You want to work for a biotech company. How do you find the most innovative ones?

To figure out where your passions lie within the vast field of biotechnology, you could take these steps: Consider Your Interests: Are you drawn to medicine, problem-solving, or making an impact? Explore Subfields: Investigate medical, agricultural, and industrial biotechnology to find your niche. Seek Information: Use online resources, introductory courses, and conferences to gain deeper knowledge. Reflect: What excites you the most? What problems do you want to solve? Your answers reveal your passions. Remember, this is a journey! Your interests may evolve over time as you gain more experience.

In my view, innovation should be a result of one's efforts to add value. In that respect, the first thing you should focus on is to recognise the kind of value you wish to add, where you want to do that, and how. This should help you to align your purpose and interests with that of the organisation you are interested in, increasing the scope of innovation!

Aside from being in a company, it is also important to understand what group you'd like to be a part of. For example, the profile of someone who is an expert at cell culture is very different than a person who is interested in analytical chemistry. Furthermore, not all companies can be strong and world-class at everything. So it is crucial to understand within the company who can be a mentor to develop your career.

In my journey of following leaders in the biotechnology industry, the first thing I did was to pinpoint the companies and individuals who consistently demonstrate innovation, quality, and impact. I began by consulting reputable industry rankings such as Fierce Biotech's Fierce 15. Additionally,I keep track of influential CEOs, researchers, and investors shaping the field; their insights on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter offer valuable perspectives. Also, I pay attention to companies receiving significant awards.

If you are reading this, you are probably doing this already. Consume content and contributions shared by established industry professionals, you might just get refined insights into the organisation's operations and latest happenings. Connecting with thought leaders and getting actively involved with the community will help to strengthen your views on a particular organisation and nurture a deeper network.

Exploring the startups in the biotechnology space can be daunting as there are a ton of startups, traditional startups, new startups doing disruptive and ambitious work. However, it is wise to separate the reality from hype and carefully study the trends in the space to ensure you join a company that will give you the time to get your feet on the ground before the hype dies and the next round of layoffs come around.

Biotech startups need to be innovative by nature, otherwise there wouldn't be a business case for them. In addition to the resources already listed here, you can also find them in the portfolios of life-science investors, at pitching events, and in Science Parks and Incubators. Keep in mind, working at a startup is fast-paced and exciting, but you will give up the security that comes with working at a larger company.

Networking with the experts is the next logical step after following leaders to discover where the industry is going and looking at the startups in the space. It would be wise to get a premium subscription to Linkedin- connection notes help when sending connections. Succinctly introduce yourself, state your background and interests and express your desire to expand your network in the space.

Showcasing your skills can be tricky- it depends on your level of experience in the space. However, the rule of first principles always works. In a fast paced world, with AI tools at our disposals, there is information overload and skills being showcased daily. However, your ability to present your understanding of the ethos of the biotechnology industry, the most basic problems in the space and how solutions have evolved over time in your unique way will help standout.

Right now, showcasing your skills and building your brand on LinkedIn is a very strong way to distinguish yourself from others. Share thoughts and insights on the industry and interact with the content of other thought leaders and potential employers. Innovative biotechs typically embrace social platforms. So being active yourself shows that you are aligned and increases your exposure which can help your chances of being hired.

The 3 P's are needed in the search for the most innovative biotech companies. 'Proactiveness', 'Persistence' and my personal favourite 'Patience'. Keep going at it, keep putting yourself out there, keep learning and everything will work out in its time.

The first of everything is the most difficult. First internship, first job out of college, first job if transitioning into a different field, etc. For each of those transitions, I have easily applied to 100 opportunities EACH! Now I am transitioning to creating my first company... So don't give-up! It may be hard, but only hard things are worth doing!

If you have a bad experience in an innovative company, not all companies are bad. If you have had a good experience in an innovative company, not all companies are good.