Developing an industry job simulation program for graduate and postdoctoral trainees in life sciences

In the life sciences, many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows find it challenging to enter the non-academic workforce after completing their programs. Through experiential learning, trainees can develop the knowledge, technical skills, soft skills, and project portfolio that employers value, and compete effectively in the job market. In this article, we share design considerations for developing a job simulation program based on our experience over five years with the Industry Team Case Study program at the University of Toronto. In this program, which is focused on the biopharmaceutical sector, trainees identify a business or policy challenge, conduct in-depth research, develop a solution to address the problem, and present their findings to industry professionals. For mentorship and coaching, trainees are matched with industry professionals. This article covers four areas of program development: starting the program, recruiting advisors and trainees, designing the program and project framework, and evaluating program effectiveness. Academic institutions and student organizations can use this information to start their own job simulation programs focused on their employment sector of interest. Employers can participate in these programs to develop and scout talent.