Dear Biotechies, Are you doing it right?

Today marks my half-year completion with Merck Life Science and about 3.5 years as a working professional.

'Little time', one would say. But, I believe learning and growth are not a measure of time alone. Time flies! More so when you remain curious and cherish what you do in its entirety.

"???????????????? the ????????????" phase is usually nerve-racking, especially in a niche domain as Lifesciences with limited guidance available to develop job-ready skills as a graduate. Our curriculum does perfect theoretical knowledge but there's little to no clarity on the practical skill set often sought by hiring companies. The best to do is to fight the odds on your own.

Trust me, in these competing times, the mental pressure to secure a job as well as stay true to your instinctive passion can be overwhelming. A lot of time goes into gauging what real-world job options do I have or do I even make a fit? We've all been there. Isn't it?

But my tiny career made me ardently believe in the importance of an open mindset, multi-tasking, a Never say No attitude and always being connected with science - no matter what.?

This also means that all you should ???????? ???? ???????????????????is your ?????????????? ??????????????????, ?? ???????? ???????????? and ????????????????????.?I outline below some essentials for your career mapping process (of course these are a reflection of my own personal experience and it can really vary person-to-person).

• ??????????????????. Find your inner calling - Are you inclined towards research and development or do you often find an excuse to run away from your college experiments? Figuring this out early will let you run a long mile in a satisfactory career.
• ????????????.?Rigorously Follow industry and academia leaders and see what they share, talk about and what their skill set is. Follow your dream companies and regularly keep a check on their innovation, people updates and jobs. It's all too easy - Thanks to LinkedIn!
• ????????????. Invest time and energy in developing your hard and soft skills. Not just any random skill but something that adds great value to your role of interest. For eg: If you plan a career in an R&D lab, you should definitely participate in internships and hands-on workshops that will help improve your precision in handling lab instruments and techniques. Likewise, If you plan a career in Marketing/Product Management/Sales, develop a basic understanding by enrolling on specific online courses to hone yourself.
• ????????. This never goes out of style. If you don't read, you rust. Always keep an eye on the latest trends and discoveries in your field of interest. Reading widens our mind. The right content to talk about comes when you read enough. Subscribe to magazines/websites like Biospectrum , Gen News , Fierce Biotech etc.
• ??????????????.?Attend relevant seminars, webinars, trade shows and conferences and interact with professionals from the industry to broaden your reach. Show your zeal & thirst for learning new things. Nothing beats a person with a hunger to be better each day.
• ??????????????.?Finding the right mentor appears as easy but I think this is the toughest. Associate with people who challenge you and make you realize your unknown potential. Don't just simply be flattered by an experienced leader, instead, keep questioning. The more you grill, the better-filtered advice you get (That does not mean I endorse asking every small thing. That's where careful Google research helps).

While there's no sure shot formula to finding a decent job with a nice working culture, remember to NOT give up. It's okay to feel nervous. We all do. Talk it out instead. Connect and reach out to folks in your professional network and hear their career stories. Some may even amuse you but there's always an underlying lesson - ?????????????? ?????? ??????'???? ????!

All the best for your journey!!!

Stay tuned for relevant detailed content. Do not shy away from putting your questions in the comment section. I'll be happy to answer. Also, do share with anyone whom you think needs to know :)