Theresa Singleton, Ph.D.
Theresa Singleton, Ph.D.
Scientific Writer and Editor, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
1 year career break
I was an academic postdoc at Children's Hospital for just over four years. During that time, I wrote numerous grants to try to bring in funding for my research, and I realized how much I enjoyed the writing process. I began to wonder whether there were opportunities in writing for scientists. (I have always enjoyed writing and wrote some poetry many years ago.)
I learned about the American Medical Writers Association through a medical writer that I met at WEST's (Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology) alternative careers event. She suggested that I become a member so I did. Once my post-doc ended, I attended the national conference in Milwaukee (I paid for this on my own with the idea that it would be an investment in my career development). I also attended a number of AMWA local chapter events.
I started taking AMWA classes to earn credits towards their medical writing essential skills certificate. So I was networking with medical communicators and brushing up my skills at the same time. I took classes at the national conference, a local conference, and at home through their self-study program.
It was at one of the local chapter events that I met one of my current colleagues. She told me about a scientific writing position that was opening at her company, Cell Signaling Technology. We talked about my background and agreed that it could be an interesting fit for me. We exchanged information, and I did not think too much of it (this was early Dec 2010 and she told me the position would be open sometime in the new year). In January 2011, she contacted me to let me know the position was open and asked for my resume. She also sent me a link to the job description, which was a great fit with my background and experience. After a couple of rounds of interviews and a lot of patience, I had a job offer!
I left the lab in Aug 2010 and started work mid-April of 2011. I had interviews at a few different places and they were all through word of mouth. I did not hear from any places that I sent my resume to through a cold contact (e.g. an advertised position or online submission to HR). Networking was the only way that I heard about the jobs I was invited to interview for.
Some things that were instrumental in helping me to make the transition from the bench to a writing position in the marketing department of a biotech company:
- Career coaching from Sarah Cardozo Duncan
- Joining an organization in my field of interest (AMWA)
- Taking AMWA courses (the hiring manager at CST was impressed that I had been taking AMWA courses to improve my writing skills)
- Talking with lots of people at WEST events, HBA events, Children's Hospital career events
- Taking time off to focus on my career goals, it would have been impossible to do everything I did while working as a postdoc (my husband supported me in this time)
This story is slightly different form typical relaunch stories because Theresa took less than one year away from the workforce.
Background: Academia/Teaching, Other Industry
Pre-Break: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Children’s Hospital Boston
Relaunch Connection: Friend of iRelaunch
Key Job Search Factor: Networking