Figure 1 Students interested in biology career should be encouraged to take a variety of science and math courses . Training in biology prepares an individual for a very large number of occupations. That student must be given a broad enough training, beginning at the secondary school level, to recognize this diversity and to begin matching interests, skills, and personality with the requirements of the various occupations. At the college level, a student should take a spectrum of biologically oriented courses and add courses in other sciences and mathematics. Encourage the student to take advantage of internships or undergraduate research programs, to provide a realistic view of possible careers.
Flexibility appears to be a key trait for anyone entering the job market in the future.
While the educational requirements for most fields of biology and medicine tend toward specialization, the actual jobs developing for the 21st century place a premium on adapting to change, moving into new settings, and combining diverse areas. For instance, a typical research project in the pharmaceutical industry lasts only a few years, after which a scientist might be asked to tackle an entirely different project. Or consider the biotechnology industry, where many research scientists find themselves moving into management positions and working with such topics as patent law and marketing. In analyzing current job offerings, one is immediately struck by the number of positions that ask for expertise in two or more areas. 30 years ago.