I finally got a job! Its a good solid role, as Director in the Scientific group at a major Biotech company. I was laid off in mid 2024 as part of a layoff wave. Since then I have applied to maybe a billion jobs, many interviews (through connections) but no job. I decided within 3 months that I wouldn't get a traditional job in the current terrible job market. So I hustled - started my LLC and took on biotech consulting gigs (scientific advisory) - thankfully, it bore fruit and I was able to pay my bills. It also made me look good on my resume. The applications have been going out non-stop - till last month. The job I got was exactly in line with my experience and expertise but so were so many others! I couldn't get people to actually see my CV. The hiring process is so broken because everyone is using AI to make their CV look like a 100% match. Recruiters are clueless as to who is the real deal. Anyway, I finally got it because someone I know knew someone etc and finally the hiring manager saw my CV and immediately contacted me.
I can sleep easy now, phew! What a terrible 2 years.
I wish everyone looking for jobs - all the best, and to be patient and try their best, and also network, as well. Also, try to do something to earn in the present tense. You never know how long this crazy time will last.
EDIT 1:
Thank you everyone for your best wishes. This post got a lot of positive attention! I got a lot of questions about my consulting gig, so I put together something:
About my Consulting experience - While I can’t speak for everyone, especially new grads, this is the path that worked for me (I used AI to just organize my writing, but these really are my experiences):
Industry Strategy & Networking
- Leveraged a Decade of Networking: I spent the last 10 years building a very large professional network to draw upon.
- Industry Leadership Experience: I worked in various leadership roles within the industry, which gave me a deep understanding of how things actually work.
- Continuous Learning: I regularly attended free industry webinars in my field to stay current.
- Utilizing Entrepreneur Hubs: I joined a local, government-funded entrepreneur hub where I met others in similar situations, some of which eventually turned into business opportunities.
- LLC branding: I invested in the LLC - made a simple basic website, made a LinkedIn page, got a bunch of my connections to follow it (did not spend on ads), got business cards etc
Academic & University Engagement
- Targeting Academic Startups: I focused on startups led by brilliant people who had incredible ideas but zero industry knowledge. By using my network and industry insights, I secured collaborations and business partners for these startups, helping them grow their businesses significantly.
- University Mentorship: I volunteered as an industry mentor at two local universities; over time, these evolved into paid roles and new connections.
- Giving Back to Students: I hosted free webinars for graduating students from time to time to build my profile.
Pricing & Positioning
- Strategic Pricing: Although my market rate should have been $350/hour, I started low at $125/hour. This allowed me to quickly secure at least 20 hours of work per week—translating to $10K/month. This is less than my target (and now current) salary, but it was enough for me to be comfortable. I gradually increased my rates for newer gigs while maintaining the original rate for steady, existing customers.
- Focusing on Niche over Scale: I briefly explored but ultimately decided against joining large firms like Accenture or BCG. They have different requirements that didn’t fit my specific background and approach.