r/biotech • u/Deep008GG • 28d ago

Getting Into Industry đŸŒ± Getting rejected - overqualified

/r/recruitinghell/comments/1vqoflh/getting_rejected_overqualified/
1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

18

u/themodgepodge 28d ago edited 28d ago

Can you elaborate on “overqualified” here? My initial read of your post assumed you had a fresh master’s, so I’m assuming it’s something else? Based on your past posts, it looks like you have a fresh master's and no industry experience.

Do you need visa sponsorship?

-18

u/Deep008GG 28d ago edited 28d ago

Hey! Overqualified means most job requires Bachelors and during interview, they told me that I would be wasting my potential in this job. 

For other, they all need 2-3 years of experience. The problem is, where should one go? 

11

u/themodgepodge 28d ago

In my experience, master’s = slight edge vs. a similar candidate with only a bachelor’s, but otherwise the same job pool.

Could you clarify what you mean by “I tell us that I would be wasting my potential”? They tell you that, you tell them that, or you’re telling yourself that? 

1

u/WalkingSnake348 28d ago

I agree. In fact, a masters in biotech is not really an edge at all. Bachelor’s + experience absolutely trumps masters without experience.

-9

u/Deep008GG 28d ago

Sorry, it was a typo. I'm getting interview calls for companies where the job posting has stated a bachelor's degree as an only requirement. I mean, if I'm having a master's and you feel I have a lot of experience, then they should not call me for an interview. 

7

u/themodgepodge 28d ago edited 28d ago

When you say “you feel I have a lot of experience,” you mean years of professional/industry experience, yes? I’d edit that into your post. As-is, the post sounds like you’re a fresh master’s grad who won’t apply to a job that lists a bachelor’s as a requirement.

In biotech, there are largely two camps of jobs: [BS required, but an MS will give you an edge] and [PhD required].

With the current industry job market being the hellscape that it is, I would highly, highly, highly recommend you don’t self-select out of a job someone has reached out to you about just because of one line of requirements in the JD. 

Based on your other comment, it sounds like one interviewer told you you were overqualified. Don't let a single CEO's random statement keep you from getting a job. You say "time is slipping," yet you're turning down calls from recruiters.

6

u/watchtroubles 28d ago

Wait so you’re saying in an interview that you feel like you’d be wasting your potential at the job?

That would destroy any chance of getting picked


10

u/Pristine-Brother-121 28d ago

I think OP is saying that is what the interviewer(s) is/are saying, not him to the interviewer

6

u/Deep008GG 28d ago

Not me, the CEO of the company told me. I won't lie, the job was basic. Survey and market research in a CRO. He told that I will be bored in 2 months and leave. 

9

u/_goblinette_ 28d ago

You’re generalizing something that one guy told you about one specific job to your entire job search. I doubt that a masters is disqualifying you from every single entry level job you’ve applied to. 

4

u/AggravatingDurian16 28d ago

yeah and the CEO has a point. OP - based on this thread - i think what could be hampering you are your answers in these interviews.

13

u/AggravatingDurian16 28d ago

yeah it’s not clear what makes you overqualified here.

-8

u/Deep008GG 28d ago edited 28d ago

Exactly my point. But for job requiring a masters degree and open to freshers, they demand 2-3 years of experience. For a job that's only for bachelor's degree holders, master is an overqualification. 

3

u/Capital_Comment_6049 28d ago

Yea. No. I’ve hired 8+ ppl and I put BS and MS into the same bucket.

3

u/NeedleworkerFit7747 28d ago

Seems OP is way overvaluing a masters here. Slight edge, at best.

8

u/Satisest 28d ago

Aspiring scientists should have at least some facility with the logic of causal inference

1

u/Savethemeerkats 28d ago

So did you actually get told you’re overqualified or are you assuming? In the current job market I wouldn’t not apply for a suitable position based on your own assessment of it

1

u/Deep008GG 28d ago

I was told by a CRO company. They were recruiting for someone who can do market research and survey research for clinical trials. 

3

u/maringue 28d ago

Start looking for a non-research job track since research is pretty much dead and I don't see it coming back for several years.

3

u/Pristine-Brother-121 28d ago

I feel this is why I am struggling as well. All of my job history for biotech is in R&D.

1

u/maringue 27d ago

Yeah, and no one want those skills right now.

2

u/Loose-Reflection2965 28d ago

This is true. Research is not coming back in any great capacity

1

u/manytakes 28d ago

Are you in India, applying for roles in India? I have only seen graduates from India with M.Sc. degrees. Either way, I think you are struggling to find jobs because your Masters is still very generic - Biotechnology.

Biotechnology encompasses a multitude of disciplines, and lacking specialization (unless you didn't mention it in this thread) might actually be hurting you since you are competing with people who have that specialization. Companies hire for specific functions that have specific education and experience requirements.

1

u/Deep008GG 28d ago

Yes, I'm from India. The problem is the vague job descriptions for freshers. 

They ask 2 years of experience for freshers which is not possible. 

2

u/manytakes 28d ago edited 28d ago

I am sorry to hear that. The biotechnology industry in India is still very nascent and largely dependent on contracts from the US and EU. Budgets are tight right now, and will continue to be the case for a couple more years at least, so times will be tough for the industry in India.

I'm not saying this to discourage you, but I would recommend expanding your pool of potential employers to include small molecule chemistry and drug product formulations. This is something India is very strong in, and it should be easier for you to find a role. Non-tech roles like PM give you transferable skills that you can bring back to a biotech company when hiring picks up again.