The Biotech Career Coach Podcast

Interviews and playbooks for biotech, pharma, and life sciences professionals — covering resumes, interviews, networking, layoffs, career pivots, and industry trends. Hosted by Carina Clingman, PhD.

All Episodes

From Pipettes to Python: How to Break Into Computational Biology — Most bench scientists think breaking into computational biology means going back to school. Dean Lee proves otherwise. Dean went from neuroscience PhD student at Harvard to Principal Computational Biologist at Novarti…
AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know — AI agents, skills, and automations. You keep hearing these terms, but nobody has clearly explained what they mean for someone actually working in biotech. In this episode, Carina sits down with Stu Angus, founder of S…
Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics) — Are you walking into biotech panel interviews and talking to every person the same way? That approach can cost you the offer, even if your science is solid. In this episode, Carina Clingman and returning guest Stacey…
How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI — You keep hearing about AI, but nobody is telling you how it actually fits into a biotech career or a job search. That changes today. In this episode, Carina sits down with Heather Karner, a bench scientist with a back…
How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist — Are you holding yourself back from biotech roles because you don't check every box on the job description? You're not alone, and it's costing you opportunities. In this career chat, Carina sits down with Heer Shah , a…
Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career — Your technical skills might be perfect, but if you can't present them clearly, you won't get the job. Most scientists treat presentations like data dumps, and it costs them opportunities. In this episode, I sit down w…
Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals — January brings fresh biotech hiring budgets, energized hiring managers, and real momentum after a tough 2025. If you've been waiting for the right time to level up your biotech career, this is it. In this episode, you…
LinkedIn Networking for Biotech: Give First to Get Better Results — Networking in biotech doesn’t have to feel awkward or transactional. In this episode, Carina shares how giving first is the simplest way to build authentic biotech networking on LinkedIn that actually leads to stronge…
I Challenge You: Build your Biotech Network in 28 days — Biotech networking doesn’t have to feel random. In this video, I’ll walk you through a 28-day biotech networking challenge you can actually stick to. Perfect for biotech job seekers who want a clear, daily plan to gro…
Six Second Resume Test: Make Your Biotech Resume Survive the Scan — Does your biotech resume pass the six-second test? That's all the time most recruiters spend deciding who gets rejected and who deserves more attention. In this episode, we show you how to build a resume first page th…
How to Use AI to Improve Resumes, Cover Letters, and Networking — AI can completely change how you write resumes, cover letters, and networking messages for biotech roles, but only if you use it properly. In this episode, I show biotech professionals exactly how to use AI to improve…
The LinkedIn Setting Turning Your Profile Into A Mess For Recruiters — Is a hidden LinkedIn setting making you look disorganized to recruiters? In this episode, I show you the LinkedIn setting that quietly pulls messy CV text into your profile in the LinkedIn Recruiter view, and makes yo…
Networking That Works (Without Being Awkward or Cringe) — Most biotech professionals dread networking because it feels like cold calling, pushy, or inauthentic. If you've ever avoided reaching out because you didn't want to seem transactional or you felt stuck not knowing ho…
How To Fix Your Boring LinkedIn Headline — Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on your profile, but most biotechnology professionals are wasting it. In this episode, Biotech Career Coach Carina Clingman reviews real LinkedI…
How to stop overthinking and start making career moves in five easy steps — Overthinking shows up as research without drafts, resumes that never get sent, and weeks of “planning” with nothing shipped. In this episode, I map out concrete ways to move from thinking to doing without burning out.…
Rewrite Your Story: Confident Interview Scripts to Explain Gaps, Layoffs, and Job Hops — When an interviewer asks about a layoff, a resume gap, or a short stint that didn’t work out, the goal isn’t to defend the past. It’s to show judgment, growth, and readiness for what’s next. In this episode, we walk t…
Did AI Reject Me? How Recruiters are Currently Using AI and Automations — AI is changing the hiring process, but not in the way most candidates fear. In this podcast episode, Carina breaks down how applicant tracking systems are actually using AI today, why automated resume “fit” scores are…
25 Interview Mistakes Biotech Candidates Keep Making (and how to fix them fast) — This episode is a practical playbook for biotech job seekers and career climbers who want to interview with clarity, energy, and impact. Carina breaks down 25 common mistakes that quietly cost candidates offers, from…
Smart Questions to Ask in Your Recruiter Screen (and How to Use the Answers to Win the Next Round) — This week, Carina shows how to turn a short recruiter phone screen into a competitive advantage across the entire hiring process. Learn specific recruiter screen questions that uncover role must-haves, disqualifiers,…
A Career in Alliance Management (re-release) — In this career chat, I had a fun conversation with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics. Nicole shares her unique, non-linear career journey from research to HR and medical affairs, eventually…
