Going from research to consulting?

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I graduated last year from a top public university in a degree in biology and I am working at Mass General in research. I have come to the realization that I do not want to continue in research and not get a PhD, but I am still very interested in STEM. On top of the that, I do not want to have low pay for so many years.

Someone told me that life sciences consulting might be a good route for me but I am not sure what the best path for me would be. Would it be too difficult to make the jump? Is life sciences worth it? Would I get to see a bit of the science stuff while being in consulting?

 
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Broke into consulting with similar background. Granted I went through the campus recruiting path which is probably a bit more straightforward than what you would need to go through, but yes 100% doable. 

Life sciences consulting firms love people from these backgrounds as being well-versed in biology and research is very helpful in their work. Firms you can look into include but are not limited to ClearView, LEK, Putnam, ZS, Trinity, and Health Advances. Try to find some alumni at these firms and connect to see if you can get a referral. That would be the best way to ensure your resume does not get lost in the void. Once you get an interview, then your fate is in your hands. There are a plethora of resources on here regarding how to prep. I will say I find life sciences cases far more straightforward than normal ones and the easiest to master. For the firms I interviewed at, I was essentially doing a version of the same case every time, but with different disease areas and different numbers. Go on the websites of the firms I listed and look at those cases, you will likely get something VERY similar. 

Finally, this is not going to be an easy path. I don't say this to scare you, but rather to set expectations and prepare adequately. Yes, it is doable, but it is a very competitive field, and you need to put in the work. 

 

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