SDBC Bio-Link ConferenceSDBC Bio Link Conference01/14/2012

Quynh NguyenQuynh NguyenLab Support, a Division of On

Assignment

About Lab Support, a Division of On AssignmentAbout Lab Support, a Division of On Assignment

• Incorporated in 1985; IPO 1992 (NASDAQ: ASGN)• Leading provider of skilled scientific, clinical research,

engineering and healthcare professionals • Provide direct hire contract to hire short & long term contract • Provide direct hire, contract-to-hire, short & long-term contract,

internships, managed staffing, and payroll services • > 200,000 scientists and healthcare professionals placedp p• Unique provider of Safety Ready and cGMP training to all

contractors• Employee benefits include health & dental coverage, referral

bonus, paid holidays, 401K, and appreciation bonuses

About Lab SupportAbout Lab Support

Lab Support Value OfferingLab Support Value Offering

Lab Support Value OfferingLab Support Value Offering

• Our recruiters are industry professionals – scientists, research associates, chemists, biologists, microbiologists, food scientistsO t ff h l i t ti ith did t • Our staff has personal interaction with every candidate we placeO t h lt ti l ti hi ith li t• Our team has consultative relationships with our clients

• Our recruiters “closes-the-loop” by making the match personallymatch…personally

Lab Support Employee BenefitsLab Support Employee Benefits

• Competitive Salary• Health & Dental Insurance (after 30 days)• Paid Holidays• Appreciation Bonuses• Appreciation Bonuses• Health & Safety Training• cGMP/GLP TrainingcGMP/GLP Training• Career Development, Counseling• 401k plan• Referral Bonus Program

A Career Minded Job SearchA Career Minded Job Search

• Start now!• Make a plan with room for flexibility• Set short term and long term goals• Think about your ideal position versus your minimum

expectations. • Decide where your priorities lie• Consider different employment options to meet your

needs: full time, part time, contract

How to Be EmployableHow to Be Employable

• Think SKILLS• Be proactive • Be flexible, realistic, & open minded• Invest in yourself• Welcome challenges!!g

Tips for a Successful Technical ResumeTips for a Successful Technical Resume

• Review experiments / lab notebooks and any significant results or accomplishments

• Do not embellish• Bring all technical experience to the forefront• Use bullets, not paragraphs• Keep it legible: reasonable font size, margin space• Always run Spell/Grammar check, and have a close

friend or colleague review

Sections of a Technical ResumeSections of a Technical Resume

• Header • Summary/Objective/Profile• Education

L b t Skill• Laboratory Skills• Work Experience/History

T i i d/ C tifi ti • Training and/or Certifications • Presentations• Publications• Publications• Awards/Recognition

ObjectiveObjective

• A clear, concise statement of intention• Not too broad or too narrow!!• Complete the sentence:

The goal of my job search is to obtain _______An entry level position conducting field research for an

i t l environmental agencyA research associate/scientist position in a reputable

biopharmaceutical companyb op a aceut ca co pa y

EducationEducation

• Degree, school, major, year of graduation (optional)• Optional: include GPA, coursework, awards• If applicable, include information on your thesis,

directed and/or independent research projects

Laboratory SkillsLaboratory Skills

• LIST all skills in which you are proficient• Include skills from academic labs, internships, and work

experience• Formats: Excel Table, Columns, BulletsExamples:Biology: PCR, SDS Page, Western Blots, Gram Staining, ELISA,

Dissection, Animal Handling Chemistry: Titration Dilutions Distillation Organic Synthesis GC Chemistry: Titration, Dilutions, Distillation, Organic Synthesis, GC,

HPLC, IR, NMR

Technical Work ExperienceTechnical Work Experience

• List in reverse chronological orderI l d d t f l t & l ti• Include dates of employment, company, & location

• Describe skills used, how/why they were applied, and personal contributions to the projectp p j

Associate Scientist, XYZ Lab, San Diego CA MM/YY-MM/YY• Sequenced DNA samples to identify polymorphisms in test populations• Ran PCR and electrophoresis gels to verify polymorphisms• Identified 4 polymorphisms which will be the subject of further study

Preparing to InterviewPreparing to Interview

• Review technical skills• Review work history• Research the company• Prepare questions for the interviewer• Dress appropriatelypp p y• Plan to arrive 10 minutes early

What Employers Look Out ForWhat Employers Look Out For

• Clear communication skills• Verbal: team environment• Written: GLP/GMP report writing

• Enthusiasm & Interest • Commercial awareness• Adaptability • Technical Skills• Relevant experience

Phone Interview TipsPhone Interview Tips

• Be Prepared - If you are selected for a phone interview, you have met the minimum requirements. It is important to treat the phone interview as if it were q s s p p sa face-to-face interview.

