Dr. Richard Cook, former Vice President in Astra Zeneca and a Mentor/Organiser speaks about applying for a job in Life Sciences.

1. Applying for a job in Life Sciences
– from CV to Interview part 1 of 3
Part 1. Six characters in search of an interview – a CV for Life Science
Why do you need a CV and what should it do for you? Our experienced
speaker Richard Cook takes you through the basics of a successful CV, tailored
for the Life Science indutry.
Richard Cook holds a PhD in Parasite Immunology from Imperial College and has
over thirty five years experience working in the Pharma-/Biopharmaceutical
Industry in the UK, USA and Sweden. He has a background in Cellular
Immunology with specialist knowledge of respiratory and allergic disease plus
practical experience in all aspects of pharmaceutical drug discovery and
development. Richard has extensive management experience leading multi-
national project teams and facilitating industrial-academic collaborations. For
over 25 years he has been mentoring scientific staff including PhD students and
post-docs. He is currently an independent Consultant.
MentLife seminar 8 December

2. Richard M Cook
December 8, 2015
Six Characters in Search of an
Interview
A CV for Life Science

3. The Good News!
• Unemployment level for PhD’s is low (approx
2%)
• PhD’s consistently earn more than those with
only a first degree, at all stages
• Basic annual salary of PhD’s in industry is
higher than that of full-time employees in
academia and more than twice that of post-
docs (US data, 2012)

4. 1970's 1990's 2010's 2015
Relative Change in Number of PhD’s graduating
and Positions available in Industry over time
new PhD's new positions
Number of Science Doctorates increasing by 40% per decade (OECD countries)
300,000 people laid off in pharma industry between 2000 – 2010 (Forbes)
Pharma industry 2nd ’ golden
age’ driven by Bioscience
revolution
Consolidation and downsizing

5. Job Prospects for Newly Qualified PhD Scientists in the US
Jordan Weissmann 2013

6. Why Do I Need a CV?

7. The Importance of First Impressions
Why a CV for Academia is not the same as a CV for
Industry
Companies expect more than Scientific Excellence
What are Transferable Skills and do you have them?
What kind of Background Research have you done?
The all-important Cover Letter

8. Your CV should be Consise, Focussed
and Free from Errers
First Impressions Count

9. Include the Basics
• Contact details
• Career objective statement (optional)
• If included, should be short and precise
–  To obtain a full-time position in a global pharma company
that utilises my expertise in mass spectrometry
–  To contribute to the alleviation of global suffering
• Education and Academic Qualifications
• Professional Experience (including teaching experience)
• Publications & Presentations
• Interests

10. Some Things you may wish to Avoid
• First line of application:
– Your search is over, I’m the man (sic) for the job
• Under ’Interests’
– Drinking with my friends
• Why do you want to work in Pharma?:
– I’m interested in scientific research and I would
like you to pay for it

11. Do’s and Don’ts
Do
– Use the CV as an opportunity to describe
yourself and to distinguish yourself from others
– Record things in reverse chronological order
– Use active phrases – lots of ’I’
– Modify your CV to reflect the job you are
applying for
– Make sure your CV is easy to follow and ’tells a
story’

12. Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t
– Use jargon, formulaic statements or obscure
abbreviations

13. Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t
– Use jargon, formulaic statements or obscure
abbreviations
– Mislead
– Have gaps in your history
– Use someone else’s CV (or cover letter) as a
template
– Worry if you think your CV looks too thin

14. Know the Difference between a CV for
Industry and a CV for Academia
Are you applying for a job
in Industry or University?

15. CV’s for Industry
General Rules
• CV should be short, sharp and to the point
• Emphasize how your knowledge & achievements
can be applied
• Focus on skills necessary for the job you are
applying for
• Understand why companies often prefer Generalists
to Specialists
• Include non-scientific accomplishments
• Emphasize transferable skills

16. Understand What Companies Expect
and Why
Are you worth investing in?

17. What do Companies Expect of New Applicants?
 Very good degree and a PhD (or about to be awarded a PhD)
 Track record of peer reviewed publications. A record of presenting
at scientific meetings is expected
 Candidates must be highly proficient in verbal and written English
with outstanding communication skills
 A basic understanding of drug discovery and development
 Track record of pro-activity and creativity which has made an
impact on the work of others
 Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
environment and mentor less experienced colleagues
 Scientifically curious with a demonstrated ability to propose and
explore new technologies

18. Ask yourself
–Why should someone spend 2 years investing
in me before any return on that investment?

19. Do You Have Transferable Skills?
Skills for Life

20. • Teamwork
• Decision-making
• Communication
• Working to deadlines
• Leadership
• Managing others
• Resolving conflicts
• Budgetary responsibilities
• Problem solving
• Clear thinking
• Evidence of creativity,
• Data management and interpretation
Transferable
Skills
• Relevant to the job you are applying for
• As applied as possible
Scientific
Skills
Employers are often more interested in your ability to anticipate
and solve problems than in your specialist knowledge

21. • Attributes You Should
Possess
– Hard-working
– Reliable
– Team player
– Dedicated
– Passionate
– Strategic thinker
– Results-driven
– Dynamic
• Words You Shouldn’t Use
on a CV
– Hard-working
– Reliable
– Team player
– Dedicated
– Passionate
– Strategic thinker
– Results-driven
– Dynamic
?

22. Do Your Homework and Improve your
Chances
Importance of Background Research

23. • Send your CV to companies and ask to be put
on their records
• Talk with company scientists at
national/international meetings
• Utilise experience already gained and seek
new skills outside of academia
• Update LinkedIn etc. profile
• Work with mentors from industry or
academic mentors with industrial experience
What
To Do
• The drug discovery and development process
and where you fit into this
• The company you want to work for – past,
present and future
• Differences in motivation between scientists in
Industry versus Academia
• Why broad-based skills are often preferred to
specialist skills
• Be aware of the current job market
What
To
Know

24. To Post-Doc or not to Post-Doc?
Consider a post-doc position if:
• The career path you have chosen demands it
• Having completed your PhD you still lack relevant knowledge and/or skills
• You are having problems marketing yourself appropriately
What kind of post-doc position should you consider?
• Industry-sponsored preferred
• Choose a different topic from your PhD
• Different university from 1st or 2nd degree
• Prestigious university and top-rated department
• It won’t make getting a job any easier – you will just be competing with a
different set of people!
In the US <10% post-docs get tenure and many of the remaining
90% regard a job in industry as a second-best alternative. It isn’t!!
In the UK only 7 out of 200 people completing a Science PhD will get
a permanent academic post and only 1 will become a full
professor (Royal Society 2010)

25. How Important is the Cover Letter?
Starting to Get Personal

26. • Always include a cover letter along with your
CV when applying for a specific job
• This should be as personalised as your CV
An application for a job to construct
siege engines for Ludovico il Moro,
Duke of Milan, 1482
Can you do better?

27. Is your Cover
Letter as
personalised as
your CV?
Have you done
your Homework?
What Transferable
Skills can you
demonstrate?
Do you know what
Companies expect
of you?
How and why do
CV’s for Industry
and Academia
differ?
What 1st
impressions does
your CV give?
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Judgement

28. Adapted from: Ryan Raver, 2015
Skills
Value
Personality
Customer &
Team Focus
What You Need To Demonstrate

29. End
‘I present myself to you in a form
suitable to the relationship I wish
to achieve with you’