10 things biology and biomedical science majors should do in December to help their 2026 job search

December isn’t just exam season for biology and biomedical science majors — it’s decision season. As labs wind down and academic pressure spikes, it’s tempting to hit pause on career planning. But this month holds a strategic advantage: the quiet before the new-year hiring surge. While others rest, students who prepare now will enter 2026 ahead of the pack. One of the most important things you can do this month? Conduct a self-directed skill audit — and use it to sharpen your job search strategy.

A skill audit is more than listing lab techniques or coursework. It’s an intentional inventory of the technical, analytical, and interpersonal strengths you’ve developed through research, co-op placements, volunteer work, and academic projects. Map these against roles you’re interested in — clinical research coordinator, regulatory affairs associate, science communicator, biotech analyst, etc. — and identify gaps. Do you need to brush up on statistical software? Strengthen your ability to communicate scientific findings? Gain more patient-facing experience? December is the ideal time to align your resume, LinkedIn, and cover letters with where the industry is headed, not just where you’ve been.

Take Daniel, a biomedical science student in Toronto. In his final year, he realized he had strong wet lab experience but limited exposure to data analysis. Instead of waiting for a formal course, he spent his winter break doing a 10-hour online module in R and polished a portfolio project visualizing clinical trial data. He updated his LinkedIn profile and began reaching out to alumni working in pharma and CROs. By February, he had secured three interviews — and landed a role by March.

This strategy isn’t just anecdotal. A 2024 BioTalent Canada report found that students who integrated industry-relevant upskilling with proactive networking were twice as likely to be hired within three months of graduation. Employers reported a strong preference for candidates who could communicate their competencies with evidence — portfolios, outreach, and proof of initiative — over those with passive academic records alone. December gave early movers a crucial edge.

In a field that’s evolving as fast as mRNA technology or CRISPR research, waiting until graduation to plan your next step is like trying to pipette with your eyes closed. A December skill audit isn’t just preparation — it’s positioning. Use this time to translate your academic accomplishments into industry-ready value.

I’ve hired across biotech, healthcare, and B2B operations for 20+ years, and here’s what nobody tells biology majors: December is when you should be auditing real problems at companies you want to work for, not polishing your resume.

When we were developing GermPass in 2019-2020, I wasn’t a scientist or engineer — I just identified a massive gap in infection prevention that hospitals couldn’t solve with manual cleaning protocols. That problem-solving approach is what got us from a garage to independent lab validation showing 99.999% pathogen elimination. If you can walk into an interview in January and say, “I noticed your company struggles with X, and here’s a potential solution I researched,” you’re not just another candidate — you’re already providing value.

Pick three companies. Spend December reading their recent publications, FDA filings, or press releases. Find one operational bottleneck or research challenge they’re facing. Draft a one-page analysis with two concrete suggestions. I’ve raised over $50 million for clients by understanding their problems before they even hired me — that’s the mindset that gets you hired fast.

The specific December action: Email a mid-level scientist or operations manager (not the CEO, not HR) with your analysis and ask if they’d spend 15 minutes discussing it. When we were staffing up, the people who contacted us with thoughtful questions about HAI prevention got interviews before we even posted the job.

I’ve hired dozens of clinical and operations staff across med spas and wellness practices, and the candidates who land interviews fastest do something most biology majors completely skip: they cold-email clinic owners and practice managers in December asking what problems they’re trying to solve in Q1. Not “do you have openings” — what are you struggling with right now?

Last December, a recent biomedical grad emailed me asking if we were having trouble finding affordable lab vendors or optimizing patient onboarding workflows. We weren’t hiring, but her question made me realize we did need someone to audit our supplement protocols against new research. I created a position for her by January 15th because she identified a gap I hadn’t prioritized yet.

December is when owners like me are planning budgets and spotting operational holes but haven’t posted jobs yet. When you reach out asking about pain points instead of vacancies, you’re positioning yourself as a problem-solver before the job description even exists. I’ve hired three people this way who never competed against a single applicant because they helped me see what I needed before I knew I needed it.

As a dermatologist, I read resumes for clinical hires and lab support. I do not start with your GPA. I start with what you can do on day one. In December, rebuild your resume and LinkedIn as a skills inventory that mirrors real postings. Choose 5 job ads. Match their exact words for assays, instruments, data tools, and compliance. Add numbers when you can, like samples processed per day or error rates lowered.

Why this matters? Many employers now screen for skills terms before a human reads your name. LinkedIn Economic Graph Research found that in the United States, skills based hiring expanded the Gen Z talent pool 17.6 times versus title based filtering. If your edits speak that language, recruiters can find you in January and move fast.

December is also the best time to do what others overlook: network internally before graduation. Most universities have active partnerships with research facilities, biotech startups, and hospitals that post early-spring job opportunities before they reach public boards. I would spend December sending five targeted emails weekly to lab directors or HR specialists introducing skill relevance rather than requesting employment.

Something as simple as, “I have two years of microscopy and tissue prep experience using XYZ software and can assist in data verification immediately post-graduation,” is enough to open dialogue. It takes roughly 30 messages to yield one strong opportunity, which means consistent outreach can set you up for multiple interviews by February. To top it off, December is quiet in hiring cycles, so candidates who start conversations now are remembered when budgets open in January.

I’d tell them to start scouting out labs and research groups now, especially those that usually take on interns or assistants for the summer. December is when a lot of academic labs and biotech teams figure out their budgets and get a sense of who they’ll need in the coming year, so reaching out before anything is officially posted can put you ahead of the crowd. A short, targeted note and a resume that reflects the lab’s work go a long way toward showing you’re paying attention.

We’ve watched students with even brief exposure to regulated lab settings or clinical work stand out later on. You don’t need to arrive with a perfect skill set; what matters is showing real curiosity and the willingness to learn in a hands-on environment.

Reach out to professors, lab supervisors and former internship managers before the holidays end. December is ideal for reconnecting with people familiar with your work.

There’s a good reason for this: December is when people relax their work schedule, and this is also a good time for organizations — as they begin to plan for their recruitment for the months of January & February.

Do not hesitate to reach out with a friendly email or text to:

1. Professors with whom you conducted research

2. Supervisors from your internships or technical lab.

3. Connections from networking events like conferences or career fairs.

You can keep the email as simple as this:

“I hope you’re doing great, and Happy Holidays. My name is …. and I graduated (or will be graduating or am about to graduate in). I would like your advice as I am trying to apply for specific roles in …… (area of interest).”

There is a big chance you will not see a lot of the science-related job vacancies. It is because such jobs are filled through word of mouth. Information from someone who is already in the company can put you ahead of a large number of applicants.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile clearly indicates that you are open to job opportunities. Update your headline to include your job search status, and ensure your summary briefly describes the type of roles you’re seeking. Many people browse LinkedIn during the holidays, so making this clear can help you get noticed.