• Research the Company - Prior to the interview, review any available online information for the company and industry trends. This will allow you to d t t k l d d i th i t idemonstrate your knowledge during the interview.

• Review the Job Description – Print a copy of the job description and include notes on how your skills and experience match the employer’s requirements. R R i Th hi i ill k ti b d th • Resume Review – The hiring manager will ask questions based on the information summarized in your resume. It is important to not read off the resume when responding to his/her questions.

• Dress for Success - In addition to preparing mentally it may be helpful to Dress for Success In addition to preparing mentally, it may be helpful to dress business casual for your phone screen. It will help set your mood.

Phone Interview TipsPhone Interview Tips

• Be Prompt - If you are supposed to call the hiring manager, be prompt. Please do not call ahead of schedule as the hiring manager may have other hi l d i h d l d h i ithings planned prior to your scheduled phone interview.

• Ask Questions - Without the advantage of facial expressions, it is hard to gauge whether or not you have answered a question to the hiring manager's satisfaction. If you are unsure of the question, ask for clarification. If your y q , yanswer is met with silence, you may want to see if the hiring manager understood you by asking a clarification question such as, "Did I sufficiently answer your question?"

• Salary – If possible avoid discussing compensation A phone interview is Salary If possible, avoid discussing compensation. A phone interview is usually an initial step in the hiring process and you probably do not have enough information to estimate your worth in the new position.

• Closing - Thank the hiring manager for taking the time to speak with you. Your outgoing voicemail message should also be professional in case the Your outgoing voicemail message should also be professional in case the hiring manager calls again with additional questions and you are not available to take the call.

Panel InterviewPanel Interview

• In a panel interview, two or more interviewers play off each other while taking turns asking you questions. A panel interview is while taking turns asking you questions. A panel interview is appropriately nicknamed a "tag-team interview". It's primarily to see how well you handle stress while facing a "firing squad". A panel interview also measures how you interact with different

l i ll f b k b hpeople, especially your future bosses, work peers, or both.• You'll need to be on your toes a little more, but you'd prepare for

a panel interview pretty much the same as you would for a one- i t i on-one interview.

• Study the job description to determine what they're looking for. • Study your resume, so you can quickly answer questions about y y y y

it. • Research the company to show that you've done your

homework.

Panel InterviewPanel Interview

• Prepare meaningful questions to ask the interviewers. • Rehearse presenting your accomplishments experience and skills • Rehearse presenting your accomplishments, experience and skills. • Practice answering common interview questions. • Dress appropriately, show good manners and be conscious of your body

language. language. • Respond initially to the panel interviewer who asked the question, but try

not to get tunnel vision from anxiety. • As you proceed with your answer, also acknowledge the other panel y p y , g p

interviewers by maintaining a comfortable level of eye contact. Scan from one pair of eyes to the next, pausing briefly on each. (In other words, speak to the whole panel.) A fi i h f b k th i t i h k d th • As you finish your answer, focus back on the interviewer who asked the question, and get ready to shift your attention to the next who speaks.

InterviewingInterviewing

• Be mindful of body language and eye contact• Maintain a positive attitude• Keep answers concise• Speak clearly- make sure the interviewer can hear you

and understand what you are saying by speaking at a normal pace.

Professional Etiquette & Interview Follow UpProfessional Etiquette & Interview Follow Up

• Follow up with a written thank you note and email, make sure you personalize each note if you had multiple interviewersB i i d th t b id d f lti l • Bear in mind that you may be considered for multiple opportunities in a single organizationAl b t f db k t h • Always be open to feedback as to how you may improve your candidacy

Career Path OptionsCareer Path Options

• IndustryPharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device, Diagnostic, Food/Beverage, Consumer Products, Clean/Green TechnologiesTechnologies

• Academia• Government• Government

Medical, Environmental, Public Health

Scientific Career Paths Outside the LabScientific Career Paths Outside the Lab

• Business DevelopmentCli i l O ti• Clinical Operations

• Corporate Communication• Patent Law• Recruiting• Regulatory

S &• Sales & Marketing• Stock Analyst• Technical WritingTechnical Writing• Technology Transfer• Venture Capital

Thank You!Thank You!

SAN DIEGO LAB SUPPORT

Quynh Nguyen, BS Chemistry619.516.4080

Quynh.Nguyen@labsupport.comy g y @ pp