Tavistock LLC

Interview today was for a research associate for a local (and rare for this area) hedgefund management company focused on the pharmaceutical industry and biotech companies.

A pleasant welcome by the receptionist who lead me into the conference room where this impressive artwork was on the wall. Was offered a drink and chose water but the receptionist insisted I checked out the extensive drinks menu. Still stuck with water though.

The first interviewer (in the good cop bad cop routine) was an ex-NYSE trader who on the side did a masters in molecular biology. He asked me a few background questions. How I got to where I was today. Why i wanted to make the transition.

The second guy was the bad cop. Ex theoretical physicist who had done postdocs and offered tenured position at Harvard before deciding to jack it in and do law school (as shorter than med school). Did few yrs there and was offered partnership before turning it down in order to be made head of start up company for software development for structural biology. Jacked that in and became part of this company. He wanted to know why I wanted to take such a big risk/jump from what I'm currently doing to this.

I thought I handled the questions well and gained an insight into the job and the culture. Still would probably take the sales position over this one given the choice but would weigh up both options/packages/benefits before making the choice (if I'm so lucky as to have that choice).

But anyway they want me to do a short report on a new vet med startup company that they want to potentially invest in so I have until Friday to do that.

In the meantime I have two face to face interviews with sales reps for vwr tomorrow, one in the local area, the other up in irvine in OC. I may contract a short illness overnight....