Alternative Careers in Life Sciences
(What are your options after your
Bachelor of Science degree ?)
Outline of Workshop
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What services does CAPS offer?
What can I do with my studies in Life Sciences right
after I graduate with my BSc.?
What can I do with my studies in Life Sciences with
additional education/training or experience?
What are some alternative careers for BSc. grads?
How am I going to make a decision about going onto
grad studies or moving into the work force?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What CAPS Has to Offer
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
 CAPS Job Listings Database
for full-time, summer and parttime jobs and internships at
www.caps.mcgill.ca
 On-campus recruitment in fall
and winter
 www.workopoliscampus.com
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CAREER EDUCATION
 Individual advising
 Workshops
 Career Resource Library
 Website
 Mentor Program
 PACE Program
 Job Finding Club
 Career Week & Month
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Traditional Educational Paths for B.Sc.
Life Sciences Majors (2 options)
1.
Medicine and Other Health Professions
(Professional Schools)
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Medicine
Dentistry
Nursing
Physical & Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Veterinary Medicine
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McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Traditional Educational Paths for B.Sc.
Life Sciences Majors (2 options)
2.
Career Physiologists, Biochemists, Biologists,
Microbiologists/ Immunologists (Graduate
School – M.Sc., Ph.D.)
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Academic Setting (CEGEP teacher, University Professor,
Technology Transfer)
Research Institutes (Clinical, Basic Sciences, Lab
Manager)
Government Agencies (Health Protection, Environment,
Science Policy)
Research Funds Administration
Private Industry (Biomedical, Pharmaceutical,
Environmental, Technological, Regulatory Affairs, Patent
Agent)
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McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employment Paths in
Science Right After Graduating with a
B.Sc.
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“Bench” work
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Lab Assistant
Research Assistant
Bacteriological Technician
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Clinical Assistant
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Field Research
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Working in Agencies and
Governments
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Clinical work
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Working in the
Food/Beverage Industry
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Biological Researcher
Ecologist
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Food Technician/
Technologist
Working in Sales
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Water Quality Inspector
Pest Control Consultant
Hunger Policy Analyst
Pharma Salesperson
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Employer Categories In Sciences
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Hospitals (Royal Victoria)
Private Clinics (MDS Pharma)
Research Institutions
Universities and CEGEPS (McGill, Dawson)
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology industries (Merck Frosst)
Food & Beverage/Fermentation industries (Maple Leaf, Labatt)
Chemical Industry (Dow Chemicals)
Energy industry (Petro-Canada)
Cosmetics (l’Oréal)
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Alternative Careers
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Law (Patent Law,
Environmental Law;
Medical-device product
liability Law)
Medical Illustrator
Journalist/Broadcaster
Technical /Science
Writer
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Management
Consultant
Marketing Manager
Public Relations
Consultant
Investment Advisor
Entrepreneur/Business
Developer
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
How are you going to make a decision
about going onto grad studies or
moving into the work force?
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A)
B)
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To help make this decision, it is important to
do some self-assessment:
What are my interests, values and goals?
What are my skills?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
A) What are my interests & values?
(Soul-searching)
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Start by asking yourself some basic questions:
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Why did you do your degree?
What motivates you?
What is your dream job?
What is important to you?
What are your ambitions/goals for the future?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
A) What are my interests & values?
(Soul-searching)
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Figure out what drives you:
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Different people require different exercises
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What makes you happy?
Where do you get your greatest satisfaction?
Personality tests
Feedback from family, friends, colleagues
Personal exercises
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Geographical
Preference
This exercise
is best done
in pairs –
with a friend
or your
partner.
For each of
the
categories at
right, make
lists
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Working
Conditions
Special
Knowledge
Transferable
Skills
People
Environment
People, ideas,
information, data
& things
Goals,
Purposes and
Values
How much are
you worth?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Personal
Traits
B) What are my skills?:
What did I learn at McGill anyway?
