Biotech & Pharmaceutical

Brief Overview

Pharmaceuticals refer to medicines made of small synthetically produced molecules. Large pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck have huge research and development and manufacturing departments with subsidiaries across the world. The top 10 pharmaceutical companies account for 60 percent of total sales. Most biotech companies are small, research-oriented companies dedicated to applying genetics and other biological systems to curing disease. Some of the large pharmaceutical companies are acquiring the small biotech companies thus blurring the dividing line between the two industries. Pharmaceutical companies often mass market their products to a broad patient population by a network of sales representatives. Biotech products are more often targeted to small populations with rare diseases and require specialty sales representatives with a higher degree of scientific knowledge.

Although pharmaceutical companies are scattered throughout the country, the industry is geographically concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic states and on the west coast in California. Due to distance and cost, many pharmaceutical companies do not recruit at Notre Dame, but Notre Dame students are strongly encouraged to seek and apply for positions through company websites and network with Notre Dame Alumni using Irish Online.

Helpful Tips

  • Obtaining an internship in the pharmaceutical/biotech industries most often requires searching for positions on company websites, applying for positions online, networking with contacts at the company to determine the hiring manager, sending your resume and cover letter to the hiring manager, and interviewing.
  • Set aside time to review internship listings and explore websites. The internship search requires energy and persistence.
  • Attend Career and Internship Fairs to meet prospective employers. Visit with employer representatives and ask questions. Knowledge of different industries, companies, and opportunities will help you to identify positions of interest.
  • Obtain insight and advice from professors, friends, alumni from Notre Dame, and other successful people in the field you want to enter.
  • Learn what skills employers expect and how to successfully market yourself in your resume and cover letter.
  • Be aware of application deadlines.
  • Apply to positions of interest. Most will be online.
  • Use Irish Online and CareerSearch to help identify contacts at companies.
  • Send resume and cover letter to hiring managers.
  • Keep excellent notes of networking information, dates of applications, emails, and interviews. Always follow through.
  • Send thank-you notes after informational meetings and interviews.
  • Concentrate on your course work and keep your GPA high.
  • Do not hesitate to ask for assistance at The Career Center.
  • Design your own internship by researching employers that have offered internships in the past to determine if they have available work for a future intern. If a company is doing work that interests you, ask if they have a need that you can fill. Many technical companies or organizations will hire students for summer positions.

Internship Listings

Develop Your Own Internship

Students can also contact employers directly to create internship opportunities.

Networking

Tips for networking with family, friends, and Notre Dame alumni. Learn how to obtain access to the Irish Online alumni database.

Professional Associations

Below is a list of professional organizations relevant to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Most offer student memberships. These associations attract many members in the industries and provide a great resource for finding information, networking with others working in the field, and possibly even finding an internship.