Sinéad Cullen offers some practical advice to young people, graduates and professionals looking to start fresh in the life sciences sector.
Regardless of the industry you are hoping to enter or the level of experience you have had thus far, it can be a confusing time when you are trying to find the role that best suits your ambitions and interests.
Even if you know you would be a good fit and have the qualifications to back it up, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the job hunt or the first few weeks and months on the job are going to be a walk in the park. But that’s normal and often the shared experience.
For Sinéad Cullen, the director of Life Science Recruitment, which is a member of the Vertical Markets Group, starting out in a laboratory during college and gaining a neuroscience and general science education was only part of the puzzle.
She explained: “Students should definitely look into applied and cross-disciplinary training that bridges technical lab skills with commercial execution.
“Look out for practical workshops with industry bodies like NIBRT, which give fantastic hands-on exposure to biopharma operations and real-world GMP environments. On top of that, taking modules or short courses in regulatory affairs, understanding HPRA or FDA frameworks and project management, can give you an advantage when moving into industry.”
She finds there is great value in engaging with internships, graduate programmes and industry events, noting that it is time for jobseekers to move past sending out “generic CVs on job boards”.
Cullen said: “I always tell candidates that networking is key. Get out to face-to-face postgraduate events, career seminars and job fairs to speak with recruiters and hiring managers directly.
“On the digital side, use tools like LinkedIn and sector directories to map out who is hiring. When you reach out to recruiters or talent acquisition teams, give them a real reason to connect with a personal, non-generic message.”
The groundwork
In a competitive landscape, where it can be difficult to secure coveted positions, Cullen suggested having more to your name than technical competence and degree relevance, which she described as “obvious baseline requirements”.
She explained that employers are looking far beyond a person’s academic success and in her experience are prioritising applicants who can demonstrate strong soft skills, problem-solving abilities, show active communication, great attention to detail and who have significant scientific writing skills.
“Because life science teams are increasingly cross-functional, coordinators look for candidates who can explain complex scientific concepts clearly to colleagues on non-science teams. Showing an awareness of basic industry standards, like good manufacturing practices, or compliance and demonstrating a genuine enthusiasm to learn will make you stand out.”
But what of those first few weeks and months when you are finding your feet and are still relatively green?
Cullen noted that agility and a willingness to learn on the job are crucial to success. Equally, employers don’t expect that an intern, graduate or early career starter has a handle on every single process inside out. What they do expect is that you have high adaptability, a curious nature and serious attention to detail.
She said: “In life sciences, compliance, safety and rigorous documentation are non-negotiable. Being a supportive, proactive team member who isn’t afraid to ask questions and take ownership of initial tasks will quickly build your credibility across cross-functional teams.”
Professional assimilation
If you are looking to blend in and develop yourself professionally, Cullen advises graduates and employees to focus on building a robust, versatile and dual skillset. By pairing your scientific baseline skills with practical capabilities, be they in regulation, leadership, or commercial strategy, she finds you remain malleable as industry demands evolve.
“Treat your career as an ongoing journey,” she said. “Keep your CV and LinkedIn profile updated with clear achievements and action-driven language, rather than just listing job descriptions.
“Most importantly, nurture authentic, long-term relationships with mentors, peers and specialist recruiters. The life science community is close-knit and those connections will support you through every career shift.”
Perhaps most importantly, she would urge young people, graduates and jobseekers that are aiming for a career in life science to understand that there are a variety of roles that exist outside of lab-based work, in areas such as commercialisation, regulation and strategy.
“Don’t be afraid to take a step back, evaluate what you actually enjoy doing day to day and pivot if an unexpected opportunity comes calling,” she said. “When applying for any role, tailor your story and your CV specifically to that company and sector, showing that self-awareness and attention to detail makes all the difference.”
She added: “There’s no single ‘right’ path and it completely depends on what you want out of your career.” So if your passion lies in core R&D, drug discovery, or specialised biotech, a PhD is right up your street.
Or if you plan on pivoting out of pure research and transitioning into industry sectors like quality assurance, regulatory affairs, or clinical operations, a master’s could be the optimal choice.
“Importantly, don’t view any time spent exploring options as wasted,” said Cullen. “Many long-term careers start directly in entry level industry roles, where you learn on the job, adapt to new technologies and build deep operational expertise.”
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