Expert advice for finance professionals looking to break into Massachusetts’ booming biotech industry. Learn about transferable skills, training programs, networking strategies, and key resources to successfully transition your career to life sciences.
Q. I’ve worked in the financial industry for the past 10 years, but seeing how biotech is the hottest industry in our region, do you have any advice on breaking into the industry?
A. Breaking into the booming Massachusetts biotech industry, even with a finance background, is achievable. Massachusetts is the global leader in the life sciences industry and the Boston area is a hub for the biotech and life sciences industries. There are numerous companies, research institutions, and universities that offer a wealth of career opportunities. There are the typical job board websites such as Indeed.com, ZipRecruiter, but sites like Biospace, Built in Boston, the MassBio Career Center, and MassTalent: Life Sciences all post jobs in the Boston region.
The MLSC Pathmaker program funds industry-aligned training programs that address critical skills and talent supply gaps and connects skilled, diverse workers with life science career opportunities in Massachusetts. According to their website, “There is no better time for those interested in a career in the life sciences. This is a sector full of companies of all sizes with missions that truly change lives on a global scale. Starting salaries and paths for further career development in the life sciences represent unique opportunities for growth. No prior scientific work experience or higher education credentials needed.”
And MassBioEd offers life sciences career hub programs for career seekers. They also offer different internship opportunities to gain experience and exposure to careers in the life sciences industry to help grow the talent needed by the life sciences industry. Their life sciences career hub promotes access to job opportunities and career education and training. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s college internships focus on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in life sciences. And organizations such as NIIMBL strive to build national capacity to meet the talent acquisition, training, and workforce development needs of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem.
Try to access all of the resources online to get a better understanding of the wealth of opportunities available and to build your knowledge of the industry. This includes learning about the largest companies and major players in our region, learning the lingo and industry terms, and following biotech industry trends. And of course, adding to your network at each stage of the process is critical.
According to Reneé Zung, VP, Career Transition Operations at Keystone Partners, it’s all about networking and who you know. She offers this advice, “To break into biotech, pharma, healthcare, or life sciences, start by identifying and leveraging your transferable skills from finance, such as financial analysis and risk management, which are highly valued in these sectors. Next, target entry-level or bridge roles—like financial analyst or project manager within biotech firms or consulting organizations—to gain relevant industry experience, even if it means making a lateral move. Finally, prioritize strategic networking by attending industry events and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, as building relationships within this close-knit community is essential for accessing new opportunities.”
With the right approach—leveraging transferable skills, pursuing targeted training, and actively networking—professionals from finance can successfully break into the thriving biotech and life sciences sector in our region.