On November 29, the New Brunswick site of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) hosted students from Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland. BMS is a global bio-pharmaceutical company whose drug portfolio includes oncology, immunoscience, cardiovascular, genetic diseases, and fibrotic diseases. In the United States, BMS has research locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California. Within New Jersey, the New Brunswick site focuses on the development stage of drug production while the discovery stage is primarily in Lawrence Township.
The site visit gave the attendees an opportunity to learn more about research in the pharmaceutical industry and about BMS as a company and as a potential employer. The day was hosted by about 10 volunteers who came from varying backgrounds and roles in the company ranging from research scientists to directors. The morning consisted of lab tours and the afternoon was dedicated to presentations and networking. We saw four labs at BMS, which included an automation lab for drug filtration and bottling, capsule formulation, non-destructive analytics, and destructive analytics. Throughout the day, our tour guides and the employees we encountered answered questions ranging from laboratory equipment and techniques, to the struggles they face in their jobs, to how they got started at BMS. While the lab tours were exciting and informative, the experiences and advice shared by the BMS employees was invaluable.
- Network!
- Improve your soft skills – getting along with others and effective communication are key
- Be a team player – motivate and enable others to improve
- Obtain the highest degree possible given your personal circumstances and opportunities – it will be 10x harder to go back and get the degree later in life
For me, the most valuable part of the day was meeting the employees and getting insight about the specific hiring processes at BMS and other large pharmaceuticals. People were happy to share their stories and advice on job applications and starting at BMS. An important point to remember and appreciate is that employees involved in these functions are most often volunteers and are therefore very committed to help us progress in our personal and career development. Site visits are a great opportunity to get exposed to different work environments and network with people who may be in a role you aspire to be in one day!
To learn more about BMS visit their website!
For tips on networking, read the past blog post: Networking Outside the Box
To learn more about improving your soft skills, check out the past blog post: Putting your best foot forward: valuable soft skills that will help you stand out from the crowd