> You are absolutely right - that is why it is so difficult to interview
> new job candidates. We prefer ones with a heavy microbiology
> background, but hire mainly on attitude and personality as we know we
> will have to train them in virtually every aspect of a bench-level job.
> And despite their clear understanding, they will not be hired to run
> the laboratory with a bachelor's degree.
>> Scott Sutton
I agree with part of this answer--having a BS in your field does not prepare
you to run a lab fresh out of college. When I got my first micro job, I was
woefully unprepared to do any micro work, which I learned by the seat of my
pants, since there was no one to teach me.
I believe though that I am extremely well trained and quite qualified to run a
micro lab, and even set up one from scratch, since I now have 8 years'
experience in the lab. Not all of us have the time or money to pursue a
masters' or Ph.D. in micro, and I think dismissing the bachelors' degree
holders with no regard for concomitant experience or ability is taking a very
narrow view of the real world.
Having been downsized from my last position 2 weeks ago, I am now out in the
job market trying to find a place in micro. It isn't easy, because so many
places believe either 1) anyone can do micro, so let's hire a chemist to run
our micro lab; or 2) anyone can do micro, so let's hire someone with a GED or
high school diploma and let him read up on what he needs to know.
So I've been getting it from 3 directions now: either I'm not qualified enough
to do a job I could do in my sleep (the MS/Ph.D. groupies), I've got the wrong
major to do my job (the chemist groupies), or I'm too expensive (the GED/HS
groupies).
All of which makes microbiology into the red-headed step-child of the
sciences.
Lorri
