The NC-BIIS 2026 Career Development Forum, moderated by Dr. Susan Lankford of Duke University, offered practical guidance for young professionals entering the biotech and pharmaceutical workforce. Speakers emphasized treating your career as a company where you are the CEO — proactively building skills, networks, and visibility. Key takeaways included writing resumes that highlight results rather than duties, making technical skills visible, leveraging publications as proof of productivity, being transparent about visa and sponsorship needs, understanding how ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) filter candidates, networking strategically with recruiters, and using tools like ChatGPT appropriately in the job search process. The session provided actionable advice for PhDs, postdocs, and early-career professionals navigating the transition from academia to industry.