Pursuing a career in life science marketing [Q&A]

TL;DR In this update, I share my top 3 tips for life science students who want to improve their employability. I've also included a list of questions that students have asked me about pursuing a career in marketing.

I loved university because I enjoyed learning and studying (and I was good at it!) However, the world of work can be less forgiving, and it can feel impossible to land your first graduate role.

If you are a life science student, I have listed my top 3 tips for improving your employability at university. I've also included a Q&A section about working in scientific marketing.

My top 3 tips for improving employability during your studies

Looking back, there were several small but important choices I made during my time at university that made me more employable. Whenever I speak to students about my career, I always encourage them to:

1. Seek paid work experience (particularly relevant work experience!) while you are studying. If an employer is looking at two candidates - one with a first-class honors degree/no experience and one with a second-class degree/plus work experience, they are more likely to employ the latter. Having work experience shows that you aren't just smart or good at studying; you're also reliable and able to work in a team.
2. Make a LinkedIn profile while you are at university and add people that you meet during your studies. In the world of work, it's often "who you know" rather than "what you know" that leads to new opportunities. It might not be fair, but it is the way things are! Connecting with potential employers during your studies will set you up for better opportunities when you graduate.
3. Seek support when you need it. Whether it's financial support, mental health support, or career advice, seek it sooner rather than later! I have too many friends who had to repeat years or drop out because they didn't seek help for the pressure they were under.

Video: At Bitesize Bio, we have many technical articles, webinars, and podcasts, plus (my personal favorite!) a mental health podcast called The Happy Scientist.

Student Q&A: A career in life science marketing

Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?

I probably have the highest level of responsibility in my role. I'm essentially the "Head of Marketing" in our company, but in reality, it's just me plus some support from my lovely colleagues! If I don't do the work, it doesn't get done, so I need to plan carefully when I'm going to take time off.

As a small team, my colleagues and I need to ensure we can cover essential parts of each other's roles. Because of the nature of the job, marketers end up wearing a lot of hats (SEO manager, sales assistant, graphic designer, etc.), and that's even more true in an SME.

I also think being a young manager comes with its own unique set of challenges. People can underestimate you because of your age, and you might have to manage people who are more senior than you, which is challenging!

Q. What is the best thing about your job?

Right now, it's the people. I really get on with my team, and we share similar interests. I also have a lot of flexibility in my current role. As long as I work my core hours, 37 hours a week, I can work whenever I like. I also work from home almost all of the time, meaning I can save money on my lunch and commute.

There's also a positive side to the challenges in my role. Because I manage my department (i.e., me!) I have a lot of autonomy and can see the difference I am making to the bottom line figures. Building something from scratch, being the first "pioneer" in a role, and seeing your positive impact on the company and your colleagues provides a lot of satisfaction.

I've never worked for a big company as a marketer, but I'm not sure I would enjoy being a cog in a much larger machine. I would miss that about working for SMEs!

Q. How many applications did you fill out before getting your graduate job?

Zero! I got loads of work experience under my belt while working at university. It was a combination of hard work and luck. I was provided some great opportunities from some really lovely people who had faith in me and saw my potential (Notably David Bunton and Karen Bingham from REPROCELL, plus Ronnie Palin)

Since I already had contacts in industry and academia, by the time I was due to graduate, employers were coming to me and asking when I could work for them. So I didn't have to go out and search for jobs; I started working full-time straight after my last exam.

Q. How did you make the decision between pursuing a PhD and starting a career in marketing?

It was a really tough decision. Ultimately, I chose the marketing role because it would provide a better quality of life (work-life balance/money), and I could return to the PhD later if I wanted to. However, I haven't looked back since! I enjoy the flexibility of office work, and I have enjoyed my career in marketing so far.

Q. How did the skills you learned at university help in your current job?

Although some people might assume a role in marketing is miles from anything you will learn in a science degree, the opposite is true! About 30% of my job involves data analysis. You don't need to be a math wiz (I'm certainly not) but you do need to be able to process raw data and create a narrative around it.

I also create a lot of content, so understanding how to read, analyze, and cite scientific journals is handy. Biology is like learning a new language, so being fluent is a bonus. Most life science marketers I've known have a Ph.D. plus business qualifications.

Q. I would love to pursue a career in life science marketing when I graduate. How can I gain experience for this role?

If you're lucky enough to get work experience in a relevant role, write as much as possible. When I started my first internship, I blogged everything so that I had a record of my experience for future employers.

There are also many relevant online courses and certificates that you can complete for free. The ones I recommend if you are starting out are:

• HubSpot's Inbound Certification Course: I wish I'd known about this course when I started my career in marketing. It's a solid foundational course, and you'll get a certificate.
• Google Ads Search Certification: Google Ads can be challenging to understand at first, but it's a great skill to have. Most companies will want to focus on PPC search over other types of advertising.
• The Marketing Meet-up: This is my favorite place for webinars and networking with other marketers. They focus on a range of topics and skills.
• Coursera: This company has a range of online courses, some of which you can enroll in for free.

While being a member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing is not free, it does grant access to webinars and a range of resources, templates, and worksheets.

Q. I am a life science student considering switching to a marketing degree. Do you have any advice for me?

It depends on why you want to switch to a marketing degree; are you switching because you don't like lab work or because you don't like science? Because there are many opportunities in science if you do not like working in a lab. If you're set on a career in marketing, you have a few options depending on your financial situation:

• You could stick in at your degree and then apply for marketing roles with life science companies when you graduate. Many companies ask for students with a life science degree rather than a marketing degree. It's more common than you think! Once you have experience, you could then apply for roles in a different industry if you no longer enjoy working in science (but I love it)
• You could stick in at your degree, do a marketing MSc, and then apply for roles in life science marketing. This will set you up well for employment opportunities if you want to pursue a career in life science marketing. And you'll have more marketing knowledge than I did when I started.
• You could switch degrees now and do an undergraduate degree in marketing instead. If you don't enjoy science, switch now and chalk it up to experience. Life is too short to study for a degree you don't like, and it will probably show in your grades. There is no shame in starting over; I've done it many times.

Q. I don't understand why some life science companies prioritize science graduates over marketing graduates for marketing roles. Why is that?

Even though the job you are doing day-in-day-out is marketing, you spend a lot of time interacting with scientists internally and externally. Many of my friends who went to work in the life science industry after studying marketing struggled initially with the scientific terms and language (although they are now great life science marketers)

Understanding the technology or service you are providing is helpful in any marketing or sales role. If you better understand the pain of the people you are selling to, you can better articulate how your product or service will benefit them.

If you are a life science student curious about a career in marketing, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Also, make sure to visit Bitesize Bio for career inspiration.