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TitlePub. DateDuration
Best AI for Resume and Cover Letter (Part 2): 24 More Models Tested23 Oct 202600:35:46

What is the best AI for your resume and cover letter? This is the second run of my resume scoring model bake-off. I did two things this time. First, a catch-up run of 18 models that are still widely used, including versions a step or two back that are often cheaper to use on a free plan or a $20 a month plan, plus more open weight models. Second, a head-to-head of brand new, state-of-the-art, expensive models that dropped in the last week or so.

Every model got the same prompt and the same inputs for our test candidate, Alex Clearwater, a PhD and postdoc moving into industry pharmacology, applying to a fake job at a fake company. I scored each resume and cover letter on the headline, highlights, formatting and organization, tailoring, and the cover letter. Then two AI judges (Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-5.6 Sol) scored accuracy, checking every bullet against the template resume for anything made up or overstated, and Jev checked 13 yes or no rules.

The AI models tested (30 in total across both parts):

Catch-up run, 18 older models:

• OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-5.5, GPT-5.4

• Anthropic (Claude): Claude Opus 5, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 4.6

• Google: Gemini 3.7 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview

• xAI: Grok 4.6, Grok 4.5

• Open models: DeepSeek V4 Flash, DeepSeek V3.2, Llama 4 Maverick (Meta), Qwen 3.8 Max Prime, Kimi K3 (Moonshot), GLM 5.3 (Z.ai)

New run, 6 new models:

• OpenAI: GPT-6.1 Sol

• Google: Gemini 4 Argon

• Meta: Muse Wonder

• Mistral: Mistral Large 4

• Qwen (Alibaba): Qwen 3.8 Max

• DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

From Part 1, shown for comparison:

• GPT-6 Sol, Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Gemini 3.8 Flash, Grok 4.7, DeepSeek V4 Pro

In this episode you'll learn:

• How older, cheaper, and open weight models compare to the newest AI models for resumes and cover letters

• Why a resume can look great and still have major accuracy problems

• Why some models write well but aren't accurate, and vice versa

• When it might be worth using a different model for your cover letter

• The cover letter habits I flag: telling the company what it wants, language that sounds like a weakness, passive closers, and very long sentences

• Whether newer models are better at following instructions

See every output side by side, plus the job, the template resume, and the example tailored resume and cover letter, at models.biotechcareercoach.com. It also has a guide to which model to use if you're a Claude user, a ChatGPT user, or want an open weight model.

https://models.biotechcareercoach.com/

Missed Part 1? Watch it first to see how I set up the whole model bake-off test: Best AI for Resume and Cover Letter, Which Model Wins? [LINK]

Want my help with your resume and cover letter? Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community and work with me directly. It is $9 a month with a 7-day free trial.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Best AI for resume and cover letter, Part 2

01:03 How the AI resume test works

01:39 How I score the resume headline, highlights, and tailoring

02:56 Catch-up run, 18 older and open weight AI models

09:30 AI cover letter mistakes that sound arrogant or weak

11:27 What a strong AI cover letter opener looks like

16:05 Why long sentences hurt your cover letter

18:03 The reveal for the catch-up run

18:43 AI judges check resume accuracy and hallucinations

19:49 Jev rule checks for instruction following

22:16 Why a great looking AI resume can still be inaccurate

24:15 Older AI models vs last week's frontier models

25:29 Newest AI models head to head

30:23 The reveal for the newest models

32:15 Human scores vs AI judges on the new models

33:28 Compare AI resume outputs side by side

34:46 Should you combine AI models for resume and cover letter

Best AI for Resume and Cover Letter (I Tested 6 Models Blind)16 Oct 202600:40:14

What is the best AI for your resume and cover letter? I tested 6 AI models blind, one from each major model family plus an open weight model, to see which one tailors a resume to a job description the way a recruiter wants to see it.

I get asked every week which AI to use for resume tailoring: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok? Free or paid? So I ran an experiment. Every model got the same template resume, the same job description, the same example tailored resume and cover letter, and the same prompt. I scored each output blind, then compared my scores with two AI judges (Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-5.6 Sol) and Jev, a yes or no decision API that checks rules like headline format and a one-page cover letter.

The AI models tested:

  • Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic)
  • Claude Sonnet 5.5 (Anthropic)
  • Gemini 3.8 Flash (Google)
  • GPT-6 Sol (OpenAI, ChatGPT)
  • Grok (xAI)
  • An open weight model

I also share what each one costs and how fast it runs, so you can decide if paying for AI is worth it.

In this episode you'll learn:

  • Which AI model is best for tailoring a resume to a job description
  • ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Grok for resumes and cover letters
  • Whether free AI models are good enough for job applications or worth paying for
  • What a strong resume headline and highlights section look like to a recruiter
  • The AI writing habits that make a cover letter unusable
  • Why my human scores disagreed with the AI judges

See every output side by side, plus the template resume, job description, and example inputs, in the Model Bake-Off on the Biotech Career Coach website under Learn.

https://biotechcareercoach.com/

Want help tailoring your biotech resume and cover letter? Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community for the portal, resume reviews, and interview prep. It is $9 a month with a 7-day free trial.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Which AI should you use to tailor your resume

01:15 How the blind AI resume test works

03:45 Inside the Model Bake-Off app and answer key

07:00 Scoring the resume headline and highlights

15:35 The AI cover letter I would submit with no edits

21:35 AI cover letter mistakes that fail the vibe check

26:50 Human scores vs AI judges and Jev rule checks

29:50 The reveal, which AI model wins

32:45 Free vs paid AI models for job applications

34:35 Compare AI resume outputs side by side

How to Follow Up After a Job Interview and When to Stop09 Oct 202600:19:02

Wondering how to follow up after a job interview when all you hear is silence? In this episode, I answer the questions I get most about following up after an interview, from my one-on-one clients, outplacement clients, Skool community, and the people I give feedback to in my portal.

I'm a biotech recruiter and career coach. A typical scientist or senior scientist role used to bring in 100 to 150 applicants. Now I see 500 to 700. Recruiters are stretched thin, and the silence after your interview might not be about you at all.

In this episode:

- Do you need to send a thank-you note after an interview, and who actually reads it

- Why the hiring manager cares more about your thank-you note than HR or the recruiter

- When a thank-you note can tip the scales between two equal candidates, and why it won't rescue a bad interview

- How often to follow up after a job interview: one thank-you note, two follow-ups 7 to 10 days apart, then stop

- What it means when the recruiter said you'd hear back by Friday and you didn't

- Why some companies keep backup candidates warm for weeks, and how biotech hiring is different

- Ghost jobs and roles posted for internal candidates, and why together they can add up to about half of job postings

- Why being ghosted after a real conversation is a sign of a disorganized hiring process

- Why you should treat every application and interview as if you didn't get the job, and keep your job search moving

Mentioned in this episode:

- How to Stop Overthinking and Start Making Career Moves: https://podcast.collaboratorycareerhub.com/podcast/how-to-stop-overthinking-and-start-making-career-moves-in-five-easy-steps-c7b050f2-7012-48b7-98a4-19

Waiting to hear back and starting to spiral? Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community. You'll be surrounded by people working on their job searches, get direct access to me, and get personalized feedback on your application materials in our portal.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

PhD to Industry Advice From a Biotech Recruiter02 Oct 202600:07:53

Can you go straight from PhD to industry? The answer is yes, but you need to learn to market yourself.

If you have heard how hard the job market is and wonder whether you should stay in academia until it gets better, this episode is for you.

Biotech recruiter and career coach Carina Clingman shares the story of a community member who finished her PhD in Germany, moved to the US with her partner without a job, and worried her visa situation would make her unhireable. She networked hard, stayed motivated, got interview prep for every interview, and reviewed her interview transcripts question by question. She just accepted a scientist role at a biotech.

In this episode you will learn:

  • When a postdoc is a valid path, and when going straight to industry makes sense
  • Why saying "we" about your research hides your unique contribution from hiring managers
  • How STAR storytelling (situation, task, action, result) helps you answer interview questions with confidence
  • Why a CV is not a resume, and why your resume needs to read like a marketing document
  • Why most certificates do not impress hiring managers, and how to get hands-on experience instead
  • How many publications you actually need for most industry roles
  • Why to start applying about 90 days before you can start working
  • Why to start networking six months or more before your graduation date

Carina also suggests checking your grant funding, since some grants have career development built in and you may have unused funds.

Ready to practice interviews, get feedback on your interview transcripts, and build industry connections alongside other scientists? Join the Biotech Career Coach community on Skool. Start with the networking challenge, which is introvert-friendly and created by scientists for scientists. You can try it with a 7-day free trial.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

Chapters:

  • 00:00 Can you go straight from PhD to industry
  • 00:25 Postdoc or industry job for international PhD students facing visa sponsorship
  • 00:55 How a PhD graduate landed a biotech scientist role with interview post-mortems
  • 02:05 Why saying we in interviews hides your individual contribution
  • 02:55 STAR storytelling for PhD interview answers
  • 03:30 A CV is not a resume for industry jobs
  • 04:00 Do certificates or more publications help you get an industry job
  • 04:40 Volunteer in a lab or early-stage company to gain hands-on experience
  • 05:25 When to start applying for industry jobs before your PhD defense
  • 06:00 Network six months before graduation to find hidden job leads

Your Job Search Is a Marketing Campaign for You17 Jul 202600:23:28

Your job search is a marketing campaign, and you are the product. In this episode, biotech career coach Carina Clingman shows you how to build a resume and cover letter that get past the software and win the six second scan.

