Hard time finding job?

[azngi16]

Hey guys. For new graduates, what's what's the average starting salary. I'm a biology and psychology major. Was wondering if GPA mattered. I also hear that alot of people don't end up getting careers in their field if interest. How many resumes do you guys send out per day. And how long, especially in this economy will it take to actually get a job. On average. Unemployment rate is really high. I last heard 10.4% nationally and 14.6% in Michigan. How are people handling unemployment?

[orchidrose]

There is no way to give you an average starting salary for new graduates. That depends on your field, your experience, and your position. You don't typically list your actual GPA on your resume once you're out of college; you can list that you graduated with honors/high honors/etc., and that's the only way in which it can matter.

 

The number of resumes you send out per day depends on the types of positions you're applying for, the area you live, etc. There are statistics on the web as to the typical amount of time it takes to find a job; I think it's now at around 8 months.

[newwave]

Don't expect to find a good job soon. I have been unemployed two years, I have a masters, and I send out hundreds, even thousands of resumes a week. It's very rough unless you have a specific in demand skill.

[annie24]

depends what you do with your degrees and if you choose to go onto graduate school.

 

what types of jobs are you looking at?

[azngi16]

depends what you do with your degrees and if you choose to go onto graduate school.

 

what types of jobs are you looking at?

 

Research job preferred. I'm planning on applying to optometry school.

[annie24]

going into research with just a BS, you'll not be doing very much. doubt you'll even be doing real research. maybe making buffers and loading pipette tip boxes and such. running DNA and protein gels. Biotech companies are still hiring, but you may have to be flexible with where you go. $40 K a year or so, starting. Less if you go into an academic lab. then you can expect around $27 K a year.

[azngi16]

I just want some professional experience in research. Would be cool if I could do research for dry eyes? Which is what I have. But I have no experience. How do you go about researching which job firm you wanna work at? I'm a top student, but unfortunately, I don't think that matters in the real world. It's all about experience, or so I hear.

[annie24]

well, there are some things i would do. go to link removed and look at who is publishing on dry eyes, or other eye research. i'd find out what sort of research is going on in your university, and if any of it is eye-related. maybe you can talk to some of those professors, tell them about your career interests and see what they say. in academia, there are 2 degrees of separation so i'm sure they have a friend who has a lab that is studying whatever you are looking for.

 

with just a BS though, i don't know how much research (independent thinking/experiment planning) you'll get to do. you might be more of a laboratory technician (like i said before). but that's ok if your end goal is to be an eye doctor.

 

being a top student will go far for helping you get into optometry school. for research, if you are a straight A student, but you lack common sense and set fire to the lab, they don't want you! I think having a good undergrad GPA along with a few years of research experience in eyes will make for an impressive application.

 

you might want to go to some career fairs and talk to biotech recruiters.

[Momake]

Best place to start researching is the company website since it is easy and accessible. Beyond that you could start networking. Depending on where you are the biotech industry may have networking events you can attend - but it might cost you.

 

If you just want to do research - then I might suggest doing an MSc. - if you're a top student then obtaining a graduate position wouldn't be very hard. Also, you get the research/lab experience you need to get the lab technician job you seem to be going for.

 

Have you done / are doing an undergraduate research thesis at all?

[azngi16]

I'm gonna finish my undergraduate research thesis this semester. It was on plants, not sure how useful that's going to be.

[annie24]

it is. you are learning about how to do research, how to think like a scientist, how to read the literature. it will be very helpful.

[Momake]

it is. you are learning about how to do research, how to think like a scientist, how to read the literature. it will be very helpful.

 

Agreed. The actual topic of your research thesis doesn't matter nearly as much as what you learn in terms of lab skills / scientific thinking and what you acquire in the form of reference letters and publications (rare but possible in undergrad).

[Kerrian]

It may also benefit you to look into a couple of internships or graduate placements. If you're not desperate to start earning a decent salary in a hurry, having relevant experience in the right sort of field via internships will give you a pretty decent step up.

They're a lot easier to get into without prior experience, as they expect graduates straight from college or university and you could get some experience relevant to your end goal.

[bluelava1]

it varies a lot...the average starting salary will depend on what field your starting career is in and where you live....same with GPA. whether or not you get a career in your field of interest... well oftentimes you may have to start out elsewhere, but not always. with how long it'll take to find a job given the economy... there's no definite answer for that either.