Biotech Freshers Challenges
The Biotechnology industry in India is increasing by leaps and bounds. Currently, India is considered among Top 12 destinations for Biotechnology industry and ranks 3rd in Asia. Post COVID 19, the Bioeconomy of India has accelerated even more and has crossed an estimated $130 billion in 2024. Right now there are around 700 institutes in India that are offering courses in the diverse field of Biotechnology adding 40000 plus job seeking workforce. However, even with this immense growth in the Biotech industry, freshers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical science often experience major challenges in seeking a job. Well understood and effective strategies can be adopted, therefore freshers can achieve a competitive position in this field.
Why Companies are Hesitant to Hire freshers?
Most Biotech companies do not even want to give chances to freshers. There can be many reasons behind it including high costs of training and time consumed in training, skill requirement, and a biased attitude to experience to avoid time wastage in productivity. Let’s have a better look at these issues because acknowledging and understanding a problem is the first step of solving them.
- Stringent and Specialized Skill Requirements
Companies are in great need of specialized skills and, hence, the one having the experience of hands-on techniques like GCMS, LCMS, bioinformatics, AIML, etc. have a huge benefit.
- Availability of Experienced Individuals
Availability of matured people, who can start contributing immediately, does not place freshers in competition. Experienced candidates know what the company or organization expects and can handle the instruments properly, resulting in immediate productivity.
- Training Costs and Time
Organizations do not want to waste time and money training freshers. They would love candidates who are ready for the job and can start delivering results. Moreover, startups and small companies are in operation with very low budgets and can’t afford to spend this grade of money in training freshers so they may take their time getting up the curve. Immediate results are needed to meet short-term goals
- High-Cost aversion
A high level of financial exposure to errors on new drug development and manufacturing procedures will therefore attract companies that prefer experienced and tried candidates. This will cut down on risks and make sure regulatory compliance standards are met worldwide.
- Talent Gaps and Interdisciplinary Knowledge needed for Biotech Jobs for Freshers
In Biotechnology and its allied fields, there exists an enormous skill gap between what the industry demands and what academia offers. Most of the courses focus mainly on imparting theoretical knowledge and a very less hands-on experience. However talent gap is not the only problem, lacking workforce with interdisciplinary knowledge is also a significant problem. Although talent gaps exist in the emerging fields such as AI and ML, companies prefer experienced candidates with interdisciplinary knowledge, rather than just bioinformaticians. Similarly a person with great skills in wet lab will be at a disadvantage if he/she lacks the required dry lab skills that is required to complement their work.
- Visa and relocation issues
Companies, more so those from other countries, especially like local candidates because of avoiding hassle with visa and relocation, which often delays hiring a person. Freshers who are ready to relocate or are already having the necessary visas for third world countries increase their chances of being hired.
- Familiarity and networking
One very important factor for preference towards experienced hires is familiarity. Hiring generally depends on networking, as people tend to hire people they are familiar with or have been associated with in the past.
Problems and Solutions For Biotech Freshers Looking For Job
Problems Faced By Biotech Freshers | Solutions |
Stringent and specialized skill requirements: Companies require specialized skills like GCMS, LCMS, bioinformatics, AI/ML, etc. | Gain relevant skills: Freshers should invest in specialized training programs and certifications to acquire these skills. |
Availability of experienced individuals: Experienced candidates can contribute immediately, reducing the need for training. | Gain practical experience: Freshers should seek internships, volunteer positions, or project work to gain practical experience. ️ |
Training costs and time: Companies prefer to avoid the high costs and time associated with training freshers. ⏳ | Invest in pre-employment training: Freshers can participate in pre-employment training programs to reduce the burden on employers. |
High-cost aversion: Companies are risk-averse due to the financial exposure of errors in drug development. ⚠️ | Demonstrate reliability: Freshers should showcase their reliability through successful project completions and references. ✅ |
Talent gaps and interdisciplinary knowledge: There is a significant gap between what academia offers and what the industry demands. | Pursue interdisciplinary learning: Freshers should pursue additional courses and workshops in complementary fields to bridge the talent gap. |
Visa and relocation issues: Preference for local candidates to avoid visa and relocation hassles. | Be visa ready: Freshers should be prepared with necessary visas and show willingness to relocate. |
Familiarity and networking: Hiring often depends on existing networks and familiarity with candidates. | Build professional networks: Freshers should actively network with industry professionals through events and social media. |
Advantages for freshers
Like every coin has two sides, here as well there are two sides of this issue. Biotechnology freshers do not have just disadvantages, there are many points that will go in their favor as well when it comes to getting hired.
- Flexibility and adaptability-They can adjust within no time with flexibility to the changing demands of new age work fields. Training this fresh workforce for the required field is easy and less time consuming.
- Networking- When one is fresh out of college, he/ she has a lot of contacts in the form of seniors, professors and mentors. Freshers should exploit it even more by connecting with other people in the industry through social channels or contacts.
- Reskilling– Reskilling through hands-on training programs are the bridges that connect freshers to the experienced group and meet required industry qualifications.
- Location and visa readiness -The likelihood of being hired increases when one is willing to relocate and already possesses the imperative visas but not necessarily a dependent visa holder. As a fresher is usually young with lesser family responsibilities and constraints will be more open to these opportunities.
Strategies for Freshers to Get Hired – Biotech Freshers Challenges
Gain practical experience
Freshers require experience, it may come through government projects, hands on training programs, or volunteering. Participate in government programs, on-the-job training, and volunteer work for hands-on experience and expertise.
Invest in training
Invest in training programs to acquire the skills sought in the industry. Training is also available from institutions such as Biotecnika in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence and machine learning that will give you an edge in the job market.
Network and build relationships
Form relationships with industry practitioners, attend relevant events, and stay active in your professional community. Freshers should just try to network with people from the industry and this improves their chances of being hired. This will help you get a Biotech Jobs for Freshers.
Understand industry requirements
Understand good manufacturing practices, validation processes, and requirements for regulatory compliance applicable to ensure conformity with industry standards. Since at present companies are looking more for interdisciplinary skills, equip yourself with knowledge from the fields that complement your graduation or post graduation degree.
Showcase your skills
Put knowledge from interdisciplinary understanding and practical experience on the resume, and be ready to confirm this during an interview. Be prepared to commit long term and sign NDAs.
The biotech and pharma industries have such high requirements and expectations from freshers that investment in practical experience, training, networking, and understanding the needs of the industry will definitely provide an opportunity for securing very rewarding opportunities in this prospective area.
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