This is seminar one of a three part series Carina teaches for her outplacement career transition clients. She takes you inside a recruiter's applicant tracking system, where a single biotech role can draw 400 applicants, and shows how she narrows that pile down to the ten people worth a conversation. You will see why tailoring and keyword mirroring decide whether a human ever reads your resume at all.

What you will learn:

  • Why a resume is a marketing document, not a career archive or a CV
  • The four things every resume needs to survive the six second scan
  • How recruiters use Boolean and reverse keyword searches to cut applicants
  • How to mirror a job description so a recruiter reads you as one of us
  • The five professional highlights that work like a movie trailer for your experience
  • Where to place degrees, publications, and skills for the most impact
  • The T style cover letter hiring managers love and the three questions it must answer

By the end you will treat every resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn message as a marketing message with one job, to make a hiring manager care about you.

Watch for parts two and three, on LinkedIn and interviews, in the coming weeks.

Want Carina to build your resume and cover letter with you? Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community and get access to the brand new Biotech Career Coach app.

Join here:

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 You are the Chief Marketing Officer of your own job search

04:25 Inside a recruiter's inbox with 400 applicants

06:30 How Boolean and reverse keyword searches cut your resume

07:30 Build your resume like a persuasive essay

09:02 The above the fold rule and mirroring the job description

11:30 Five professional highlights that work like a movie trailer

13:26 Where to put degrees, publications, and skills

16:39 The T style cover letter and the three questions it answers

19:00 Opening a cover letter with a personal story

22:19 What is coming in parts two and three

From Pipettes to Python: How to Break Into Computational Biology22 May 202600:44:03

Most bench scientists think breaking into computational biology means going back to school. Dean Lee proves otherwise. Dean went from neuroscience PhD student at Harvard to Principal Computational Biologist at Novartis by teaching himself to analyze scRNA-seq data in stolen scraps of time alongside his bench job, and now he helps thousands of scientists make the same move through his online community Dean's List.

In this episode, Dean and Carina break down exactly what it takes to build real computational biology credibility without another degree, without quitting your job, and without waiting for someone to hand you permission.

You'll learn:

  • Why Coursera certificates don't move hiring managers and what actually does
  • How to find public biological data and build your first comp bio project this week
  • The reproducibility strategy: why re-analyzing a published Nature paper is an industry skill and your best portfolio move at the same time
  • How to pitch yourself as a funded intern through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to break into small biotech startups
  • The state of entry-level comp bio hiring in 2026 and where the openings actually are
  • How to frame volunteer work and self-directed projects on your resume so hiring managers take them seriously

Whether you've been thinking about this pivot for years or you're just starting to wonder if it's possible, this conversation gives you the roadmap.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Dean Lee's path from Harvard neuroscience to computational biologist at Novartis

04:00 The volunteer scRNA-seq project that launched Dean's career pivot

07:30 Why hiring managers ignore certificates and look only for project work

12:00 How reproducing published research builds irrefutable portfolio proof

21:30 The MLSC funded intern hack for breaking into biotech startups

26:30 The 2026 comp bio job market and where entry-level roles actually exist

30:00 How to transition into computational biology within your current company

33:00 Operational AI vs scientific AI and what it means for your comp bio career

AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know17 Apr 202600:41:35

AI agents, skills, and automations. You keep hearing these terms, but nobody has clearly explained what they mean for someone actually working in biotech. In this episode, Carina sits down with Stu Angus, founder of Scriptome.AI and an AI consultant who works with small biotech companies every day, to break down exactly what each of these tools is, when to use one over another, and why getting this wrong leads to a lot of wasted time.

Stu has 15 years of experience in biotech R&D and business development. He now helps small biotechs bridge the AI adoption gap that has opened up between them and big pharma, and he built Pavlov GPS, a free searchable database of 500+ AI tools for biotech R&D. If you have felt pressure to add AI to your workflow but had no idea where to start, this episode is the clearest, most practical answer you will find.

What you will learn in this episode:

  • The real difference between an AI skill, an agent, and an automation, and when to use each
  • Why small biotechs are getting left behind on AI adoption and what that means for your career
  • How to tell if your workflow is a good candidate for an agent or if a simple skill would do the job
  • The “AI Slop cannon” problem and how to avoid automating your way into a mess
  • How a team of five agents can wake you up every morning with tailored job applications already drafted
  • Why Whisper Flow is the most underrated AI tool for bench scientists right now
  • How Stu built Pavlov GPS starting from a spreadsheet, and how you can do the same with your own data

Stu also weighs in on Copilot vs Claude, shares a spicy take on the most overhyped AI tool in biotech today, and tells us what he thinks every biotech professional will need to know how to do within five years.

stu@scriptdo.ai


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 What the AI adoption gap in biotech actually means for your career

03:00 How small biotech companies are navigating board-level AI pressure with no roadmap

06:00 Big pharma vs small biotech and why the AI strategy divide is widening

07:30 Copilot vs Claude and how to advocate for the AI tools you need at work

12:00 How to develop a builder mindset and spot workflows worth automating

13:30 How a five-agent job search system handles company research and resume tailoring automatically

15:00 Agents vs skills vs automations defined for bench scientists with real examples

21:30 The slop cannon trap and how to avoid automating your way into low-quality output

27:00 What the Benchling 2026 AI report reveals about where AI is actually working in biotech R&D

29:30 How to build an AI tool from a spreadsheet using Pavlov GPS as a model

Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics)03 Apr 202600:48:05

Are you walking into biotech panel interviews and talking to every person the same way? That approach can cost you the offer, even if your science is solid.

In this episode, Carina Clingman and returning guest Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD break down how to build rapport with each type of interviewer you'll meet on a panel day, from the VP who hasn't read your CV to the peer scientist who feels threatened by what you bring to the table.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

  • Talk to senior leaders about strategic impact instead of getting stuck in technical details
  • Show hiring managers you want this specific role, not just any job, and why that distinction is the number one thing they evaluate
  • Recognize the three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics: fear of change, territorial expertise, and feeling intimidated by what they don't understand
  • Use empathy, curiosity, and "I need your help" to turn resistant colleagues into allies
  • Frame your science in terms that matter to cross-functional interviewers from other departments
  • Ask better questions at every stage to make interviews feel like a two-way conversation
  • Leverage your hiring manager as an ally to get intel on difficult personalities before you walk in the room
  • Use presentation techniques like reading facial expressions, spotting "thought bubbles," and asking for feedback to build real connection during job talks

Stacey has spent 20+ years leading teams in pharmacometrics at companies including Astellas, Metrum Research Group, and Novartis. She's sat on both sides of the interview table and now coaches scientists and technical professionals on communication and leadership through her consultancy, SJTPharm LLC.

Whether you're preparing for your first biotech panel interview or your tenth, this episode gives you a practical playbook for winning over every person in the room.

Connect with Stacey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-tannenbaum-phd-fisop/

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 How to build rapport with different interviewer types in biotech

01:30 Why panel interviews require you to context switch between personalities

02:30 Talking to senior leaders without getting stuck in the technical weeds

05:00 Showing strategic impact when you're two or three levels below the VP

06:00 Using the job description as your North Star for every interview conversation

08:00 How to stand out when every early career CV looks the same

09:00 Building rapport with the hiring manager from the first screening call

11:00 Why telling your career story beats reading your CV out loud

13:30 The number one reason hiring managers reject candidates after screening calls

16:30 Why interviews are like dates and how to interview the company back

19:30 Why peer scientists are actually the scariest people on the interview panel

21:00 Three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics in your interview

24:00 Using empathy and "I need your help" to break down resistance

28:00 The "I thought that too" technique for handling pushback without getting defensive

31:00 Leveraging your hiring manager as an ally and getting intel before interview day

33:00 Planting questions and finding allies during your job talk

35:30 Reading the room and calling out thought bubbles in small group presentations

37:00 How to ask for feedback after a presentation the right way (Adam Grant method)

39:00 Building rapport with cross-functional and culture carrier interviewers

43:30 Translating your science into language that matters to other disciplines

How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI13 Mar 202600:47:04

You keep hearing about AI, but nobody is telling you how it actually fits into a biotech career or a job search. That changes today.

In this episode, Carina sits down with Heather Karner, a bench scientist with a background in RNA biology who works alongside machine learning researchers in the Bay Area. Heather is actively job searching and has quietly become the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network, not because she is a tech expert, but because she started experimenting and never stopped.

Together they share the exact AI use cases they are running right now: a personalized daily brief that flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA acquisitions before they hit LinkedIn, a literature review workflow built for scientists, how to use AI as a tireless teacher for coding and lab protocols, AI note taking that surfaced 10 action items from a 10-minute meeting, and how to turn a rambling brain dump into a clear, professional message.

