The annual NIBRT exhibition saw some of the key players in the biopharmaceutical industry sharing their knowledge and experience with potential future employers.
On Saturday 25 April, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) held 12th annual Careers in Biopharma event in O’Reilly Hall at University College Dublin (UCD). For students, professionals and industry professionals, it was an opportunity to network, collaborate and discuss the biopharma area.
Speaking at the event, Darrin Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT, said, “We’re here today to bring companies from all over Ireland, and we’ve brought them here to give them the opportunity to meet over 1500 graduates and bring them together to have a conversation about the career opportunities and careers they might have.”
So, in 2026, what do students, job seekers and professionals need to know about the modern jobs of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem?
It’s short and sweet
For Mariesa Doherty, senior talent consultant at MSD, it all starts with what is often considered one of the simplest aspects of applying for a job, but is actually crucial to how the applicant is recruited – CVs and relevant documents.
Doherty told SiliconRepublic.com, “The advice I would give to anyone looking to put it into pharmacy or MSD directly is the truth. prepare your CV. So look at the job description and adjust your knowledge, skills. ”
CVs, as the first impression an employer has of an applicant, can in a sense make or break a candidate’s chances, and in organizations operating in a competitive environment, a failure to include important information, or a decision to include trivial information, no matter how small, can have a big impact.
Eoin Roche, reliability engineer at Sanofi, said, “I don’t just mean to show your knowledge through education and your previous roles, but also to show your interest in the topic or role. So anything you do outside of work can help reinforce that.”
Claire Rooney, An ADC product manager at AbbVie, admitted: “My advice would be to make sure that your CV and cover letter describe your experience and qualifications, but also that you meet the criteria – what kind of person you are, what’s important to you, your career development aspirations, your ethical aspirations, what you like. The kind of place you like to work in.”
Know the space
Understanding the ecosystem, expressing the main interest in the industry and mapping the future strategy, for many biopharmaceutical companies present at the NIBRT event, are important factors when considering who can make the right candidate for a possible role.
“The most important piece of advice I can give is preparation, and preparation involves understanding the company and the role you’ll be entering,” said Bill Maher, account director at Veolia.
“And once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to show in the first interview, that you care about the role and the couple, that you’re willing to spend your time making it a really good success.”
Amina Tutunova, talent acquisition partner at BMS, said: “Be prepared, on the audition call, you know, to really show why, first of all, why you want to work for us, or if you’re already in biotech, why you want to move to BMS. What you think makes us different. Just showing, you know, real interest and that you’ve always done your research – that always helps.”
For graduates in particular, Amgen’s talent acquisition leader Kevin Gordon noted that the people who will be noticed are those who are initially hesitant and unwilling to accept the uncertainty that often accompanies a new job.
He said, “So for graduates who are looking for opportunities AmgenI would say, you know, you bring a lot of energy, you bring a lot of curiosity and you’re willing to look at different opportunities. And especially at the beginning of your career. “
And for John Mulcahy, director of sales at Ecolab, there is an opportunity in the challenges facing graduates, as he is of the opinion that now, more than ever, graduates who want to enter biopharma should prioritize acquiring the necessary skills before placement.
He said, “I think the challenge that graduates always face is a lack of industry experience. So if there’s an opportunity to get some of that before you graduate, it’s always a great way to go. Use your network as much as you can and keep an eye on emerging websites.”
This is true for Brenda McEvoy, TA recruitment lead for WuXi Biologics.
“It’s a very controlled environment, a clean room environment”, he said, and the ideal candidate will have experience and a degree in bioprocessing, engineering or biopharmaceuticals. They will have an understanding of the risks, principles of decontamination, what is being done and how it will affect patients, he added.
“So sticking to SOPs, clean room practices, dressing procedures and that understanding of data integrity, good documentation practice. That’s probably a key factor for us.”
In the end, for organizations in this field, it often comes down to the ability to coordinate, collaborate, share ideas, and develop ideas into a clear and concise strategy.
Put succinctly by Saoirse O’Halloran, quality assurance specialist at Johnson & Johnson, biopharma students, graduates and professionals must have “informed, problem-solving skills”.
He added: “But the most important thing for me is communication skills. In my day to day, I communicate with many people and different departments. So my main skill would definitely be communication.”
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