The Rutgers Spring 2016 Career & Internship Mega Fair took place over two days in early February and I made a point to attend. As some of you may know, I joined the active job seeker ranks in late 2015, complete with attending networking events (see my take on a BioHub networking event here) and career fairs. I have gained some experiences that I can share with the rest of you on what works, what doesn’t, and what can make some of the hiring processes you go through that much easier.

Science editors have a wide open view at the forefront of scientific research. Their job combines the rigor of scientific analysis and critical thinking with the freedom and flexibility to read about different scientific disciplines. This is the second part of my blog series on science publishing; last week, I wrote about the experiences and advice shared by two professional editors from Wiley.

Career Opportunities in Science Publishing (Part I) Last February 17, iJOBS hosted another very informative career panel series, this time focusing on job opportunities in science publishing. As a career that I was seriously considering after grad school, I was personally excited about this particular iJOBS event. The panelists were Ph.D. level editors and publishers from different publishing companies, namely, Elsevier, Nature Publishing Group, and Wiley.

On January 26 of this year, the iJOBS program took a trip to East Hanover, NJ to visit the Novartis campus.  I say ‘campus’ because this place felt like a community, not a business.  Overall, the atmosphere was inviting and everyone we met seemed genuinely happy to be working there.  Several employees emphasized how Novartis encourages a place of diversity and comradery, and what a great overall place it is to work.

Last week, iJOBS hosted a career panel featuring professionals from WuXiAppTec. This panel operated slightly differently than previous ones in that the panel featured a single company rather than showcasing a single career with individuals from different companies. There were two PhD scientists, an HR representative, and a recruitment officer at the panel-this allowed for a well-rounded view of the company.

One of the things you will likely have to do once you get a company’s attention is pass a phone screen with a recruiter.