🤖 Use Cases Covered in This Episode

Heather's Use Cases:

  1. Personalized Daily Brief: Build a morning brief agent in Notion (using Claude Sonnet) that scans for job search signals: funding announcements, acquisitions, clinical trial updates, and new papers in your area of interest. Heather's brief flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA-related acquisitions and a new AlphaFold Nature paper before it hit LinkedIn.
  2. Literature Review & Knowledge Management: Tools like Cheiron can do literature reviews, rank journals, and summarize papers in a clean interface built for biotech. Pair with Notion or NotebookLM for ongoing knowledge management.
  3. AI as a Tireless Teacher: Use your LLM to learn new things (coding, GitHub, lab protocols) without frustrating a real colleague. Ask it to do a session handoff when the context window gets long. Just ask your LLM to write a handoff prompt, paste it into a new chat, and keep going.
  4. AI Note Taking: Heather uses Notion's built-in AI note taker. After a 10-minute meeting, it surfaced 10 action items she had forgotten. Game changer for staying present and accountable.
  5. Brainstorming & Communication Clarity: Have your LLM critique your writing, don't just ask if it's good. Prompt it to assess from a specific perspective (e.g., "You are an editor at Cell..."). Great for cross-functional communication and helping scientists write for non-science audiences.

Carina's Use Cases:

  1. Business Development / Job Search Brief: Similar to Heather's daily brief, but built on OpenClaw (advanced setup) to track funding announcements and generate LinkedIn networking target lists. Easily adaptable for job seekers tracking companies and building connections before roles are posted.
  2. PDF & Document Knowledge Base: Store all your protocols, papers, and references in Notion or NotebookLM (free with a Google account). Query across everything, generate slide decks, outlines, and even a podcast-style audio conversation about your documents.
  3. Use AI to Learn AI: Grab a YouTube transcript (free Chrome extensions can do this), paste it into your LLM, and ask it to teach you anything mentioned in the episode. Start with what you don't know. It'll find resources, explain concepts, and meet you at your level.
  4. Diplomatic Reply Drafting: Voice dump your real (snarky) frustration using Wispr Flow, then ask your LLM to translate it into a professional, diplomatic reply. Therapeutic and practical.
  5. Clarifying Your Own Story: If you're flustered, anxious, or telling a tangled story (career situation, job search frustration), brain dump via Wispr Flow and ask your LLM to help you find the clear, linear through-line before bringing it to coaching or a conversation.

  • Grammarly: Free AI Writing Assistance - Free (and paid) writing assistant. Non-negotiable for job seekers. Every communication is part of your interview.
  • Fathom AI Notetaker - Never Take Notes Again - Robust free AI note taker for Zoom, Meet, and Teams meetings.
  • NotebookLM - Free Google tool for uploading PDFs, websites, and documents; query across them, generate podcasts, outlines, and slide decks.
  • cheiron - AI-powered literature review and science knowledge platform built for biotech.
  • Meet your AI team | Notion - All-in-one workspace with built-in AI, agents, and note taking. Try a free Business trial (includes Notion AI). ~$24/month after trial.
  • Wispr Flow - Dictation tool that works in any text box, anywhere on your computer. Formats, corrects, and organizes as you speak. Life-changing.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why scientists resist AI and what happens when they finally try it

02:30 How Heather became the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network

05:00 Notion as your AI home base: one subscription, every major LLM

07:00 Building a daily brief that tracks job search signals before they hit LinkedIn

11:00 How funding announcements predict hiring and who to network with next

15:00 Literature review and knowledge management tools built for scientists

21:30 Using AI as a tireless teacher and the session handoff trick

27:00 AI note taking: how a 10-minute meeting surfaced 10 forgotten action items

33:30 Staying present in interviews and using transcripts to become a better communicator

38:00 Turning a frustrated voice dump into a diplomatic, professional reply

How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist26 Feb 202600:25:20

Are you holding yourself back from biotech roles because you don't check every box on the job description? You're not alone, and it's costing you opportunities.

In this career chat, Carina sits down with Heer Shah, a Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma, a Boston-based biotech developing precision gene therapies using synthetic viral vectors and gene editing technologies. Heer has over seven years of biotech experience spanning vaccines, AAV, lentiviral vectors, VLPs, and LNPs, with roles at Merck, Intellia Therapeutics, Ring Therapeutics, and Sana Biotechnology. Heer holds a Master's in Biotechnology from Northeastern University, where the co-op program launched a career built on hands-on industry experience from day one. Today, Heer does vector engineering and gene editing optimization for programs targeting sickle cell disease and immuno-oncology.

Heer shares how foundational lab skills and a big-picture mindset opened doors at every stage, and what it really takes to build a long-term biotech career across multiple modalities.

Key takeaways from this episode:

  1. Why job descriptions are wish lists, not checklists, and why hiring managers value learning ability over a perfect resume match
  2. How to position diverse experience across biotech modalities as a competitive advantage
  3. The difference between specialists and integrators, and why companies need both
  4. What it's like surviving multiple rounds of biotech layoffs and how to build career resilience
  5. How the Northeastern co-op program helped Heer explore different company sizes and career paths before committing
  6. Why behavioral interview questions often matter more than technical ones
  7. How international scientists can navigate visa pathways, including the National Interest Waiver
  8. The career advice Heer wishes someone gave earlier: tell your story sooner

Whether you're early in your biotech journey or navigating a career transition, this conversation is packed with practical advice on building transferable skills, staying adaptable, and landing roles you're excited about.

Want scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers in biotech?

Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community: https://www.skool.com/biotech-career-coach/about


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Meet Heer Shah, Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma

01:30 Why the Northeastern co-op program is a biotech career accelerator

03:00 How co-ops at Merck and small biotechs shaped early career decisions

04:30 Building transferable skills across vaccines, AAV, lentiviral, VLP, and LNP

06:30 Specialist versus integrator, two paths in biotech and why both matter

08:00 Why job descriptions are wish lists and you should stop self eliminating

09:00 What recruiters and hiring managers actually look for beyond the resume

12:00 A day in the life of a cell and gene therapy scientist

14:00 Staying motivated through long drug development timelines

15:30 How international scientists can plan careers around visa considerations

18:00 The National Interest Waiver, a green card path most people don't know about

21:30 Lightning round, best career decision, biggest regret, and advice for grad students

Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career16 Jan 202600:48:32

Your technical skills might be perfect, but if you can't present them clearly, you won't get the job. Most scientists treat presentations like data dumps, and it costs them opportunities.

In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD, a presentation skills consultant with over 25 years as an industry pharmacometrician and leader. Stacey has coached scientists across biotech to move beyond overly technical talks and become visible, credible communicators who actually advance their careers.

What you'll learn:

-Why job talks are completely different from conference presentations (and what hiring managers are really evaluating)

-The biggest mistakes scientists make in presentations (dense slides, burying the lead, reading scripts, being monotone)

-How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know the answer to without losing credibility

-Practical techniques to add energy and clarity to technical presentations without dumbing down the science

-Why your slides need to stand alone after you present them (and how to make that happen)

-The one thing you must memorize before any high-stakes presentation

-How to know when you're giving the audience too much technical detail versus the strategic insights they actually need


Whether you're preparing for a job talk, presenting to leadership, or speaking at a conference, this episode will help you communicate your science in a way that opens doors instead of closing them.

Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community for scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers navigating the same challenges


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

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💼 LinkedIn



01:00 What pharmacometrics is and why it's a career path worth knowing about

05:00 How networking and volunteering at conferences can profoundly change your career trajectory

08:30 Why asking for help as a new leader actually builds credibility instead of undermining it

12:30 The pivot from corporate pharmacometrics to consulting on presentation skills

17:00 Job talks are about you, not the science (what hiring managers are really evaluating)

20:30 How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know during a job talk

27:00 Common presentation mistakes that cost scientists job offers

33:00 Dense slides kill presentations (build content gradually or break it up)

38:30 Why your slides need a life outside of you (annotate with take-home messages)

43:00 Practice until you're bored, then memorize the first 30 seconds

Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals02 Jan 202600:09:46

January brings fresh biotech hiring budgets, energized hiring managers, and real momentum after a tough 2025. If you've been waiting for the right time to level up your biotech career, this is it.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  1. Why January is the best month to apply for biotech jobs after a slow December
  2. How the December Networking Challenge helped members grow their LinkedIn reach and profile visibility
  3. The Application Challenge launches January 6th with five days of live teaching to build daily job search habits
  4. An annual career planning session on January 12th to map your 2026 goals
  5. A presentation skills workshop that can accelerate both job offers and promotions
  6. A 10-week AI course to help you work smarter and meet employer expectations in 2026
  7. The Fire Horse approach to bringing bold, unstoppable energy to your career goals

Whether you're job searching, seeking a promotion, or building new professional skills, this episode gives you the roadmap and momentum to make 2026 your breakthrough year.

Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community and start the year with structure, support, and a community that gets it.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Biotech hiring outlook for January 2026 and market momentum

00:30 Office updates and the community move to Skool platform

01:00 Seven Day Interview Accelerator and weekly Q&A with office hours

02:00 December networking challenge results and evergreen access

03:00 December interview challenges versus networking opportunities

04:00 January Application Challenge launch with five days of teaching

05:00 Annual planning session and presentation skills workshop details

06:00 Ten week AI course for automation and employer expectations

07:00 Fire Horse energy and setting bold intentions for career progress

LinkedIn Networking for Biotech: Give First to Get Better Results12 Dec 202500:12:22

Networking in biotech doesn’t have to feel awkward or transactional. In this episode, Carina shares how giving first is the simplest way to build authentic biotech networking on LinkedIn that actually leads to stronger relationships and better opportunities.

