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I have a BS in Biology from a good school. I did a senior thesis in evo. genetics and graduated with honors. During school I did work study in a laboratory and since graduating (in 2011) had a competitive internship in microbiology. I have a good work ethic, have never had any work conflicts, and am on good terms with all former supervisors.
It's taken 5 months to get a lab technician job in my area of Massachusetts, and the pay is low and the hours are part-time. The trouble with it, is that I know how lucky I am to have this job! Even at crappy pay and part-time hours, finding a good job with a BS in Biology is tough.... I applied to countless jobs (across the country) for months before I found this one. I love my job now, but its not a position I can make a living off of. I can legally work in Canada too, but prospects there aren't much better.
Instead of investing further into my education in science, I think I should just switch career paths. If I were passionate about microbiology/biotechnology or the health care fields, I would get a graduate degree. But I am not, and I want a job with opportunity for growth and the ability to make a solid salary after a few years of experience more than I love science.
Has anyone made the change from a science field to another? Any suggestions for new jobs to consider to make the transition more natural?
I know this is broad, but I am totally lost and appreciate any advice!
Almost everyone I know who majored in Biology got a premed and eventually went on to med school. Did you choose this major thinking there was a huge job market for Biology undergraduate degrees?
I have a BS in Biology from a good school. I did a senior thesis in evo. genetics and graduated with honors. During school I did work study in a laboratory and since graduating (in 2011) had a competitive internship in microbiology. I have a good work ethic, have never had any work conflicts, and am on good terms with all former supervisors.
It's taken 5 months to get a lab technician job in my area of Massachusetts, and the pay is low and the hours are part-time. The trouble with it, is that I know how lucky I am to have this job! Even at crappy pay and part-time hours, finding a good job with a BS in Biology is tough.... I applied to countless jobs (across the country) for months before I found this one. I love my job now, but its not a position I can make a living off of. I can legally work in Canada too, but prospects there aren't much better.
Instead of investing further into my education in science, I think I should just switch career paths. If I were passionate about microbiology/biotechnology or the health care fields, I would get a graduate degree. But I am not, and I want a job with opportunity for growth and the ability to make a solid salary after a few years of experience more than I love science.
Has anyone made the change from a science field to another? Any suggestions for new jobs to consider to make the transition more natural?
I know this is broad, but I am totally lost and appreciate any advice!
I am one of the few people who went in biology, not even considering med school. Working in a lab in a hospital does not appeal to me. I did a live-in internship during high school in a medical school where i determined that. My dream job is to be a conservation geneticist, I love nature and wildlife and have the lab background in molecular work/bioinformatics that differentiates me from simple environment science or ecology. But there are so few jobs in that field. If I could do my bachelors over again it would be in environmental engineering, something more in computer science line, or business. My school was in Canada and we didn't take "gen eds", nearly all my classes were biology-based science. So I don't have a lot of experience doing anything else. Even my jobs outside the lab have been primarily with animals. But unlike most aspiring scientist or animal lovers, I am driven by money. Having a job with opportunities for growth, security, and eventually a good salary are most important to me right now.
Thanks for the suggestions keep them coming! I'll look into forensic science tonight
I am one of the few people who went in biology, not even considering med school. Working in a lab in a hospital does not appeal to me. I did a live-in internship during high school in a medical school where i determined that. My dream job is to be a conservation geneticist, I love nature and wildlife and have the lab background in molecular work/bioinformatics that differentiates me from simple environment science or ecology. But there are so few jobs in that field. If I could do my bachelors over again it would be in environmental engineering, something more in computer science line, or business. My school was in Canada and we didn't take "gen eds", nearly all my classes were biology-based science. So I don't have a lot of experience doing anything else. Even my jobs outside the lab have been primarily with animals. But unlike most aspiring scientist or animal lovers, I am driven by money. Having a job with opportunities for growth, security, and eventually a good salary are most important to me right now.
Thanks for the suggestions keep them coming! I'll look into forensic science tonight
I'm an environmental engineer. There's a possibilty to make decent $ if you climb to managerial positions (max 125K or so) but most people don't make too much. Somewhat stable.
I mean if you are really driven by $, then healthcare is by far your best path.
Assuming you are already leaning toward additional college level academic pursuits it might be wise to pursue something like -- UMass Medical School - Worcester -- bionformatics is heavy on the kinds of knowledge you already have but far more important to the "tech intensive" parts of both industry and academia that are pushing the edges of innovative use of biological info. If you earn a MS or PhD you will be working on interesting stuff for a LOOOONG time...
Chet ... thank you for the links. Funny though, the summer program that I did in high school was at UMass Medical School. After that I never really envisioned myself working in healthcare, but maybe it is something I should consider. If thats where the jobs are, thats where I should be. If going back to school to a PA wouldn't require me to take on such significant student loans I might consider it. I may have missed the boat on that one anyway, but not directly working in a hospital now or taking A&P in school.
Jezyk - Why and what field are you coming from?
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