College Experiences That Helped An Associate Scientist At EMD Serono Succeed
To achieve career success, Matthew emphasizes networking with professors and peers throughout college, not just at the end, because "you never know when one might reach back out." Active engagement with course material, fueled by genuine passion for the subjects, also proved invaluable, demonstrating enthusiasm to potential employers and providing a strong foundation for the Associate Scientist role at EMD Serono.
Networking, Communication, Passion, Mentorship, Presentation Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Bleich
Associate Scientist
EMD Serono
Hamilton College 2018
UCLA Anderson Full-Time MBA
Humanities, Chemistry, Philosophy
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Research and Development (R&D)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Network with professors and peers throughout your college years; these connections can be invaluable in finding and securing jobs later on.
2. Actively engage with and show passion for your studies; this will make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
3. Seek feedback from professors and mentors; their input can help you improve your skills and confidence.
Transcript
What did you do in your undergrad to help set you up for success in your career?
I think there were three main things I did in my undergrad to set myself up for success. I networked with my professors, I networked with my peers, and I also really engaged with the material.
I was lucky to find degrees I was passionate about; I love chemistry and I love philosophy. This meant that instead of just reading the textbook, I really wanted to use those skills in real life. Having that excitement made me a better candidate because I showed passion for the industries I was trying to enter.
Regarding my peers, one of the ways I got this job was through an alumna. We had talked a couple of years back, and she remembered me and that I had talked about this sort of role as something I wanted to work in. She reached out to me and said, "Hey, we have an opening. Do you want to apply to it?" You should not just think about making connections at the very end of your college experience; you should be making them throughout because you never know when one might reach back out.
Professors are also your best resources for things you don't know. For my first-round interview, I had to make a presentation. I made it and showed it to my professor, and they said, "Hmm, there are quite a few things here I would change." Having that feedback and feeling confident enough to get it from a professor, knowing I could trust them to have my best intentions for me, was really paramount to gaining this role.
So, I would say doing those three things helped a lot, both for getting the job and then also during the job, being able to lean back on those connections.
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