If you’re an introvert, early-career professional, or making a career change, this is your practical roadmap to connect with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why “give first” makes networking feel easier (and work better)
  • How to add value even if you’re early in your career or switching fields
  • What to say when you feel you’ve got nothing to offer
  • The biggest outreach mistakes that make messages feel transactional
  • Simple LinkedIn actions that build visibility and trust over time
  • Insights from the Biotech Career Coach community’s December networking challenge (and what drove major reach growth)

Want support, templates, and challenges to stay consistent?

✅ Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community to connect with peers, access templates, and take part in challenges to grow your LinkedIn presence and your biotech network.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 December networking challenge and results from the community

00:30 Why introverts struggle with networking and common fears

01:00 The psychology of giving first and why people enjoy helping others

02:00 Reciprocity as a natural instinct and how to nurture contacts

03:00 Building reputation by engaging meaningfully on the platform

04:00 You have more value than you think as an early professional

05:00 Strategic introductions and becoming a connector

06:00 Using PubMed and Google alerts to share relevant content

07:00 The power of genuine enthusiasm and gratitude

08:00 Networking is a long game that pays off over years

09:00 Tracking metrics and seeing platform reach grow

10:00 Common pitfalls to avoid when networking

I Challenge You: Build your Biotech Network in 28 days05 Dec 202500:10:44

Biotech networking doesn’t have to feel random. In this video, I’ll walk you through a 28-day biotech networking challenge you can actually stick to.

Perfect for biotech job seekers who want a clear, daily plan to grow their biotech career network in December and beyond.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

-Why December is secretly a powerful month for biotech networking

-How to track your LinkedIn analytics so you know what’s really working

-A simple system to map out target companies, teams, and hiring managers

-How to send authentic, personalised connection requests that don’t feel salesy

-Easy ways to nurture existing connections without being pushy or awkward

-How to create and share quick LinkedIn content that expands your reach

-Strategies to comment on posts so you stand out (without sounding generic)

-Exactly how to ask for coffee chats that open doors in biotech

-How to keep each step under 30 minutes a day so you can stay consistent

-Turning this 28-day challenge into a repeatable, year-round networking habit

This 28-day biotech networking challenge is the same one we’re running inside my Biotech Career Coach Skool community. You can join in with us or follow along solo – it’s designed so your “Day 1” can start whenever you’re ready.

By the end of the challenge, you’ll have:

-A stronger biotech network

-More visibility to recruiters and hiring managers

-Clearer data on what’s working in your job search

-Real momentum heading into interview season

👉 Ready to start your biotech networking challenge?

Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community and jump into the challenge any time.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why biotech networking beats job applications during the chilly December hiring season

00:30 Join the evergreen biotech networking challenge in our community

01:00 Track your LinkedIn for biotech analytics to measure networking impact

02:30 Build strategic biotech networking connections at target companies

03:30 Personalize LinkedIn for biotech connection requests with authentic messaging

05:00 Nurture your biotech networking relationships without being pushy

06:00 Expand your LinkedIn for biotech reach by creating shareable content

07:00 Master thoughtful engagement for biotech networking on LinkedIn

08:30 Turn biotech networking into coffee chats with proven ask templates

09:00 Build sustainable biotech networking habits in under 30 minutes daily

Six Second Resume Test: Make Your Biotech Resume Survive the Scan28 Nov 202500:09:06

Does your biotech resume pass the six-second test? That's all the time most recruiters spend deciding who gets rejected and who deserves more attention.

In this episode, we show you how to build a resume first page that survives the scan and wins interviews in today's biotech job market.

Carina breaks down exactly what needs to go at the very top of your resume so a busy recruiter can see you meet the bar in just a few seconds. Drawing on real applicant tracking system data and years of biotech recruiting experience, you’ll learn how to design a sharp, focused top section that works in the real world.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

  • Use the job title and language from the job description to create a clear one-line headline
  • Handle education, location, and work authorization without wasting valuable space
  • Build a tight highlight reel that acts like a movie trailer for your career, not a generic skills dump
  • Choose and place the right keywords so you work with, not against, applicant tracking systems
  • Avoid long paragraphs and formatting choices that backfire during recruiter scans

Whether you’re a scientist, operations professional, or business hire moving into biotech, this episode will help you avoid outdated advice and turn the top of your resume into a powerful hook instead of a missed opportunity.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn


00:00 The six-second recruiter test and the biotech resume

01:00 Why traditional advice fails modern biotech resume scans

02:30 How recruiters actually run a resume scan in applicant tracking systems

03:30 Above the fold and why the top of a biotech resume matters

04:15 Where degree and work authorization live on a biotech resume

05:00 Writing a sharp, tailored biotech resume headline

05:45 Using job description language in a way that passes the resume scan

06:30 Turning experience into a professional highlights reel on your biotech resume

07:30 Why long skills lists hurt you during a quick resume scan

08:00 Passing the six-second resume scan and getting to the shortlist

How to Use AI to Improve Resumes, Cover Letters, and Networking21 Nov 202500:16:11

AI can completely change how you write resumes, cover letters, and networking messages for biotech roles, but only if you use it properly.

In this episode, I show biotech professionals exactly how to use AI to improve applications and outreach without creating generic AI slop.

If you're spending more than 30 minutes tailoring each resume, you're wasting time. And no, you will not be blasting out the same AI-generated resume to every job. In this episode, you'll learn to use AI as a strategic tool to help you think more clearly, present your experience better, and align with what companies are actually looking for.

This episode covers the key takeaways from my full workshop, including:

  • Going from job posting to a tailored resume and cover letter in about 10 minutes
  • Picking the right AI models for different tasks (ChatGPT 5.1 vs Claude Sonnet)
  • Understanding what AI agents are and how they differ from simple prompts
  • Creating a strong base resume, then tailoring it to specific biotech job descriptions
  • Keeping your own voice while still matching the language companies use
  • Writing cover letters that connect your experience to a company's mission
  • Crafting networking and outreach messages that actually get replies
  • Avoiding AI hallucinations and generic wording that weaken your application
  • Using more than one model to double-check facts and phrasing before you send

This system is designed for biotech professionals who want to apply smarter, get better results, and stop spending hours on each application.

Want to see the full workshop with live demos? Watch the YouTube version where I build resumes from scratch, show every click, and demonstrate the entire workflow in real time.

💬 Want all the prompts, templates, and AI agents?

Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community, where you can:

  • Download the resume, cover letter and outreach templates
  • Copy the exact AI setups I use
  • Get feedback on your applications and job search strategy

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

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💼 LinkedIn

The LinkedIn Setting Turning Your Profile Into A Mess For Recruiters14 Nov 202500:07:29

Is a hidden LinkedIn setting making you look disorganized to recruiters?

In this episode, I show you the LinkedIn setting that quietly pulls messy CV text into your profile in the LinkedIn Recruiter view, and makes you look less professional than you really are.

If you have carefully curated your LinkedIn profile for job searching, you might be shocked to learn that recruiters often see a completely different version inside LinkedIn Recruiter. In this quick walkthrough, I show you exactly what is happening and how to switch it off.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How your public LinkedIn profile can look clean while your recruiter view is a wall of text
  • What the “Enhanced by resume” label means in LinkedIn’s hiring tools
  • How old CVs from “Easy Apply” can secretly overwrite your carefully edited experience section
  • Why this makes you look disorganised and less clear than you really are
  • Where to find the “Share resume data with hirers” setting in LinkedIn
  • How to turn off resume data sharing and remove old CVs from your profile settings
  • Why it is smart to review your LinkedIn data and AI settings regularly

If you would like another pair of eyes on how recruiters see your profile, you can share it in my community, and I can check it from the LinkedIn Recruiter side.

If you found this helpful, subscribe for more smart LinkedIn and job search tips, and stay tuned for my next episode on using AI intelligently in your job search.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 The hidden LinkedIn setting affecting biotech professionals

00:30 Creating organized LinkedIn profiles for biotech career searches

01:00 Real biotech profile example showing LinkedIn setting issues

01:30 How recruiters see your LinkedIn profile differently

02:00 LinkedIn setting enhanced by resume adding unwanted content

02:30 Duplicated roles from LinkedIn setting causing first impression problems

03:00 Where to find your LinkedIn settings and privacy controls

03:30 LinkedIn data privacy settings and AI training for biotech professionals

04:00 The LinkedIn setting for job seeking preferences and resume sharing

04:30 How to turn off the LinkedIn setting sharing your resume data

05:00 Real biotech student example with four shared resumes

05:30 Wrapping up the LinkedIn setting PSA

06:00 Free biotech career community offer and next week's AI episode

Networking That Works (Without Being Awkward or Cringe)07 Nov 202500:21:01

Most biotech professionals dread networking because it feels like cold calling, pushy, or inauthentic. If you've ever avoided reaching out because you didn't want to seem transactional or you felt stuck not knowing how to start a conversation, this episode is for you. Carina breaks down a strategic, human-centered approach to networking that leverages your natural curiosity as a scientist and turns it into your biggest career asset. You'll learn how to reconnect with former colleagues, build targeted networks within companies you want to work for, lead coffee chats that feel comfortable and genuine, and maintain momentum without burning out. Whether you're an introvert who freezes at networking events or someone who's been asking for jobs instead of building relationships, this episode will shift your mindset and give you scripts, strategies, and actionable steps to build a network that works for you long before you need it. Plus, Carina shares insider tips on volunteering, referrals, and how to follow up without feeling awkward. Ready to make networking less scary and way more effective? Join our free Biotech Career Coach Skool community for all the scripts, templates, and peer support to put these strategies into action.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why biotech networking feels like cold calling and how to reframe it

