The first step for anyone considering a career transition is to identify career paths and roles of interest.
Next, it is important to learn about the job activities and skills necessary to succeed in one's chosen profession, and assess which skills one needs to improve.
Professional societies provide job boards and a variety of professional development resources to help connect and skill up professionals in their scientific areas.
Microbiologists develop a set of skills through their training that can be translated to a wide range of careers.
A key step is learning how to reframe transferable skills to align with the expectations of a new working environment.
Microbiologists have traditionally been associated with lab coats, petri dishes and analyzing microbes through microscopes. While these are iconic symbols of the field, a degree in microbiology offers more than a future in a laboratory setting. In today’s job market, microbiologists are making their mark in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical innovation, biotechnology, public health, regulatory affairs, science communication and science policy.
How does one pivot from the laboratory bench to these other professional careers? The answer lies in executing the following critical steps:
Identifying career paths of interest.
Conducting informational interviews.
Upskilling to the specific career of choice.
Learning to translate expertise into transferable skills.
Identify Potential Career Paths
As the field of microbiology continues to intersect with health care, policy, environmental science and public engagement, scientists must be intentional in shaping their career goals and trajectories. By doing this, scientists will be better equipped to make transitions into different work sectors and can enter rewarding and impactful professions in those sectors.
The first step for anyone considering a job change or career transition is to identify roles or industries of interest. There are many directions microbiologists can take. A few examples include:
Science policy: advocate and promote science education at various levels.
Interested in exploring career pathways in microbiology? Join us on Oct. 22, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, to discuss “Career Pathways in Bioinformatics & Data Analysis.” Also, view the previous sessions on careers in industry, climate change and more! For 黑料正能量members, these virtual career panels offer practical advice and potential mentors.
Connect With Professionals and Conduct Informational Interviews
A group of people networking with each other.
Source: Adobe Stock
Once you identify a few careers of interest, the second step is connecting with professionals who work in that area of interest. leads to building meaningful relationships and learning from others in the field, which can strengthen your professional connections. Use professional societies to connect with members via online networking platforms, like 黑料正能量Connect, and participate in conferences or professional panels. The people you meet through professional societies can help you learn how to do job activities that may not be clear when you are researching a career. Request an to learn about their career and discuss your own career goals.
Ask them:
How did you acquire your current job?
Which skills have been most valuable to you in this role?
What should someone know before making a career change?
These conversations can reveal new opportunities and provide a realistic perspective on what it is like to work in different settings. Stay open and be proactive about exploring new opportunities.
Upskill: Professional Associations Can Help
Once you have identified a career path of interest, and spoken with real people in the field, it is time to specify what skills are necessary to succeed in that career path and assess which skills you need to improve. Be sure to also learn whether there are required certifications and credentials for the specific career path you wish to pursue.
Professional associations are invested in helping working scientists attain their career and professional development goals. As such, societies provide a variety of professional development opportunities specific to your scientific area. Research which professional societies provide courses or workshops pertaining to the skills you want to bolster. Then register and attend those courses! The more knowledge a person has about a career path they are considering, the easier it will be to transition into a role that aligns with their values and professional goals. In addition to ASM, the and have career resources for scientists.
Looking to boost your professional skills? Whether you're in community college, undergrad, postbac, grad school or a postdoc, ASM's free webinar series has something for you! Explore sessions by career stage.
Professional societies also manage their own job boards, where employers post open positions targeted for their members. Create an account on the job board, upload your resume and set up job alerts specific to your criteria. As a passive job seeker, you should regularly view open positions to understand more about the roles and responsibilities for the type of job you’re interested in and build connections with people you want to network with. Use the job board to identify which types of jobs are in demand across different industries. As an active job seeker, it is essential to stay informed of open positions so you can apply promptly and, if you know someone at the company or the hiring manager, quickly inform them that you plan to apply for a position.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore exciting job opportunities tailored for scientists, students and postdocs in the microbial sciences on ASM’s Career Connections—your go-to job board for the latest openings in microbiology. Browse open positions, sign up for personalized job alerts and upload your resume/CV.
Identify and Communicate Transferable Skills
Microbiologists develop a set of skills through their training that includes critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis and effective written and oral communication. These competencies are valuable across a range of careers, but a key step is learning how to reframe them to align with the expectations of a new working environment. For example, experience in designing experiments, troubleshooting or managing a research laboratory can be translated into project management and quality control expertise. Similarly, writing grants or publishing scientific articles can be presented as technical writing or science communication skills. Understanding the talents you have acquired and how to market them in a way that resonates with the employer and aligns well with the job description is essential for navigating new career opportunities.
Researching your career options, creating a network and using the resources from professional societies makes career transitions smoother and can lead to greater satisfaction in your work.