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Technical (hard) skills
Transferable (soft) skills
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Analytical / Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
Ability to synthesize / Deal with Complexity
Technical Writing / Report Writing
Research Methodology / Data Analysis Techniques
Computer Skills / Simulation
Organized / Thorough / Precise / Detail Oriented
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Make the decision
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The self-assessment that you undertake is
very valuable and will help you whatever
your decision
To be successful, both grad school
applications and job applications require that
you know yourself very well
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What are the best strategies to use to
get an employer to hire me or a grad
school to accept me?
1.
Know what you have to offer:
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your interests (do some soul-searching)
your skills (technical & transferable)
be able to express them in your CV and at an interview
Research the employers/schools to find out what
they are looking for
Make the match between your skills and their
needs
Network, network, network
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What are employers looking for?
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All the technical and transferable skills
mentioned earlier PLUS….
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Negotiating / Communication Skills
Leadership skills
Teamwork / Business Acumen / Honesty
Adaptability / Reliability / Autonomy
Good Work Ethic
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Researching the Employer
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All successful job searches are based on extensive
research on the career area, the industry and on
specific employers in which you are interested
Your Goals:
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Figure out the fit between your skills and interests and goals
and available fields of employment.
Research the employer before you establish contact.
Set up a timetable with specific goals and deadlines
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Research: First Step –
Start Looking
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A. Web and Print
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CAPS Library
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B. Public Events
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Books on Careers
Directories of
employers
Career Fairs
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Websites
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List of Websites from
CAPS
Jobboom,
workopoliscampus.com
Company sites
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Have specific questions
about the organization
Personal appearance
and manner
Information Sessions/
Career Panels
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Try to get names and
make acquaintances.
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Research: Second Step –
Conduct Information Interviews
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What is an information interview?
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An meeting with a person who works for an
organization of interest to you, or who has the
kind of job you are looking for
The goal of the meeting is:
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Find out as much information about the
company/position as you can
Communicate your skills and interests
Obtain additional contact/people in similar positions in
other companies
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Some typical information
interview questions
What was your career path?
What do you do on a daily basis?
How did you get there?
What is your organization/industry all
about?
What exactly do you do?
How did you get your foot in the door?
What was you academic background?
What skills do you need for your job?
What do you love about this job?
What are you most challenged by?
What do you dislike about the job?
What is your schedule like?
How do you feel about your work/family
balance?
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How much time is administrative? w/
clients?
What professional development
opportunities do you have?
Where do you see yourself going from
here?
How might I position myself in this
field?
Re-credential?
What skills do I need?
Résumé suggestions? How might I
market myself more effectively?
Given my credentials, what income
range could I expect to start at?
Can you recommend professional
organizations/publications with
which I should become familiar?
Can you recommend anyone else that I
should talk to?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Conducting Information Interviews
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Do:
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Be clear and direct about the
purpose of your interview
Dress appropriately, treat it
like a professional interview
Be prepared to talk briefly
about your skills
Stay focused in your
questions and be mindful of
the time
Follow-up with a thank-you
note
Don’t:
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Ask for a job
Discuss you or your
research at great length
Offer your C.V. unless they
ask for a copy
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Network, Network, Network
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Develop a networking mindset:
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Be curious, social and open-minded, overcome
shyness
Schmooze with people you like, be genuine.
Find similarities in interests
Work on your interpersonal and telephone skills
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
More Networking
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Where do I start networking?
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Who do you know?
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Other settings:
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Personal relationships
Professional relationships
Organizational affiliations
Career fairs
Professional associations and conferences
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Finally:
Increase Your Marketability
Extracurricular Activities
 Take a leadership role in any club, sport or student
association
Volunteer Work
 Participate in any volunteer or political association
that interests you
Career-related Work
 Get a paid or unpaid job or internship in a careerrelated field – part-time or summer
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McGill IYES Program; Industrial Practicum (IP)
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Increase Your Marketability
Examples of Jobs/Internships
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Research Assistant (see CAPS website)
Laboratory Assistant / Technician
Tutor
Assistant Pharmacist
Sales/Customer Service
Undertake Additional Training
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During or after Graduation
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
CAPS Contact Information:
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Erick Curti – CAPS Career Advisor
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Gregg Blachford – CAPS Director
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398-3304 ext. 0762
erick.curti@mcgill.ca
398-2940
gregg.blachford@mcgill.ca
www.caps.mcgill.ca
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)