01:00 Networking for biotech professionals is a long game strategy

03:00 Stop asking for jobs through networking and build relationships instead

04:30 Leverage your curiosity as your biotech networking superpower

05:30 LinkedIn networking strategy for reconnecting with former colleagues

07:30 The virtual coffee networking offer that opens doors

08:30 How to grow your biotech network through warm introductions

09:00 Company targeted LinkedIn networking for biotech job seekers

11:00 The LinkedIn networking script for reaching out to biotech professionals

13:00 Turning networking coffee chats into job referrals

14:00 Biotech networking through volunteering for introverts

15:30 Networking coffee chats and the 80/20 rule for success

16:30 LinkedIn networking questions to prepare before your coffee chat

18:00 Following up on LinkedIn networking without being pushy

18:30 Daily networking habits that build your biotech career network

How To Fix Your Boring LinkedIn Headline31 Oct 202500:10:51

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on your profile, but most biotechnology professionals are wasting it. In this episode, Biotech Career Coach Carina Clingman reviews real LinkedIn biotech professional headlines to show you exactly what works and what doesn't. You'll see why leading with job titles or acronyms like "VP at Company X" or "Ex-FDA" falls flat, while headlines that lead with outcomes and value propositions get clicks. Carina breaks down examples in real time, rating them from one to five and explaining what makes headlines like "Helping Molecules Become Medicines" instantly compelling. Whether you're a scientist looking to stand out to recruiters, a founder or executive building your thought leadership, or anyone wanting to make their profile more clickable, this episode gives you the framework to audit and upgrade your own headline. Learn how to use the limited preview space in LinkedIn feeds strategically, why mission-driven language scores higher than corporate jargon, and how to turn credentials into click-worthy statements. Join our Free Biotech Career Coach Skool community for personalized feedback on your headline and connect with peers who are leveling up their LinkedIn presence.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why your LinkedIn headline matters for biotech professionals

00:30 How LinkedIn headlines appear in your profile feed preview

01:00 Rating LinkedIn headline examples for non-biotech professionals

02:00 Strong LinkedIn headline example with social proof and credibility

02:30 Why specificity and impact make LinkedIn headlines more effective

03:00 Mission-driven LinkedIn headlines that set biotechnology professionals apart

04:00 Common LinkedIn headline mistakes biotech professionals make with acronyms

05:00 Reframing negative language into positive outcomes for LinkedIn headlines

06:00 Creating compelling LinkedIn headlines for biotechnology professionals

07:00 Turning credentials into positive LinkedIn headline statements

08:00 LinkedIn headlines that showcase outcomes over job titles for biotech professionals

09:00 Getting LinkedIn headline feedback from the Free Biotech Career Coach Skool community

How to stop overthinking and start making career moves in five easy steps24 Oct 202500:31:54

Overthinking shows up as research without drafts, resumes that never get sent, and weeks of “planning” with nothing shipped. In this episode, I map out concrete ways to move from thinking to doing without burning out.

We walk through fear types (failure, rejection, judgment, and even success) and simple reframes that keep you moving. You’ll learn how to turn rejection into useful data, set one clear priority each day, and use time blocks and short deadlines so work actually leaves your laptop. We also cover how to pace growth so a bigger role feels sustainable, not scary, and how to build lightweight systems and feedback loops so you improve with every rep.

If you’re applying, aiming for promotion, or restarting after a stall, you’ll leave with a clear way to pick an action, ship it within 24 hours, and review what happened. No pep talks, just steps. Join our Free Biotech Career Coach Skool community for accountability, feedback, and tools to put this into practice.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

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💼 LinkedIn

00:00 What overthinking looks like in real life (and what it costs)

01:00 The overthinking tax with concrete job-search and BD examples

03:00 Spotting the pattern: hedging, silence, and drafts that never ship

06:30 Naming the fear: failure, rejection, judgment, success

08:30 Treat rejection as signal: raise sample size and iterate

10:30 Shrink the audience: optimize for three people who actually matter

12:00 Make success sustainable: pace growth and ask for support

18:30 Perfectionism in practice: time blocks, tight deadlines, accountability

23:00 Missing reps: daily actions, lightweight systems, faster feedback

26:00 The five-step exit loop: name it, detach, pick one, ship, review

Rewrite Your Story: Confident Interview Scripts to Explain Gaps, Layoffs, and Job Hops17 Oct 202500:24:18

When an interviewer asks about a layoff, a resume gap, or a short stint that didn’t work out, the goal isn’t to defend the past. It’s to show judgment, growth, and readiness for what’s next. In this episode, we walk through a simple narrative framework you can adapt to any uncomfortable situation: set the context briefly, name the decision you made, highlight the skills and results you built during or after the experience, and connect it directly to the role in front of you. You’ll hear examples for gaps, restructurings, performance issues, and culture misalignments, plus quick scripts you can practice to sound clear and calm under pressure. We’ll also cover how to avoid oversharing, how to keep emotions in check without sounding robotic, and how to end with a forward-looking close that refocuses the conversation on your value to the team. If you’re job searching in biotech or planning a move in the next six months, this is a repeat-listen episode.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why awkward questions derail good interviews

01:12 The formula to create a narrative for tough situations

03:05 Handling layoffs and restructurings without sounding defensive

05:02 What to say about resume gaps (caregiving, health, re-skilling)

07:10 Turning short stints and job hops into a story of good judgment

09:06 Addressing performance issues and what changed

11:02 How to avoid oversharing and manage tone

12:15 Forward-looking closes that refocus on value

13:30 Quick practice scripts you can adapt today

15:10 Final checklist before your next interview

Did AI Reject Me? How Recruiters are Currently Using AI and Automations10 Oct 202500:12:36

AI is changing the hiring process, but not in the way most candidates fear. In this podcast episode, Carina breaks down how applicant tracking systems are actually using AI today, why automated resume “fit” scores are often inaccurate for scientific roles, and where simple automations still drive real decisions. You’ll learn what recruiters really do when hundreds of resumes flood in, how Boolean keyword searches work, and why tailoring your resume to the job description still matters more than any gimmick. We also cover the rise of AI-driven follow‑ups and asynchronous video interviews, how to handle bot‑like application forms, and practical ways to showcase transferable skills as a career changer. This is a candid, recruiter‑level view of the ATS, specific actions to improve your visibility, and a clear picture of what’s coming next in biotech hiring so you can apply with confidence.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Is AI reviewing your resume? What’s real vs hype

01:00 ATS “AI” today: ranking and scoring… and why it’s often wrong for science

02:15 Legal constraints: AI can’t make hiring decisions in many states

03:00 Automations vs AI: knockout questions and policy filters

05:30 How recruiters actually screen: Boolean keyword searches at scale

06:45 Spotting bot‑driven applications and how to avoid looking like one

08:00 AI chatbots for follow‑ups: adding context, not auto‑rejecting

09:15 Asynchronous video interviews: why they’re growing and how to prep

10:30 Career changers: use async formats to surface transferable skills

11:05 Community invite and staying current on AI in recruiting

25 Interview Mistakes Biotech Candidates Keep Making (and how to fix them fast)03 Oct 202500:18:56

This episode is a practical playbook for biotech job seekers and career climbers who want to interview with clarity, energy, and impact. Carina breaks down 25 common mistakes that quietly cost candidates offers, from rambling to over‑indexing on technical detail to skipping metrics. You’ll learn how to answer the actual question asked, thread a positive through‑line across job changes, balance “I” and “we,” and anchor answers with outcomes and numbers. There’s tactical guidance for recruiter screens and onsite loops, including how to read cues to be concise, translate jargon, and prepare questions that reveal culture, expectations, and first‑90‑day success metrics. If you’re targeting roles across R&D, Quality, Clinical, or G&A in high‑growth biotechs, this episode will help you tighten your elevator pitch, signal motivation for the role and company, avoid negative framing, and follow up like a pro, so you leave every interviewer thinking you’re the obvious next hire.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

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💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Opening: why interview mistakes cost offers

01:00 Mistakes 1–2: rambling past 90s and talking too much

02:00 Mistakes 3–4: CV rehash and over‑indexing on technical detail

03:30 Mistakes 5–7: answer the question, why this role/company, show up with questions

05:00 Mistakes 8–10: no negativity, credit the team, use metrics and outcomes

07:00 Mistake 11: ask first‑90‑day success metrics

08:30 Mistakes 12–15: comp/title fixation, interrupting, sounding scripted, ignore cues

10:45 Mistakes 16–18: jargon with recruiters, own failures, replace “no/but” with “yes/and”

13:30 Mistakes 19–21: highlight JD tools, follow‑up in 24h, handle tech issues fast

15:45 Mistakes 22–25: bring energy, positive through‑line, ask success metrics, close the loop

Smart Questions to Ask in Your Recruiter Screen (and How to Use the Answers to Win the Next Round)26 Sep 202500:16:48

This week, Carina shows how to turn a short recruiter phone screen into a competitive advantage across the entire hiring process. Learn specific recruiter screen questions that uncover role must-haves, disqualifiers, and success criteria in the first 90 days, plus how to identify the tools, platforms, instrumentation, and assay techniques used by the team. Learn to gauge scope, autonomy, cross-functional collaboration, and culture signals without asking vague questions like “what’s the culture like?”, and use the responses to tailor your resume immediately with the right keywords, skills, and project language. Carina walks through a fast post-call workflow: capture tool names, assay types, team interfaces, and process timelines, then rewrite your highlights and bullet points using the company’s terminology to pass keyword screens and resonate with hiring managers. You’ll also get a concise thank‑you email structure that reinforces fit and provides your updated resume. Finally, Carina shares an advanced technique for using smart questions to surface your strongest story even if the interviewer doesn’t prompt it, so you can showcase your skills even if an interviewer doesn’t ask the right questions.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Why the recruiter screen matters more than you think

01:00 Don’t monopolize the call. Aim for a real conversation

02:05 Questions that reveal must-haves, disqualifiers, and keywords

03:05 What does success in the first 90 days look like and how is it measured?

