Using the web to get a job
Browsing the web can sometimes be very interesting to find sources about future biotech employment. Apart from job platforms, there is much more out there. Although everyone is morning nowadays about financial crisis, Twitter, LinkedIn, XING and other social networks as well as blogs can not only keep you informed about what is going on in biotech right now – but can also potentially get you in touch with a future employee! People there are not only morning, but still looking forward, and browsing these information sources, you can feel the spirit of open-mindedness and the ease of getting in touch with these people who communicate. There are still a lot of interesting people out there, and sometimes, job opportunities pop up via these informal information sources before they are posted to big job portals. And even if its not about the people directly, it is about their CVs, their experiences or their thinkings which you can see by browsing the forums, blogs or profiles on the web, which can be very inspiring to find a job.
But how to get started exactly?
First of all, there are blogs out there that give advise on how to find a job. Most of them are American, though, as web 2.0 and blogs are tools that are used much mmore than in Europe. A typical example could be the Science Careers Blog, but there are even examples about sites that give Tips how to become a Medical Sales Recruiter.
Then, social networks can be a good opportunity. Two major ones are out there for professionals: LinkedIn with a more American focus and XING with a more European one. In these networks, you can find forums and groups for Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry and so many more. In these groups, you can find people, discussions, hints for lab practice and most important job offers. Most of these groups are in the range of thousands of members, up to over 30.000 sometimes! And you can try to find your alumnis there…
Third, new tools like twitter can be an informal information source. There some interesting biotech-channels on Twitter and Tweets that collect information of the field – e.g. Science rss – and again most importantly people who talk and who you can get in touch with. Typical example of a twittering professional would be Dr. Mark Drapeau.
Last but not least, there are newsletters out there with interesting job opportunities such as the one from Biospace.
So, the web can be, if you know how to use it, also a very good opportunity to get in touch with people and to boost your career.
What are your experiences in this field? Did you already find a job on the net?
I think that 2.0 tools make you spend more time checking the lastest job openings and applying for your favourite offers. But since these news are received simultaneously by thousands of people, you get the feeling of playing lotto rather then seriously competing for a specific position.