How to Measure Success in a Job Search (re-release) — We're revisiting a powerful episode from our earlier catalog because it's a good reminder as we move into the fall job-seeking season. We discuss whether your job search is on the right track by examining key metrics.…
Get Ready For Career SKOOL! — This week I’m sharing some exciting news: we’ve officially launched our new community on Skool, and it’s free to join. I created this space to make job seeking and career development less isolating and more actionable…
Never Fear Salary Negotiations Again: Panel Discussion Recap — This week, I participated in an American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) panel discussion with Brandon Miller on salary negotiations. We answered audience questions that explored creative strategies fo…
February 2025 Career Coach insights: NIH Funding Freezes, Transferrable Skills, Networking Templates, and More — This week, join me for our monthly Ask Me Anything event where I address your questions about the biotech job market, effective networking strategies, and making successful career transitions. I discuss the impacts of…
Plan Like a Pro: Notion Annual Planning Guide — Ready to make 2025 your most organized and productive year yet? In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful Notion template that transformed my own annual planning process. Whether you're a Notion newbie or a seasoned pro…
Annual Career Planning Strategy: Reflect, Plan, and Achieve in 2025 — Happy New Year! In this episode, I take you through my comprehensive strategy for annual career planning. We start by reflecting on achievements from 2024, followed by a journaling exercise where you write letters to…
Job Application Strategies for Biotech and Beyond — This week, listen to our monthly live virtual event, 'Ask Me Anything.' Attendees get insights on how to navigate job applications on LinkedIn, including strategies for contacting hiring managers and effective network…
A Career in Alliance Management with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics — In this career chat, I had a fun conversation with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics. Nicole shares her unique, non-linear career journey from research to HR and medical affairs, eventually…
10 Resume Mistakes That Might Cost You Your Dream Job — In this episode, I explore 10 common resume mistakes that might be hindering your biotech job search. Drawing from my recent BioSpace column and observations, I offer practical advice on pitfalls to avoid, such as usi…
Empowering Careers: Gloucester Biotechnology Academy's Pathway to Biotech — In this episode of the Biotech Career Coach Podcast, we revisit an interview with John Doyle, Education Director at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, originally conducted for the Building Biotechs podcast. We disc…
Am I a Failure? Thoughts on Returning to Academia — In this episode, I explore the notion of perceived career setbacks, particularly regarding the decision to return to academia after a stint in industry. This topic often arises during coaching sessions where individua…
Fall into Success: The Best Time to Apply for Jobs, plus other tips from our Live AMA September — In this episode, I share highlights from a recent ask me anything event in our community, where I addressed key questions from members about biotech careers, including opportunities for immigrants, tackling interview…
Boost Your Charisma: How to Attract Jobs and Inspire Others — In this episode, I discuss actionable tips from our recent book club read, 'Captivate,' on how to enhance your charisma for job interviews and networking. I'll share key themes and personal strategies for making a str…
The Secret to Workplace Happiness: Great Leadership — In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Kyle Huggins, the founder and CEO of Management Mogul. Kyle shares his journey from a rocky start with a liberal arts degree amidst the post-2008 crash to becoming…
August Career Coach Insights — In this episode, I dive deeper into my monthly BioSpace column answers, providing detailed advice on transitioning from academia to biotech, creating impactful industry resumes, and handling team leadership stress. I…
Exploring a Career in Biotech Consulting — In this career chat, Christina Guerrier shares her journey from healthcare and biotech to founding her own consulting firm, Protean Insights Partner. Christina discusses her transitions across various roles, from proj…
Find Your North Star with Bruce Wu — This week, I am thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Bruce Wu, whom we’ve interviewed before on our sister podcast 'Building Biotechs.' Bruce has held a series of executive roles, including Chief Legal Off…
From the Bench to Program Management: Career Chat with Surina Sikka, Program Manager at Moderna — In this episode, we chat with Surina Sikka, a Program Manager at Moderna, about her unique career journey. Serena begins by discussing her early career as a biochemist and her progression from lab work to program mana…
July Career Coach Insights — In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my office hours session, where I answered questions from our community that were featured in my latest career coach column in Biospace. I discussed how to gain lab expe…
From Science to Business: Career Chat with Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Business Officer at OrganaBio — In this insightful live discussion, we explore the career journey of Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Business Officer at OrganaBio. Priya shares her unexpected transition from a traditional academic path as a biomedical en…
June Career Coach Insights: Job interviews, pulled offers, and unhappiness at work — Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we discuss strategies for handling multiple job interviews, the importance of keeping an open mind, and pursuing roles that align with your career g…