04:05 Tools and techniques: ask specifics (platforms, instrumentation, assays) to show fluency

05:00 Scope and independence: owning work vs. being a cog

05:45 Team interfaces and workflows to expect, collaboration signals

06:20 Understanding process and timeline. When to follow up

07:05 Turn insights into resume updates with company language and ATS keywords

08:00 Capture tool names, assay types, and lingo that signal fit

09:00 Use AI notes or a prompt set to tailor your resume quickly

10:30 Thank‑you email structure that reinforces fit and invites forwarding

12:00 Avoid weak, generic questions candidates often ask

13:00 Advanced technique: use questions to surface your strongest, relevant story

15:00 Why guiding the conversation matters when interviewers miss key topics

A Career in Alliance Management (re-release)19 Sep 202500:31:35

In this career chat, I had a fun conversation with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics. Nicole shares her unique, non-linear career journey from research to HR and medical affairs, eventually leading to alliance management. We discuss the intricacies of an Alliance Manager's role, the importance of networking, and career transitions. Nicole emphasizes the significance of finding a mission-driven company and offers insights into work-life balance differences between the US and Abroad, as well as large and small companies. We also cover handling rejections, leveraging transferable skills, the pros and cons of pursuing advanced degrees, and the importance of self-advocacy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to strategically navigate their career path.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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How to Measure Success in a Job Search (re-release)12 Sep 202500:20:38

We're revisiting a powerful episode from our earlier catalog because it's a good reminder as we move into the fall job-seeking season. We discuss whether your job search is on the right track by examining key metrics. I give a blueprint for a gold-standard job search, informed by a decade of experience and interviews with thousands of successful candidates in the biotech industry. We review metrics for networking, application-to-interview ratios, interview progression rates, and offer negotiation tactics. By the end of the episode, listeners will understand how to measure their job search effectiveness and address any bottlenecks in the process to achieve better outcomes.

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00:00 Introduction: Is Your Job Search Going Well?

00:49 Understanding the Job Search Funnel

02:13 Networking: The Key to Job Search Success

07:33 Applications: Maximizing Your Hit Rate

11:06 Interviews: Advancing Through the Process

13:27 Offers: Negotiating Your Worth

16:57 Conclusion: Recap and Final Thoughts

Get Ready For Career SKOOL!05 Sep 202500:15:53

This week I’m sharing some exciting news: we’ve officially launched our new community on Skool, and it’s free to join.

I created this space to make job seeking and career development less isolating and more actionable. Inside, you’ll find resources, tools, and a network of peers who understand exactly what you’re going through.

Here’s what’s waiting for you when you join:

  • The 7-Day Interview Accelerator to get you interview-ready fast
  • Access to all of my existing courses and free resources
  • My AI Career Coach On Call, trained on 500+ hours of coaching and teaching
  • Weekly live Q&A sessions where I answer your career questions
  • A gamified system that rewards participation, including monthly prizes like hot-seat coaching sessions with me

In this episode, I’ll also walk you through some of the great questions we tackled in our first live Q&A and show you how the new platform makes it easy to connect, contribute, and grow together.

Join today, lock in some early perks, and start building the connections that will carry you through every stage of your career.

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00:00 Exciting Announcement: New Community Launch!

00:56 Past Attempts and Lessons Learned

02:02 Introducing the New Platform: School

02:22 Free Resources and Membership Tiers

04:07 Exclusive Tools and Weekly Q&A Sessions

06:21 Community Features and Navigation

10:13 Q&A Highlights and Career Tips

13:27 Join Us Today!

Never Fear Salary Negotiations Again: Panel Discussion Recap29 Aug 202500:19:26

This week, I participated in an American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) panel discussion with Brandon Miller on salary negotiations. We answered audience questions that explored creative strategies for successful negotiations, addressing topics such as counter offers, flexibility beyond base salary, and handling 'best offer' scenarios. We also discussed the importance of understanding the entire compensation package, including stock and equity considerations, as well as maintaining regular feedback with managers. Brandon and I both offered common negotiation mistakes and effective mindsets to adopt for a successful outcome. For more resources, join our community and access the full webinar on the AAPS website.


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00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:41 Panel Discussion Recap

01:29 Creative Salary Negotiation Strategies

01:56 Considering Work-Life Balance

03:41 Handling Firm Offers

05:41 Beyond Base Salary: Perks and Flexibility

06:35 Salary Disclosure Tips

08:14 Understanding Stock and Equity

10:32 Negotiating Raises with Current Employers

12:27 Common Mistakes in Salary Negotiations

15:04 Mindset for Successful Negotiations

16:35 Conclusion and Resources

February 2025 Career Coach insights: NIH Funding Freezes, Transferrable Skills, Networking Templates, and More08 Feb 202500:30:50

This week, join me for our monthly Ask Me Anything event where I address your questions about the biotech job market, effective networking strategies, and making successful career transitions. I discuss the impacts of the NIH and HHS funding uncertainty, tackling employment gaps on resumes, leveraging connections after a bad interview, and which to update first: LinkedIn profile or resume. Additional topics include how to translate academic experience into industry, the importance of career journaling, crafting compelling cover letters, and strategies for starting a biotech company in Michigan. Tune in for practical advice and actionable insights to boost your job search.

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00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:25 New Resources and Updates

02:13 Biotech Job Market Insights

03:49 Addressing Employment Gaps

05:13 Effective Networking Strategies

07:35 Job Search Tips and Strategies

13:39 Transitioning Between Roles

20:23 Starting a Biotech Company

22:14 Cover Letters and Resume Tips

24:38 Final Q&A and Conclusion

Plan Like a Pro: Notion Annual Planning Guide25 Jan 202500:50:50

Ready to make 2025 your most organized and productive year yet? In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful Notion template that transformed my own annual planning process. Whether you're a Notion newbie or a seasoned pro, you'll discover:

• A step-by-step system for setting meaningful goals that align with your values

• How to leverage AI prompts for deeper self-reflection and creative problem-solving

• Practical strategies for turning big dreams into manageable quarterly milestones

• A unique approach to accountability through "letters to your future self"

• Smart automation tips using ChatGPT to streamline your planning process

Plus, I'll show you exactly how to customize this template for your needs and maintain momentum through strategic check-ins with your manager. If traditional planning methods haven't worked for you, this AI-enhanced approach might be exactly what you need.


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00:00 Introduction to the Notion Template

01:17 Getting Started with the Template

02:52 Navigating the Template and Resources

04:53 Journaling for Annual and Quarterly Reflections

11:00 Using AI for Enhanced Journaling

16:05 Writing Letters to Your Future Self

22:52 Goal Planning and Setting

28:01 Setting Specific Goals

28:11 Customizing Your Goal Template

28:35 Defining Annual and Quarterly Goals

30:36 Breaking Down Goals into Milestones

32:01 Tracking Progress and Adjusting Plans

32:35 Adding Personal Goals

38:48 Weekly Check-ins and Manager Meetings

43:58 Using Notion's Features and Automations

48:33 Final Thoughts and Feedback

Annual Career Planning Strategy: Reflect, Plan, and Achieve in 202510 Jan 202500:24:40

Happy New Year! In this episode, I take you through my comprehensive strategy for annual career planning. We start by reflecting on achievements from 2024, followed by a journaling exercise where you write letters to your future self for one, three, and five years out. I guide you through breaking down these goals into manageable milestones and mini-milestones, translating them into SMART goals, and then seeking feedback from a mentor or supervisor. Learn about effective time blocking, the importance of community support, and creating systems that seamlessly integrate into your life. Stay tuned for a free Notion template packed with AI tools to help streamline your planning process.


