<p>I am applying to a bunch of grad schools for biomedical science programs. Over the spring/summer I worked in my native country for getting some research experience. I've been back to the US few weeks ago and looking for a job. </p>
<p>I've applied to about 20 jobs so far and got only 1 interview (and finally they chose another candidate). I plan to apply to all the schools by the end of October. I'm really worried that being unemployed during the application/admission process will hurt me. I don't know how long it will take me to get a research or science job. Now I'm really stressful because finding a job is not so easy. I was thinking of volunteering but I need a full-time job in order to survive. I would love to have some advice. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Do you have a green card or some ability to work legally in the US? If so, sign up with as many placement agencies as you can find and be amenable to temporary assignments. Also, call them weekly to find out about new opportunities. Aside from that, apply to positions on university/company websites. Ideally, you may have some old professors or classmates that you could ask. Professors may have contacts or know who in the dept is looking for a lab tech. Students may be in a job and know that another person is needed in a different group.</p>
<p>Being unemployed is rough and I have heard that while some schools pay for your tickets upfront, others make you pay for the interview flight and reimburse you later. My job hunts have run somewhere about 6-8 weeks (though I got lucky on my last one and landed it in the course of a week and was able to start 3 weeks later.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion, belevitt. I have been so busy finding a job. It's a very stressful process. I finally get a job offer today from a microbiology company in my town. What a relief. I will be working in a bacteriology lab, but I will go to school for virology. I guess I can't be picky right now because the economy is so bad.</p>