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

  • Set aside time to research industries, explore websites, and review job listings.
  • View a list of pharmaceutical, biotech, and health care employers on the Vault Career Online Library.
  • Review job listings using Go IRISH, Career Builder, USA Jobs, and Career Shift. Explore the career links of specific employer websites to learn about job responsibilities and skills employers are seeking.
  • Attend Career 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 letters.
  • Be aware of application deadlines.
  • Apply to positions of interest.
  • After applying for a position, network with one or more employees at the company.
  • Conduct informational interviews with your contacts. Refer to the Sample Questions for an Informational Interview in the Informational Interview Guide
  • Keep excellent notes of networking information, dates of applications, emails, and interviews. Always follow through.
  • Send thank-you notes within 24-48 hours 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.

Networking

Set the goal of getting your resume in front of the hiring manager. A personal recommendation from a respected employee will definitely increase your chances for an interview. Find contacts at companies using the following resources:

  • Irish Online – the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s online network of alums. Using the Directory Search allows you to search for alums in a variety of ways including by name, company, major, geographical location, and alumni club.
  • Linked In – on-line network of experienced professionals from around the world. The Notre Dame Alumni Network is growing rapidly.
  • CareerShift – a national job-hunting website that allows you to search job listings from multitudes of job boards and company postings and obtain up-to-date contact information with email addresses.
  • CareerSearch – a powerful networking database that gives fast accurate up-to date information on potential employers and contacts in a wide range of industries and fields nationally.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech Employers

Professional Organizations

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.