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00:00 New Year, New Beginnings

00:47 Reflecting on the Past Year

01:31 Writing Letters to Your Future Self

03:24 Breaking Down Big Goals

07:20 Setting SMART Goals

10:45 Getting Buy-In from Your Manager

13:45 Building Habits and Systems

21:33 Conclusion and Upcoming Tools

Job Application Strategies for Biotech and Beyond13 Dec 202400:30:56

This week, listen to our monthly live virtual event, 'Ask Me Anything.' Attendees get insights on how to navigate job applications on LinkedIn, including strategies for contacting hiring managers and effective networking. We discuss tailoring resumes for biotech positions, transitioning from academia to industry, and navigating job market trends. I share tips on increasing energy in Zoom interviews and detecting potential job scams. The Q&A session covers alternative career paths within biotech, the value of work experience versus advanced degrees, and how to communicate relocation willingness on resumes effectively.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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00:00 Introduction and Event Overview

01:01 LinkedIn and Networking Tips

06:37 Breaking into Industry: Entry-Level Positions

07:30 Crafting an Effective Resume

11:21 Applying for Internships and Entry-Level Jobs

19:10 Market Trends and Job Search Strategies

23:38 Q&A: Scam Job Posts and Recruiters

26:53 Exploring Alternative Career Paths

28:54 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

A Career in Alliance Management with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics04 Nov 202400:30:32

In this career chat, I had a fun conversation with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics. Nicole shares her unique, non-linear career journey from research to HR and medical affairs, eventually leading to alliance management. We discuss the intricacies of an Alliance Manager's role, the importance of networking, and career transitions. Nicole emphasizes the significance of finding a mission-driven company and offers insights into work-life balance differences between the US and Abroad, as well as large and small companies. We also cover handling rejections, leveraging transferable skills, the pros and cons of pursuing advanced degrees, and the importance of self-advocacy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to strategically navigate their career path.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Introduction to Nicole Gampp and Her Unique Career Path

00:40 Nicole's Early Life and Education

01:35 Transitioning from Academia to Industry

02:59 Exploring Opportunities in HR and Medical Affairs

04:12 Discovering Alliance Management

04:33 Differences Between Working in Switzerland and the US

05:19 Advice for Aspiring Alliance Managers

07:07 Day-to-Day Responsibilities of an Alliance Manager

08:47 Skills and Strategies for Career Transitions

15:33 Navigating Job Transitions and Rejections

17:51 The Role of an MBA in Career Advancement

19:27 Certifications and Continuous Learning

20:34 Career Path and Future Aspirations

23:58 Company Culture and Work Environment

26:31 Mentorship and Networking

27:53 Final Thoughts and Advice

10 Resume Mistakes That Might Cost You Your Dream Job18 Oct 202400:21:28

In this episode, I explore 10 common resume mistakes that might be hindering your biotech job search. Drawing from my recent BioSpace column and observations, I offer practical advice on pitfalls to avoid, such as using profile pictures, fancy formatting, and not proofreading. I emphasize the importance of a professional email address and discuss the specific information you should never include. Learn how to stand out with a tidy and impactful resume, whether you're transitioning from academia or making a career shift. Don't miss my tips on effective formatting, using headlines, and hyperlinking publications. Email me at hello@collaboratorycareerhub.com for my proven resume template and start crafting a resume that gets noticed for all the right reasons.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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00:00 - Intro

00:31 - Avoid Profile Pictures in Resumes

00:55 - Steer Clear of Unusual Formatting

02:19 - Importance of Proofreading Your Resume

02:52 - Use Simple Bullet Points for Clarity

03:38 - Professional Email Address Essentials

04:30 - Avoid Oversharing Personal Information

05:45 - Skip the Objective Statement

08:18 - Beware of Keyword Stuffing

09:11 - Eliminate Jargon from Your Resume

09:58 - Keep It Concise: Don’t Write a Book

Empowering Careers: Gloucester Biotechnology Academy's Pathway to Biotech10 Oct 202400:34:36

In this episode of the Biotech Career Coach Podcast, we revisit an interview with John Doyle, Education Director at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, originally conducted for the Building Biotechs podcast. We discuss pathways for individuals with little to no experience to enter the biotech industry, emphasizing the academy's role in re-skilling and transitioning careers through intensive training programs. John tells us about the academy's offerings, including a seven-month training curriculum followed by internships, industry partnerships, and their outreach through middle school programs to inspire young minds. We also highlight the Massachusetts Life Sciences Internship Challenge and the benefits it offers companies in hiring capable interns. The value of the program is showcased through alumni success stories and the academy's holistic support system for students.

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00:00 Introduction to the Interview with John Doyle

00:47 Overview of Gloucester Biotech Academy

03:04 John Doyle's Background and Journey

04:17 GMGI's Triad Strategy and Marine Sciences Focus

09:29 Industry Partnerships and Internship Programs

16:28 Application Process and Student Experience

25:29 Middle School Program and Community Outreach

32:09 Conclusion and Contact Information

Am I a Failure? Thoughts on Returning to Academia03 Oct 202400:17:37

In this episode, I explore the notion of perceived career setbacks, particularly regarding the decision to return to academia after a stint in industry. This topic often arises during coaching sessions where individuals express concerns about the job market and their career trajectories. We discuss recent trends, including market corrections and layoffs, that have impacted employment prospects in biotech. Through real-life stories, I highlight various career paths and the importance of adapting and expanding skill sets. Ultimately, the message is clear: there is no linear career path, and one's career decisions should be personal, aiming to gain new skills and build networks.


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00:00 Introduction: Academia vs. Industry

00:56 The Job Market Shift

02:23 Evaluating a Return to Academia

03:18 Case Studies: Real-Life Examples

10:51 Navigating the Hybrid Career Path

14:00 Conclusion: Your Career, Your Choice

Fall into Success: The Best Time to Apply for Jobs, plus other tips from our Live AMA September13 Sep 202400:26:04

In this episode, I share highlights from a recent ask me anything event in our community, where I addressed key questions from members about biotech careers, including opportunities for immigrants, tackling interview challenges, job market trends, and strategic job application timing. Join our community ask great questions and learn from others making their way in biotech.

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00:00 Introduction and Event Overview

00:30 Prospects for Immigrants in Biotech

04:12 Handling Job Interview Questions

07:45 Market Trends and Job Application Timing

11:48 Breaking into Biotech from Academia

15:13 HR and Recruiter Interview Goals

19:59 Job Hunting Tips and Networking

23:35 Conclusion and Next Steps

Boost Your Charisma: How to Attract Jobs and Inspire Others06 Sep 202400:19:27

In this episode, I discuss actionable tips from our recent book club read, 'Captivate,' on how to enhance your charisma for job interviews and networking. I'll share key themes and personal strategies for making a strong first impression, even if you're not naturally charismatic. Learn about the importance of setting up your environment, using body language effectively, and engaging others with genuine interest. This episode focuses on the first half of the book, which is relevant to job searches and interviews, but please join our community for the full discussion if you want to learn how to apply this to getting promoted.


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00:00 Introduction to 'Captivate' and Charisma

01:16 Book Club Discussion Overview

01:53 Personal Experiences with Charisma

04:42 Networking Tips and Strategies

07:44 Interview Techniques and First Impressions

12:38 Engaging Conversations and Networking Secrets

16:26 Conclusion and Further Resources

The Secret to Workplace Happiness: Great Leadership23 Aug 202400:47:33

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Kyle Huggins, the founder and CEO of Management Mogul. Kyle shares his journey from a rocky start with a liberal arts degree amidst the post-2008 crash to becoming a leader at Deloitte and eventually founding his own company. We explore the importance of developing foundational leadership skills such as building rapport, influence, and trust within teams. Kyle emphasizes the importance of mentorship and accountability, and provides insights into his methodology for effective leadership and stress-reducing work strategies. We also discuss his recently launched 'Five Days to Instant Team Trust' challenge aimed at helping new and aspiring leaders build trust with their teams. Be sure to jump into that challenge while it’s free for a limited time!


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00:00 Introduction to Kyle Huggins and Leadership Skills

02:22 Kyle's Career Journey and Early Challenges

04:23 Mentorship and Key Leadership Lessons

06:17 Scaling Leadership and Founding Management Mogul

09:47 Addressing Leadership Gaps in the Workforce

14:26 The Importance of Influence and Methods

23:20 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Coaching

23:48 Investing in Leadership Training

24:13 Navigating Early Career Challenges in Biotech

August Career Coach Insights15 Aug 202400:27:00

In this episode, I dive deeper into my monthly BioSpace column answers, providing detailed advice on transitioning from academia to biotech, creating impactful industry resumes, and handling team leadership stress. I also discuss how to address pre-planned vacations when starting a new job and announce an exciting new format for next month's session: a live 'Ask Me Anything.'

Sign up for the newsletter at biotechcareercoach.com to join the live session!

Don't miss next week's episode, which features a special guest on early leadership skills and building team trust.

