Careers for lab professionals who want to get off the bench: molecular, cyto, histo, med tech, etc.

clinical laboratory, sales, position, hiring, career, recruiting, pharma, health care

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 find 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 job, here’s a list of possible jobs for you, complete with brief descriptions where needed.  These positions in sales, service, and marketing exist in all areas of clinical sales:  clinical, medical diagnostics, molecular, cellular, clinical device, biotechnology, histology, clinical laboratory, hospital equipment, and pharma.  If I miss any potential careers, feel no cost to add ‘em 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 Jobs - 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 jobs can be fun and lucrative.  They usually have set hours and require no journey.

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

Business Development/Technology Transfer - These career opportunities 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.  Those career opportunities are all different.  Assume nothing - ask a lot of queries.

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 positions.

Field Service Positions - This job is usually responsible for setting up a new system that a customer purchased and troubleshooting when that system is not functioning correctly.  Those 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 career opportunity.  The hours will be set and include very little journey.

Technical Support - In-house - like the field-based job, but without the travel.  Communication skills for this job are really important.

Marketing

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 those 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 career opportunities can have a lot of voyage.  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 sales, marketing, or technical support positions like these, click here  to submit your information to PHC Consulting.

Article courtesy of  Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized clinical and pharma sales recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
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