I receive a lot of DMs asking for career guidance in the field of bioinformatics. This brief article addresses frequently asked questions about a career in bioinformatics.
Bioinformatics can be particularly challenging for beginners seeking to establish a career in this field. While I truly appreciate your interest in the field, I highly recommend doing some initial research before reaching out. I expect a bit of beginning knowledge from those who are sending emails and DMs. This can be obtained by simply Googling the basic concepts. This is even necessary when you are trying to start a career in a field. You have to have a basic knowledge of the field. Therefore, before directly asking questions, please try searching online.
A good starting point could be:
- Reading beginner-friendly articles on bioinformatics concepts
- Watching free lectures or YouTube tutorials
- Taking short online courses to grasp foundational skills
- Joining relevant forums or LinkedIn groups to observe ongoing discussions
I have written a few articles previously to address this issue. Here I am linking some articles that will help you kickstart your journey into bioinformatics.
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20210517/basic-bioinformatics-concepts-to-learn-for-beginners/
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20200825/list-of-bioinformatics-books-for-beginners/
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20201002/careers-in-bioinformatics-and-computational-biology/
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20200922/current-research-topics-in-bioinformatics/
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20200818/bioinformatics-where-how-to-start/
- https://bioinformaticsreview.com/20201207/bioinformatics-is-it-a-magical-research-field/
This basic groundwork will not only help you ask more specific and meaningful questions but also show that you are genuinely interested and willing to put in the effort.
Secondly, I strongly suggest taking some online courses on bioinformatics topics to enhance your skills and strengthen your resume. This will demonstrate that you have a solid foundational knowledge of the subject, which can help with professional recognition.
Bioinformatics is a vast and exciting domain, and building a foundation through self-learning, such as reading articles, watching tutorials, and exploring beginner courses, will make your career journey smoother and more productive. To summarize, do your homework first, then seek advice. This combination will give you the best results in shaping your career in bioinformatics.
