questions during the interview process. If you’re not prepared to ask questions during an interview, you risk missing the opportunity to gain deep insights into what is expected of you in the role. At LSC, we will spend time working closely with you to prepare you for an interview. This will ensure that you make the most out of interview and know exactly what to expect. We will also advise you on some of the questions that you could potentially ask which will help determine whether the opportunity is the right fit for you.
We’d also recommend you cast the net wider and take advantage of your networks. Many people will be happy to share advice and experiences of making a similar career move – be it with the same company or location or taking on a similar role. Their personal unbiased views could be invaluable in helping you make your decision.
New to LSC?
Established in 2003 and dedicated to the life sciences sector, LSC’s resourcing team has access to the best project opportunities in the industry. We’re here to understand your motivations and continuously connect you to projects that align with your career ambitions.
If you’re interested in joining our professional team of life sciences consultants, search the latest contracting opportunities and get in touch with your updated CV on [email protected]