The other day we got a call from a candidate who wanted to get on our radar for an impending career move. When we asked his time-frame, we were surprised to hear him say 2021. Often times we hear from candidates when they’re long past this pondering phase and more into the get-me-out-of-here phase. So kudos to that young man for having such foresight.
While that extended time-line is extreme, our candidate does have the right idea to “always be looking.” While no job is ever 100% safe, that is the name of the game in the life sciences and I’m sure he knows that. In our industry, it’s important to be cognizant that things could change at the drop of a dime. That being said, you don’t need to be unnecessarily submitting job applications every day. So if everything is seemingly fine, when should you start the process of thinking about your next move?
The new year is always a good time to take stock in your current situation. Typically this is the time of year that everyone is doing a little self-reflection and making goals, including the companies themselves. It’s also the time that hiring managers post the majority of their openings and get ready for performance reviews.
To really make this analysis successful treat it like an exercise in data collection. Consider even assigning each piece of “data” a number value. For example, if you’re happy with your manager then maybe you assign it an 8 because that’s a crucial part of your happiness. But if the commute is horrible then maybe assign it a 2 because that’s unlikely to change. For the more data-driven, assigning numbers might offer a more objective view.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Write down all of the things you like about the job. Some questions to consider:
- Are you excited about going to work each day?
- Do you like the research/product?
- Do you feel challenged? Supported? Appreciated?
- Do you enjoy your colleagues?
- Do you believe in senior management?
- Write down what you dislike about the jobs. When writing these down, also note if you see a course of action for these things to change, i.e. there may be no telling if a bad manager will leave, but lack of resources might change if the company just received funding.
- Write down your career goals, and frame them as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals.
- Given the climate of your company, how likely you are to attain these goals this year?
- Think about your performance review.
- How do you think it will go?
- What would you say for self-evaluation and company evaluation?
- Review the past year of company business:
- Most life sciences companies have a section on the website for investors and media that include financials, filings, stock information, SEC filings etc.
- Also, take a look at the jobs board–a robust jobs board is usually a good thing.
- Did senior management turnover or did they stay?
- Did people get promoted and did jobs get added?
- Be sure to keep company business on your radar:
- Know when research readouts and clinical trial results are set to be revealed.
- Chat with employees from other departments–they might have more insight into how their team is doing.
- If your company is a service provider, keep a close eye on your clients and how they’re doing.
- Take a peak at what else is out there.
- Review job boards.
- Stay on top of industry news, especially in your location. Is a new company moving in nearby and are they hiring?
- Keep your eyes on competitors.
- Is there a technology making headlines that you’re interested in?
- Chat with colleagues at other companies.
- Attend networking events to meet folks outside of your usual circle.
- Talk with a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes they can give you a better read on the situation than you realize.
As you’re collecting this data, you’ll likely start to get a sense of how you’re feeling about things. However, it’s important to also take some time to review it altogether. This is where assigning number values can come in handy.
If you see lots of low numbers or any of your findings gives you red flags, then it’s time to think about next steps. Begin by reaching out to a career coach or a recruiter. Sign up for job board notifications and go to networking events.
If you complete your research feeling good about your role and the future of the company, then maybe a job change is put on the back burner. Only you can make that decision. But if any of the above topics raise small red flags, don’t ignore them. You may not want to go into a full out job search, but put the feelers out there. Maybe you don’t make the move until 2021 or maybe you end up finding the dream job you didn’t realize you wanted.
Gratitude is an incredibly powerful, positive emotion that is seldom experienced by so many of us who are caught up in the day to day demands of life. The rise of consumerism, never ending to-do lists and the ceaseless pursuit of enhanced social mobility often means that gratitude is displaced by incessant ambition and this isn’t healthy.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we hear the words thankful and grateful a little more. From #grateful social media posts to customer appreciation pies, expressing gratitude is in the air this time of year. That’s part of what makes it such a special time. At the same rate, practicing everyday gratitude has become a more prominent cultural paradigm. Perhaps it’s because of the rise in studies on the science of gratitude, or maybe it’s just social media. Whatever the reason, with 7,000 listings on Amazon for “gratitude journal,” it’s safe to say our culture is adopting the practice of gratitude.
