Job Search
Three things you need to know before job searching
-
Most jobs are never advertised.
One of the biggest myths of job hunting is that jobs are advertised. According to data form ReferenceUSA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 75 percent of all jobs are not advertised. -
Who you know is as important as what you know.
Most people locate job openings through personal contacts. Job seekers need a good strategy and should consider spending time not just looking for job postings, but also developing a professional network of contacts in the career field. A good place to start is by talking to friends, relatives, and professors, and then meeting alumni or other business contacts at fairs and professional meetings. -
Small companies are the biggest employers.
The majority of Americans work for companies with 100 employees or less. Many students are interested in working for familiar, brand name companies. However, most Americans work for small companies and often these companies usually donât attend career fairs. You will have to dig to find these companies by researching, using the tools available to you, and by networking.
Job Search Tools and Resources
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Web sites that regularly post biochemistry jobs:
- Neogen
- Pfizer
- MPI Research
- Dow Chemical
- Van Andel Research Institute
- Abbott Labs
- MRI Global
- The Scientist
- BioView.com
- BioSpace.com
- Science Careers
Biomedical Laboratory Science and Clinical Lab Science
Tools for identifying employers of interest:
- BioSpace: List of midwest biotech companies
- Medlineâs list of all Governmental Research Labs and Health Organizations
- List of Veterinary Labs and Animal Diagnostic Labs
Sites that regularly post BLS/CLS jobs:
- Covance
- Advanced Medical Technology Association
- American Society for Microbiology
- American Red Cross
- Medzilla
- BioSpace
- BioView
- The Scientist
- Job-Science Health Jobs
- Med Tech Job listings
- WIL Research Labs
Chemistry
Tools and tips for your search:
Sites that regularly post chemistry jobs:
- Pfizer
- MPI Research
- Dow Chemical
- Van Andel Research Institute
- WIL Research Labs
- Abbott Labs
- Sigma Aldrich
- Southwest Research Institute
- The Scientist
- BioView.com
- BioSpace.com
Environmental Sciences
Tools for identifying employers of interest:
- Conservation Districts on the Web
- Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG)
- Ecoemply.com â employers by state
Sites that post environmental jobs:
- Student Conservation Association
- The Society for Conservation Biology
- Ecological Society of America
- North American Environmental Education Association
- The Orion Grassroots Network
- Green Business Jobs
- EnviroNetwork
- Environmental Jobs and Careers
- American Water Works Association:
- Environmental careers
- Environmental Career Opportunities
- Renewable Energy Jobs
- Earthworks Jobs
- DevNetJobs
Federal, State, and Local Government
- USAJobs.gov
- USAStudentJobs
- Peace Corps
- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Govtjobs.com
Federal and State Employment
Federal agencies use computer application and screening systems to make hiring decisions. Typically, you will be asked to respond to anywhere from three to six âKnowledge, Skills, and Abilitiesâ (KSA) questions. KSAs are a set of questions to help determine if you are a good fit for the job, based on your combined set of job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Geosciences
Sites that regularly post geoscience jobs:
- American Geological Institute
- Shell
- Geological Society of America
- Earthworks Jobs
- US Geological Survey
- Society of Exploration Geophysicists
- Malcolm Pirnie
- Cardno Entrix
Integrative Biology
Sites that regularly post integrative biology jobs:
- American Zoo and Aquarium Association
- National Wildlife Foundation
- The Nature Conservancy
- American Association of Zookeepers
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Jobs
- The Society for Conservation Biology
- North American Environmental Education Association
- INHS Employment Opportunities
- Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Mathematics and Statistics
Sites that regularly post math and statistics jobs:
- American Mathematical Society
- Society of Applied and Industrial Mathematics
- American Statistical Association
- Actuary.com
- Association of Women in Math
- Math-jobs.com
- Canadian Mathematical Society
Microbiology
Tools for identifying employers of interest:
- BioSpace: List of midwest biotech companies
- Medlineâs list of all Governmental Research Labs and Health Organizations
- List of Veterinary Labs and Animal Diagnostic Labs
Sites that regularly post microbiology jobs:
- Covance
- American Society for Microbiology
- The Society for Industrial Microbiology
- American Red Cross
- BioSpace
- BioView
- The Scientist
- Job-Science Health Jobs
Pharmaceutical and Biomedical
Web sites that regularly post pharmaceutical/health care jobs:
- AnnArborUSA.org
- Abbott
- Michigan Public Health Institute
- Emergent Biosolutions
- Van Andel Research Institute
- Neogen
- Asterand
- MPI
- WIL Research Labs
- Midwest Research Institute
- The Scientist
- Biospace
- Medzilla
- BioView
- Jobscience
- PharmiWeb
Physics
Tools for researching employers and keeping up on physics news:
Sites that regularly post physics jobs:
- The American Physical Society
- American Institute of Physics
- Department of Energy
- Southwest Research Institute
- Association of Science and Technology Centers
- Physics World
- International physics jobs compiled by the University of Adelaide