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00:00 Introduction to the Biospace Column Answers

00:39 Transitioning from Academia to Biotech

01:56 Crafting an Effective Industry Resume

06:44 Highlighting Key Achievements and Publications

09:45 Addressing Job Descriptions and Keywords

13:50 Managing Pre-Planned Vacations in a New Job

16:48 Handling Leadership Stress and Delegation

23:24 Upcoming Live Ask Me Anything Session

Exploring a Career in Biotech Consulting09 Aug 202400:26:11

In this career chat, Christina Guerrier shares her journey from healthcare and biotech to founding her own consulting firm, Protean Insights Partner. Christina discusses her transitions across various roles, from project management to strategy development, and the blend of skills that facilitated her success. She provides valuable insights on networking, the nuances between the healthcare and biotech sectors, and the attributes of a good consultant. The conversation also touches on balancing consulting work with potential full-time opportunities, the potential impact of AI in healthcare, and maintaining continuous business development.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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00:00 Introduction to the Career Chat Series

00:50 Christina's Journey into Biotech

02:10 Career Shifts and Key Roles

04:46 Founding a Consulting Firm

05:46 Healthcare vs. Biotech: Cultural Differences

07:23 The Role of a Consultant

09:17 Networking Tips and Strategies

11:56 Balancing Consulting and Full-Time Roles

14:21 Managing Scope and Expectations

17:29 Exciting Trends in Healthcare and Research

18:46 Q&A and Final Thoughts

Find Your North Star with Bruce Wu02 Aug 202400:21:40

This week, I am thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Bruce Wu, whom we’ve interviewed before on our sister podcast 'Building Biotechs.' Bruce has held a series of executive roles, including Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer. Bruce has recently started to offer executive coaching to aspiring leaders. In this episode, Bruce shares his philosophies on executive coaching, career advancement, and the importance of finding your North Star. We also discuss his commitment to supporting our community through leadership training and coaching sessions, aiming to help individuals navigate their career trajectories with confidence.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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00:00 Exciting Announcement: Meet Bruce!

00:16 Bruce's Journey to Executive Coaching

01:54 The Importance of Inclusion in Leadership

04:06 Introducing Leadership Training at Collaboratory

06:22 Navigating Difficult Conversations

06:58 Finding Your North Star

10:11 The Role of Executive Coaching in Biotech

16:43 Bruce's Vision for the Future

19:10 Join Our Community and Interact with Bruce

From the Bench to Program Management: Career Chat with Surina Sikka, Program Manager at Moderna26 Jul 202400:38:56

In this episode, we chat with Surina Sikka, a Program Manager at Moderna, about her unique career journey. Serena begins by discussing her early career as a biochemist and her progression from lab work to program management. She highlights the skills and experiences that facilitated her transition, including a crucial course from MassBio in biotechnology project management. Surina also shares invaluable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of a program manager and offers tips for those looking to make a similar career shift. Additionally, she recounts her unique experience obtaining a green card, providing actionable advice for those on a similar path. 

00:00 Introduction to Program Management with Serena Seca

01:31 Serena's Unique Path to Program Management

01:51 Transitioning from Lab to Management: A Personal Journey

04:27 The Pivot to Program Management: Learning and Adapting

16:00 The Role of a Program Manager: Insights and Responsibilities

19:37 Navigating Clinical Stage Program Challenges

20:29 The Journey to a Green Card: Overcoming Obstacles

28:02 Exploring Career Paths: From Research to Program Management

31:28 Future Aspirations and Career Planning

34:01 Understanding Alliance and Portfolio Management

37:16 Closing Remarks and Community Engagement

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July Career Coach Insights19 Jul 202400:10:51

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my office hours session, where I answered questions from our community that were featured in my latest career coach column in Biospace. I discussed how to gain lab experience for a biotech career, handling a bad interview experience, and navigating promotions without salary increases, aks 'Dry' promotions. Tune in to hear practical advice and actionable tips for advancing your biotech career, and let me know if you like this format for some of our future podcast episodes.

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00:00 Introduction to Office Hours

00:35 Breaking into Biotech Without Lab Experience

03:25 Handling a Bad Interview Experience

05:52 Dealing with a Promotion Without a Salary Increase

09:16 Conclusion and Feedback Request

From Science to Business: Career Chat with Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Business Officer at OrganaBio27 Jun 202400:39:31

In this insightful live discussion, we explore the career journey of Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Business Officer at OrganaBio. Priya shares her unexpected transition from a traditional academic path as a biomedical engineer to strategic positions in growing biotech startups. She discusses the challenges and opportunities she faced, the importance of networking, and balancing multiple responsibilities. Priya also reflects on the emotional experiences of being laid off and having to lay off others.

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00:00 Exploring the Role of a Chief Business Officer in Biotech

01:54 The Unconventional Journey from Scientist to Business Leader

03:21 Navigating Career Shifts: From Academia to Industry

12:52 The Power of Networking and Embracing New Opportunities

17:20 Balancing Science and Business in a Leadership Role

19:48 Balancing Work and Family Life

19:58 The Joy and Challenges of Parenting

20:16 Finding Time for Personal Connections

20:24 Navigating Work-Life Chaos

20:50 Transitioning into Regenerative Medicine

21:06 Career Opportunities in Regenerative Medicine

21:15 The Importance of Versatility and Lifelong Learning

23:11 Leveraging Free Educational Resources

24:15 The Impact of Networking and Professional Growth

24:36 Reflecting on Career Milestones

25:20 The Power of Networking and Opportunities

28:37 The Value of Professional Organizations

31:42 Navigating Layoffs from Both Sides

38:43 Embracing the Rite of Passage in the Industry

39:21 Conclusion and Encouragement to Connect

June Career Coach Insights: Job interviews, pulled offers, and unhappiness at work14 Jun 202400:21:17

Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we discuss strategies for handling multiple job interviews, the importance of keeping an open mind, and pursuing roles that align with your career goals. We also tackle the disappointment of pulled job offers and provide advice on maintaining momentum in your job search. For those seeking career growth, we address handling difficult work environments, the importance of effective communication with managers, and the transition from academia to industry. Join our community to share experiences and find support in your biotech career journey.

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00:00 Introduction to the Career Coach Column

00:21 Navigating Multiple Job Interviews

06:02 Dealing with a Pulled Job Offer

10:48 Career Development and Promotions

19:00 Conclusion and Community Engagement

How to Measure Success in a Job Search07 Jun 202400:21:21

In this episode, we discuss whether your job search is on the right track by examining key metrics. I give a blueprint for a gold-standard job search, informed by a decade of experience and interviews with numerous successful candidates in the biotech industry. We go over metrics for networking, applications-to-interviews ratios, interview progression rates, and offer negotiation tactics. By the end of the episode, listeners will understand how to measure their job search effectiveness and address any bottlenecks in the process to achieve better outcomes.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

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00:00 Introduction: Is Your Job Search Going Well?

00:49 Understanding the Job Search Funnel

02:13 Networking: The Key to Job Search Success

07:33 Applications: Maximizing Your Hit Rate

11:06 Interviews: Advancing Through the Process

13:27 Offers: Negotiating Your Worth

16:57 Conclusion: Recap and Final Thoughts

Making Hard Conversations Easier with Radical Candor31 May 202400:12:22

In this episode, we dive into 'Radical Candor' by Kim Scott, a must-read for anyone aiming to improve their leadership and communication skills. This podcast features excerpts from a recent interactive book club, highlighting key discussions about how to provide and receive honest feedback effectively. I share some personal insights on applying the book's principles in both professional and personal settings, including practical advice on maintaining regular, goal-oriented meetings with managers.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

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00:00 Introduction to Radical Candor

00:23 Book Club Format and Purpose

01:24 Personal Impact and Application

02:44 Updated Version Insights

03:39 Effective Feedback and Communication

05:59 Managing Upwards

08:34 Goal Setting Strategies

09:51 Conclusion and Community Invitation

Mastering Industry Job Talks: A Step-by-Step Guide24 May 202400:32:08

In this episode, we explore the step-by-step process of preparing an industry job talk that can significantly boost your chances of landing a job. From crafting a compelling introduction with a strong hook to organizing your presentation with engaging storytelling techniques such as 'yes, and' and 'and, but, therefore,' this guide provides invaluable tips. Learn the importance of simple and visually appealing slides, tying your research back to the job description, and effectively handling Q&A sessions. This comprehensive roadmap also emphasizes the need for practice and the power of enthusiasm in delivering a captivating job talk.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Introduction to Crafting an Industry Job Talk

00:23 Creating a Compelling Introduction

02:48 Structuring Your Talk with Stories and Roadmaps

03:41 Tying Research Back to the Job Description

09:20 Effective Slide Design and Presentation Tips

12:11 Connecting Your Work to the Job and Handling Q&A

17:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

May Career Coach Insights: Navigating Career Gaps and Mastering the Hiring Process17 May 202400:37:48

Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we offer deeper insights into navigating the job market and the hiring process. There's a lot of stigma and confusion surrounding career gaps, but recruiters are more interested in how candidates have used their time to maintain or enhance their skills. This episode provides practical advice on how candidates can positively frame their career breaks during interviews, using tutoring as an example of a valuable experience. We also advise junior hiring managers on running an efficient and compliant hiring process within resource-limited environments, such as startups. We also touch upon the legal considerations in interviews, stressing the importance of only asking job-related questions to avoid discrimination.


Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Welcome to My Career Coach Column Deep Dive

00:18 Navigating Career Gaps with Confidence

00:53 The Art of Presenting Your Career Gap in Interviews

02:51 Leveraging Tutoring and Mentorship During Career Breaks

06:36 Advice for First-Time Hiring Managers in Startups

07:56 Mastering the Hiring Process: A Guide for New Managers

12:06 Optimizing Hiring with Data and Efficiency

15:12 Implementing a Data-Driven Candidate Assessment Strategy

18:39 Mastering Data-Driven Hiring

20:12 Creating a Solid Hiring Process: A Three-Pronged Approach

21:34 Navigating the Legal Landscape of Hiring

22:50 The Dos and Don'ts of Interview Questions

32:38 Effective Behavioral-Based Interviewing

34:38 Concluding Thoughts on Hiring Excellence

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