Why is practicing gratitude helpful every day and not just the last 6 weeks of the year? According to The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley, “gratitude may be associated with many benefits for individuals, including better physical and psychological health, increased happiness and life satisfaction, decreased materialism, and more.” Gratitude helps people feel more optimistic, and it helps us slow down in this rapid-paced world of ours.
Taking time to acknowledge the things you’re grateful for can be a game-changer for your overall wellbeing and health, but it can also make a big difference in your career. Here’s how:
For the job-seeker: It’s easy to lose faith in a job search, but this is where a gratitude journal can come in helpful. Take time to write down the successes of your search. Try to view setbacks in a positive light. For example, if you went in for a second-round interview but didn’t make the next cut, remind yourself that you got farther than most candidates. Acknowledge that you are doing better than when you started the search. Here are a few more tips on staying grateful during a job search.
For the manager: According to PayScale’s report on employee engagement and retention, feeling appreciated at work is the biggest influencer on employee satisfaction, and underappreciated employees are much more likely to leave the company. So taking a few minutes to show your staff gratitude year-round will improve company culture while also making you feel good. PayScale offers more insight into workplace gratitude here and here.
For anyone at any point in their career: Regardless of your career status, take a few minutes to remind yourself of your accomplishments. Not only will it help you work harder, but it can also help you be better. This article from Peter Bregman at the Harvard Business Review says that “identifying the things we are grateful for mirrors the areas we are hoping to improve.” According to Bergman “your path to improvement is hidden in your pleasure, not your discontent.” The Muse provides a handy infographic of why gratitude is so important.
Do you practice gratitude every day? If so, what do you do? Sound off below.
Rockland, Massachusetts, November 11, 2019: Sci.Bio is pleased to announce that Lauren Perna has joined the team in the new role of director of marketing, communications, and business development. Perna will focus on raising Sci.Bio’s visibility by building strategic marketing, social media, and events campaigns. She also plans to expand philanthropic efforts and position Sci.Bio as a community partner.
Perna brings over a decade of diverse experience in marketing, communications, and relationship-building. She also brings an extensive life sciences network, having spent much of her career at the life sciences trade organization, MassBio. As senior director of membership, Perna promoted MassBio’s benefits and helped the 1,200 member companies grow their businesses in the life sciences industry. During her tenure, she helped launch a major member engagement initiative. Highlights include improving member communications, enhancing MassBio’s profile in the community, and spearheading a popular networking series. For the past year, Perna focused on her communications consulting practice, helping small businesses and nonprofits raise their digital and social profiles.
Sci.Bio Founder Eric Celidonio made the following statement about Perna’s joining: “I know Lauren will have a huge impact on Sci.Bio, given her unique background and her passion for the life sciences industry. Her enthusiasm and hands-on approach are a great match for the Sci.Bio team, and we’re all excited to see her take us to the next phase.”
On joining Sci.Bio, Perna says: “This opportunity is a great match. I thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, which is a big part of the Sci.Bio culture. And, I can continue serving an industry I am deeply rooted in while doing what I enjoy—bringing visibility to growing companies.”
In her highly visible position at MassBio, Perna built relationships across the industry and became a resource to life sciences professionals. “I helped individuals progress in their careers, and I worked with companies scaling up. I am excited to continue being a part of that, just from a different perspective. The life sciences recruiting market is hot, but Sci.Bio has a unique recruiting model and I think there’s a great story to share,” Perna said.
Perna received her BA from Fordham University with a degree in Communications and American Studies. She also completed the Emerging Leaders Program at UMass Boston in 2014. Over the past year she earned numerous certifications in marketing and social media.
Sci.bio is a fully integrated biotechnology & pharmaceutical recruiting firm that offers its clients flexible, value-oriented recruiting options for filling their clinical, medical, and life sciences job openings. The company provides RPO contract recruitment, executive search, and contract staffing services.
For more information about Sci.Bio please contact Lauren Perna at [email protected]