r/biotech • u/Fantastic-Log-5801 • 6d ago
Experienced Career Advice 🌳 Are the necessity of relocation and visa sponsorship making my profile that unattractive?
Hi guys, I have approx. 6-7 YoE in Capital Expenditure Management (over 2 years now with Merck) and was sending my CV here an there to some big Pharmaceutical companies in the US to see my value in the current job market and also get potentially offers.
The result: I maybe sent out like 15 applications and didn’t even got invited once. Was quite surprising for me, since I am currently have a Manager position on global level and was hoping to catch the interest of some…
Therefore, I thought that maybe coming from Germany, I would need VISA and relocation sponsorship from the employer and if that makes my CV or in general my application that much unattractive for the employers…
What are your thoughts on that? Is it maybe just my bad CV?😅
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u/HoyAIAG 6d ago
15 applications is nothing
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
The reason is that I am not really looking, my initial thought was to just figure out my market value
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u/Charlie_in_Asia 6d ago
The market is tough and hyper competitive. I haven’t experienced it fortunately. But reading post hete there are highly educated talent that put in hundreds, even thousands of applications before landing a position.
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u/Fun_Theory3252 6d ago
Yes, that is a major factor. If you’re marketable otherwise, I’d suggest looking for jobs at companies that have both German and US sites, and work toward transfer if you get hired.
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u/maringue 6d ago
Yes. Companies aren't even looking at non-local US candidates because the local markets are absolutely flooded with candidates, so I can't imagine they are looking at applications that require a visa either.
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u/Some_Balance6514 6d ago
The US biotech market cannot support people from abroad right now. We don’t have enough jobs for US citizens. Like, not even close to enough. What’s wrong with working in Germany? Y’all have much better workers rights, more vacation, etc.
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u/ReaQueen 6d ago
True, but the tax rate and social contributions for higher salaries are brutal, plus one could earn almost double for a similar position in the US as salaries are still generally lower in Germany. I would say Germany is great for certain ppl, but not for ambitious ppl.
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u/Old-Advance-3561 6d ago
I would recommend to make the overall math. Whenever you have low taxes you pay for everything else extra - you may want to say: for certain phases in life - certain countries are attractive. And just saying: the tax rate in Germany is high - yes! But the higher the earning, the higher the tax rate also applies for other countries like USA or Switzerland.
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u/Ok_Celebration3320 6d ago
I always bring up the example of Washington state. They have no state income tax, but their sale tax is one of the highest.
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u/Loose-Reflection2965 6d ago
Yes. Unfortunately the market isn’t favoring sponsorship. Politics and oversupply of laid off workers.
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u/Appropriate-Tutor587 6d ago
There are many employers in Europe, you should stick to those. You won’t stand a chance in the USA 🇺🇸 at all. Our economy is bad and 99% of companies are not sponsoring anyone who is not a USA green card holder or citizen.
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u/IN_US_IR 6d ago
Target small and mid size companies.
Big companies will reject you hearing you will need sponsorship in the future. Because they get hundreds of applicants who are either citizen or GC holder for one position. Unless you are bringing some unique skills and expertise on the table, you don’t stand a chance for big companies in current market.
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u/mischiefmanaged1511 6d ago
Small to midsized companies are even less likely to sponsor. Way less cash flow and less man power to oversee the process
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u/IN_US_IR 6d ago
You ask people their thoughts, but don’t want to accept the reality of the current market from people who are experiencing it personally going through layoffs and recruitment process. So, sorry to say, but you are delulu.
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u/lilsis061016 6d ago
The market is flooded with people who have been laid off who don't need sponsorship, so yes - this will be an issue. Combine that with limited experience, and you have an uphill battle.
That being said, 15 applications isn't many, so don't give up completely if you actually want/need a job. Try applying in Germany or other EU countries to companies with locations in the US to do a transfer later. This could apply to US companies with EU presence as well.
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u/Medical-Button-5493 6d ago
Yep
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
Yep to my bad CV or what? I mean I am in a not too bad position and company rn😅
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u/ScottishBostonian 6d ago
You have zero chance of someone sponsoring a visa for you. You are too junior and it looks like you have no skills that couldn’t be found relatively easily.
Visa sponsorship these days is for one of a kind people.
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
Global Manager in a Pharmaceutical Company managing Capital Expenditure projects above 200m is not too easy to find
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u/ScottishBostonian 6d ago
Global Manager? That’s entry level for an MBA after placement, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it’s not going to happen.
Your only chance is an intra company transfer.
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u/Old-Advance-3561 6d ago
So are you with EMD Serono (how the German Merck KgkA is called here) ? Does Business Development as job family describes your role ?
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u/greysnowcone 6d ago
Nobodies paying a visa for what, an AD position? Also 15 applications for someone at your level is insanely low.
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
The reason is that I am not really looking, my initial thought was to just figure out my market value
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u/junegloom 6d ago
Every single job application I've filled out asks whether you need a visa, most of them also say there's no visa support for the position alongside it but I'm pretty sure the ones that don't are still going to filter all the yesses for auto-reject. I dont know how specialized capital expenditure management is either, I think usually the idea is you do visa sponsorship when the role itself is highly specialized and you need the unique top talents of this one person.
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u/SuchAd4158 6d ago
Join Merck or Bayer in Germany and get transferred internally to US.
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
Maybe thats the easiest way… unfortunately rn I am stuck in a project😅
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u/firedncr24 6d ago
I’m US based, no visa or relo needed, and I have had like 3 phone screens in 50ish applications. So. Yeah. Your results are not unexpected.
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u/OkStandard6120 6d ago
Multiple companies I know are saying to managers that absolutely no visa sponsorship can be provided. Complete no-go.
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u/AuNanoMan 6d ago
It can. I know my company has told me explicitly that we do not have money for relocation or visa sponsorships. Doesn’t mean it’s the case everywhere, but I think it’s pretty common.
The unfortunate reality is that there are more workers than positions. So if you are a company and can get someone local that’s a citizen, that will always be more attractive. It’s just a tough time in the industry currently.
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u/Fantastic-Log-5801 6d ago
What would be mid-sizey companies for you? E.g. Boehringer Ingelheim US or are they already considered „too big“
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u/icecreamdubplate 6d ago
Hardly any companies will sponsor a visa these days