"Patience and problem-solving abilities are a key"

Meghana Abhyankar-Mehta HR manager, Labindia Instruments, Delhi

Beyond the traditional favorites of medicine and engineering, today's students have an option to work in a knowledge intensive sector like biotechnology. Biotechnology is a new and innovative industry with various career options for anyone with a background in science. The Indian biotechnology industry has come out of infancy and crossed the $1b-mark in 2004 and is expected to grow at the rate of 20 percent per year for the next five years. This tremendous growth in the biotechnology sector has also led to growth in the biosuppliers/solutions provider sector. Solutions providers segment comprises all those companies, which are responsible for providing instruments, accessories, software and consumables to biotech companies. These companies also provide appropriate sales, after sales and technical support to the users and potential users of their products. Any student who has a background in science combined with business flair can find opportunity with biosuppliers. This sector provides job opportunities in various fields of sales and marketing, service and technical support.

Labindia is one such company which is in forefront of biotechnology business in India and provides an opportunity to work in its various departments like genomic, proteomics and small molecules application support and training center in addition to sales, marketing and service support.

Selection process

To gain an entry level job in sales, candidates should have at least a Masters degree (MSc or MTech) in chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, agri biotechnology, animal biotechnology, etc. Candidates should also be good in communication and interpersonal skills. Those who are mobile, enjoy traveling and willing to work long hours, will enjoy such assignments. The selection is usually through rounds of technical and HR interviews. The job responsibilities include assessment of the market, appraising prospective users about suitability of company's products, develop the latent potential into active prospects and convert that in sales and increase the band of satisfactory customers. One could start as the sales executive and rise up to the level of national sales manager/vice president, i.e. countrywide responsibility. The salaries at the entry level vary depending on sales commissions but a fresh candidate with no prior experience can look forward to a package ranging between Rs 14,000 and Rs 20, 000 per month approximately.Candidates with engineering degree in electronics or instrumentation with an analytical bent of mind would find themselves suited for assignments in service departments of solution providers set-up. These jobs offer an opportunity to work on cutting edge technology instruments like DNA analysers/Microarray/LCMSMS etc. A fresher could also avail of these opportunities if he is has a strong desire to work in such areas and is willing to undergo specialized training programs which are generally in-house programs of the companies. But the fresher must bear in mind that patience and problem solving ability are some of the key attributes that a company looks for in a service engineer. The salary range depends on the caliber and experience of the candidate but could range anywhere between Rs 14,000 and Rs 20,000. Selection is usually through a process of written examination and a round of HR and technical interviews.

For entry into the field of application support, a doctorate degree in science and aptitude for research work is required. A candidate with master's degree in science, who has an excellent academic record with aptitude for research, can also get into this field. The job responsibilities include internal training of sales and service staff, conducting technical workshops and seminars for scientists, arranging for demos and last but not the least, providing technical support at customers on site or in company facility, via telephone or mail or in person. The remuneration varies depending on the caliber and experience of the candidate. Breadth of scientific knowledge, problem solving skills and patience are some of the skills necessary to be a successful as technical support resource.

The biotechnology industry is facing trained and qualified manpower crunch. Companies value their human resource and invest in their employees by way of training, and building their personality. Candidates with requisite skills and education qualifications need to watch openings in this fast growing sector as it offers exciting opportunities. Those who are exploring avenues for better future prospects for future work and are choosing their specialization in the science stream need gain more knowledge about developments in this sector.

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