How to Measure Success in a Job Search — In this episode, we discuss whether your job search is on the right track by examining key metrics. I give a blueprint for a gold-standard job search, informed by a decade of experience and interviews with numerous su…
Making Hard Conversations Easier with Radical Candor — In this episode, we dive into 'Radical Candor' by Kim Scott, a must-read for anyone aiming to improve their leadership and communication skills. This podcast features excerpts from a recent interactive book club, high…
Mastering Industry Job Talks: A Step-by-Step Guide — In this episode, we explore the step-by-step process of preparing an industry job talk that can significantly boost your chances of landing a job. From crafting a compelling introduction with a strong hook to organizi…
May Career Coach Insights: Navigating Career Gaps and Mastering the Hiring Process — Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we offer deeper insights into navigating the job market and the hiring process. There's a lot of stigma and confusion surrounding career gaps, but r…
April Career Coach Insights: Zoom Etiquette, HR Interviews, and Layoff Preparation — This week my monthly BioSpace Career Coach column dropped, so I'm going into greater detail about each of the questions I answered in that column. We chat about excelling in Zoom calls, acing HR interviews, and naviga…
From Bench Scientist to R&D Strategy and Operations — In this episode, Dimple Doshi, MS, SAPM, shares her inspiring journey from a bench scientist to R&D Strategy and Operations, where she now blends science and business. As a first-generation immigrant, she navigate…
Navigating a Competitive Job Market: BioSpace Event Recap — This week, I recap the great BioSpace event I participated in this week: Navigating a Competitive Job Market. Moderated by Chantal Dresner , VP of Marketing at BioSpace, I joined forces with Greg Clouse , Recruiting M…
Mind Your Mindset: Tools for Success in Your Job Search and Career — In this episode, we discuss the power of mindset in your job search and career. Despite some considering it "woo," we explore how mindset can impact success. Check out the research links below for some great papers on…
How to Deal with a Bad Boss (and avoid them in the future) — In this episode, we chat about bad bosses. Whether you're currently dealing with a difficult manager or looking to avoid one in the future, we've got you covered. Learn how different work styles can impact your relati…
Decoding Job Descriptions: Tailoring Your Resume for Success — This week I take you behind-the-scenes into one of our office hours discussions. Tailoring your resume to align with the job description is critical for success in job applications. I teach how to thoroughly analyze a…
Interviewing 101: Tips for interviewees AND interviewers — This week, we have something for both sides of the table, whether you're interviewing for your next job or interviewing candidates for your next hire. Navigating the interview process can feel like a minefield. How do…
Networking escape routes, and how to not be weird — How do you escape if you get cornered by someone at a networking event? What if you can't get a word in edgewise? And how about those uncomfortable LinkedIn exchanges? This week we chat all things awkward when it come…
Outplacement Explained: What is it, and how to make the most of outplacement coaching — In this episode of the Biotech Career Coach, Carina and Alison discuss outplacement services and their value for individuals who are transitioning between jobs. They explain that outplacement varies between providers,…
Level Up Your LinkedIn Profile: WorkShop Recap — In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of a LinkedIn seminar that was highly popular in our community. The seminar focuses on using LinkedIn as a networking tool and optimizing your profile to be more discover…
Mastering the Art of Networking: Tips and Tricks for Success — Networking is scary but can become easier with a good strategy. In this episode, Alison Hall, co-founder of the Collaboratory Career Hub, leads a round table discussion with biotech recruiters Daniela Sharma, PhD, and…
Navigating a Biotech Job Search: Tips and Insights in collaboration with the Hopkins Biotech Podcast — Carina recently appeared on the Hopkins Biotech Podcast, where she and host Joseph Varriale discussed a range of topics related to biotech job searches, including layoffs, common myths, LinkedIn networking, and resume…
Exercises to Overcome Interview Anxiety: Interview Workshop Part 2 — In part two of the interview workshop at UMass Medical School, Carina introduces interview exercises to help everyone get in the right mindset for interviewing. These exercises, inspired by the world of improv, aim to…
How to Captivate Your Future Employer: Interview Workshop Part 1 — I recently had the absolute pleasure of virtually returning to my alma mater, Umass Medical School, to give an interview skills workshop. This episode is part one of two! Want to ace your interviews and land that drea…
Gap on your resume? Here's what to do. — In this episode, Carina and Alison answer some great questions from the community. How do you explain a career gap in a job interview? We explore the art of turning what may seem like a setback into a powerful part of…
End of Year Biotech Job Hunting Strategies for Success — Looking for a job in biotech at the end of the year can feel frustrating and confusing, right? Should you be applying to jobs? What are the companies doing? Why are you not hearing back? This week, Carina and Alison t…
Trailer: Elevate Your Biotech Career Trajectory — It's almost here! We're translating our popular "Ask a Recruiter" community events into a podcast. The biotech community needs this podcast, and here it is! In this podcast we'll cover: Common questions from job seeke…