As my graduation date slowly approaches, I find myself even more rushed to settle on a future career to find a job post-graduation, let alone decide what I would even want to do in grad school (I don’t want to shell out money when I can’t decide how the degree would be applied).
I knew pre-undergrad that I had no interest in becoming a doctor/med school. After 2+ years of wet lab research, I know for SURE that academia and wet lab research is NOT for me. The idea of having to fit my life around the life of my cells/mice and their treatments is a no-go. However, what on earth can I do with my degree now?
As greedy as it may sound, having a nice paycheck is important to me. I have a broad range of interests that unfortunately require money to enjoy (traveling, plays/theatre, cooking classes/good food). I want to love my career but I would like to have a life outside of it too.
While my dislikes may have helped with ruling out possible careers, it really hasn’t brought me any closer to what I can do. Thinking to my own skills (I’m great at planning and scheduling. I love trouble-shooting and planning the experiments. It’s the actual running of them that makes my want to pull my hair out.) I have been told to look at biotech (I have no idea what that means though in terms of being bio, but not working in a wet lab), genetic counseling (sounds cool, but they do not get paid well), and consulting.
What other career options are available to a bio-major who does not want to be a doctor nor a researcher, but still wants a nice paycheck? Is this even possible, or should I lower my expectations?
By itself a BS in biology is nearly useless. You could do something DNR related like becoming a Park Ranger. Otherwise consider an unrelated field such as business/insurance.
Do you have any programming experience?
https://www.aza.org/jobs?job=6048
Lab tech job at a conservation research facility. No mice
Some large labs have a position called lab manager.
I’m pretty familiar with labs in the field, there is no money in them for anyone who doesn’t have a PhD. The average lab tech BARELY clears $30,000 a year which is pretty terrible for a 4-year degree.
There are alternative fields out there too such as being an air traffic controller or diving for golf balls that require some additional training, but not education, and have good salaries.
Consider non-biology-related jobs as well as biology-related jobs. You may want to ask your friends in humanities and social studies majors what kinds of jobs they are looking at.
So, essentially, my only option is to completely change my career?
Depends on what you mean by a nice paycheck. You want that now or mid career? Most people start off on a tight budget while gaining experience.
I think you are too late in the hiring cycle for consulting entry positions but check with your career office.
http://www.mayo-clinic-jobs.com/job/Rochester-Research-Protocol-Specialist-Job-MN-55901/400731200/
This might be a type of job that you could work towards being qualified for.
I don’t graduate until next year, so I have a bit of time.
In regards to paycheck, I meant mid career. I’m not expecting anything huge with just a bachelors degree right out of college (although more than 50k would be nice)
As a bio major (back when we could study live Diplodocus in the lab :)) ), I went to law school. I don’t recommend it if you’re chasing a big paycheck, though.