Industry Transition Spotlight: Sujoy Lahiri, PhD
An interview with Sujoy Lahiri, Ph.D.
What is your name, your full job title, and the full name of the company you work for?
Sujoy Lahiri, Scientist III, R&D Cell Biology, ThermoFisher Scientific. 6 months.
What is your biggest or most satisfying career goal you’ve reached since transitioning into industry?
So far, I have worked in 2 industries (each for a relatively short period). At both of the working places my colleagues (especially my managers) were/are extremely satisfied with my work.
What’s been your biggest learning experience or Ah-Ha moment since transitioning into your new role?
Working as part of a team, balancing different acts, especially interacting with all the members of the team involved.
How is your current industry position different from your academic postdoc or experience as a graduate student?
Industry jobs have paid me more than my academic jobs. The responsibility is more tangible (i.e. marketable product development).
If you could go back in time, to before you received your job offer, and give yourself one piece of advice or encouragement, what would it be?
Don’t apply for positions where your skill sets and knowledge do not jive with the job description.
What was the most memorable moment for you (so far) as a Cheeky Scientist Associate?
Almost right after I became an Associate, I realized I was making my CV/resume wrong all along. Learning to format my resume correctly was surely the biggest help I got from the CSA.
What do you see as the next step in your career?
To prove myself as an asset to my division.
How can the Association and the Association’s members help you continue to achieve your career goals?
Sharing personal success stories, mistakes made, lessons learned, and the way course corrections helped in career progress.
Now that you’ve spent some time working in industry, what is the biggest takeaway(s) you’d like to share with those who are still executing their job search?
- Make your resume laser-targeted for the job(s) you are applying for.
- Don’t apply for a job unless you are well acquainted with that field of work. There is no shortcut. The interviewers will get you.
- Show enthusiasm, patience, and a pleasant personality during the interview.
To learn more about how you can transition into an industry career like Sujoy, including instant access to our exclusive training videos, case studies, industry insider documents, transition plan, and private online network, get on the wait list for the Cheeky Scientist Association.
