The Best Jobs & Career Advice for Biology Majors

Just because your degree is in biology, doesn’t mean you have to follow one specific, niche career path. If wearing a lab coat and squinting at a microscope lens is not your first choice, there are many other skills learned in biology that can transfer to various jobs across throughout the field. Here are some of those transferable skills:

• Research
• Data Analysis
• Problem Solving
• Writing
• Peer Review
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Project Management
• Creativity
• Interpersonal Skills
• Strategic Thinking

With these areas of expertise in your toolbelt, you’ll be a valuable asset to employers in all different industries.

As you begin to narrow your focus on which jobs to pursue, think about what particular field interests you the most. Think: healthcare, pharmaceuticals, academia, science and technology, or corporate business. 

For example, if you want a career in healthcare, your interpersonal, clinical research and problem-solving abilities can prepare for roles as a genetic counselor, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist or dental hygienist. 

If a career in education appeals to you, the communication, writing, and leadership or management skills you acquire can be useful in the classroom as a teacher or professor.

If you’re drawn to a career in the sciences, your aptitudes for strategic thinking, creativity, data analysis and peer review can help you to become an engineer, laboratory technician, research associate or environmentalist. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself to figure out where your passions and interests lie:

• What areas am I the most capable in?
• What skills and tasks do I enjoy the most?
• What fields or industries sound appealing to me?
• Do I plan to earn a graduate degree?
• Do I prefer to work in the public or private sector?
• What kind of culture and environment do I want to be part of?

Certain steps in the job search process are necessary for any discipline, like making sure your resume is updated, networking with other professionals, and showing confidence, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic in your interview. 

Here are a few steps of the process that are unique to biology majors: 

• Diversify your knowledge base in a chosen discipline. If you’ve made it this far as a biology major, chances are you’ve determined which field of study to focus on by now. However, within that broad category, there are likely still many smaller, more nuanced branches to consider as well. For example, within the career of a marine biologist, you can specialize in ocean microbes, plants, animals or ecosystems. It’s important to get a grasp for all the skills and options now. 
• Keep your technical or analytical skills honed and sharp. No matter which industry appeals the most to you, a large component of any biologist career is research. From data collection to analysis to interpretation, you must be able to understand metrics and apply them in real-world clinical studies. You also likely need a technical skill-set in mechanics, computing and information technology, to name a few. Keep this in mind as you prepare for your first biology job.

If you decide to pursue a career in the medical, research or academic sectors of biology, it’s reasonable to assume that you need a graduate degree or advanced certification. Here’s a breakdown of certain educational requirements to consider if your goal is to work in a more technical, specialized industry: 

• Master of Science (M.S.): Healthcare professions such as a genetic counselor, nurse practitioner and physician assistant, as well as some technology-related positions such as a chemical engineer, need a Master’s degree. 
• Doctor of Biological Science (Ph.D.): Many research-based professions in marine, environmental, molecular, zoological, neural and other advanced fields of bioscience need a Doctorate degree. 
• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.): Some pharmacological professions, which require advanced study in mathematics, organic chemistry and microbiology, followed by a post-graduate license, need a Doctorate degree. 
• Biology Teacher Certification:  High school biology teachers need a state board of education certificate, and college professors need a Master’s degree at minimum, but ideally a Doctorate in their area of specialization. 

If you want a few specific ideas about which career path to choose, these positions are among the most common for those with a degree in biology:

• Biomedical Engineer
• Genetic Counselor
• Microbiologist
• Environmental Scientist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Biochemist
• Food Scientist

Of course, your dream job opportunity might not come until further down the road, so here are some entry-level roles to start off with as you climb the ladder of success:  

• Research Assistant
• Biology Teacher
• Pharmaceutical Sales Representative   
• Medical/Forensic Lab Technician
• Physician Assistant
• Nutritionist

In the modern workforce—regardless of industry—more and more employers seek out job candidates who had at least one internship while in college. Enhance your resume and obtain real-world experience in your chosen field with these internship programs:

• Research Internship
• Education Internship
• Environmental Internship
• Data Analyst Internship
• Pre-Med Internship

In case you want some extra support in the job search process, check out these resources below:

• How to Write a Resume
• How to Network
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• How to Negotiate Your Salary
• Recent Grad? Here’s How to Tackle Your First Month of Job Searching
• The Ultimate Job Interview Preparation Guide
• Top Companies Hiring New Grads
• 20 Most Popular Jobs for College Graduates
• 9 Mistakes New Grads Make in their First Jobs (and How to Fix Them!)
• Why All New Grads Should Consider a Customer Support Job