[Asking for a friend] Should I mention working for a vape company during medical school interviews?

[Princeton Medical Student]

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Hi, I know someone that works, not for Juul, but probably one of the bigger competitors. The friend works in one of the RnD departments, and as far as I understand works to ensure that the product is safe for consumers. His argument is that since the product is 100% marketed towards helping adults quit smoking, it could be seen favorably, but I am just a bit concerned that it may come off badly in interviews if they associate it more with kids vaping in high school bathrooms.
What do you think?

 

[907914]

Hi, I know someone that works, not for Juul, but probably one of the bigger competitors. The friend works in one of the RnD departments, and as far as I understand works to ensure that the product is safe for consumers. His argument is that since the product is 100% marketed towards helping adults quit smoking, it could be seen favorably, but I am just a bit concerned that it may come off badly in interviews if they associate it more with kids vaping in high school bathrooms.
What do you think?

Being that there have been hundreds of recent cases of vaping related disorders, the “health” aspects don’t mean anything. I think talking about the RnD he was doing would be good/useful if there is a question of research, but he should not go in to the morals/ethics/sales/marketing topics.

 

[deleted846158]

Oof this is a tough one, but considering what’s been in the news I think your friend should avoid the topic altogether, especially if he has other research experience he can highlight.

Upside: reviewer is impressed by work in R&D
Downside: a reviewer sees your friend working in the nicotine industry and auto-rejects

I would change my opinion if your friend could somehow mention his experience without mentioning the company name or products he was developing lol.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Yeah I wouldn’t. The evidence that they help adults quit smoking is poor, there are tons of cases coming out with health related issues, and people have had them blow up on them. Even if his company isn’t involved in any of that, the association will be there.

 

[LizzyM]

If this is a full-time job, it is rather hard to hide. I don't know which is worse, a gap in the resume or working for an industry that is considered disreputable. If your friend is working for blu, Mistic or Logic and writes that they are a research assistant (or whatever) in research and development and working to enhance the product line with the goal of increasing sales in FY20 and onward, it is not likley to raise any red flags because the names of those companies are not well known to adcoms (I'm guessing) and no one will really care.. If the employee is asked to talk about it at interview, they could always claim that they are working with very sensitive, proprietary information and that there isn't much more to say than they are working in a team of N people and that it is a very collegial atmosphere but, in the end, it would be great to get out of industry and into something, like medicine, that helps people at a time of their lives when they are most in need. (obscure and deflect).

 

[deleted804295]

Hi, I know someone that works, not for Juul, but probably one of the bigger competitors. The friend works in one of the RnD departments, and as far as I understand works to ensure that the product is safe for consumers. His argument is that since the product is 100% marketed towards helping adults quit smoking, it could be seen favorably, but I am just a bit concerned that it may come off badly in interviews if they associate it more with kids vaping in high school bathrooms.
What do you think?

Hey buddy. Just wanted to check in saying I missed ya. Hope all is well

 

[DeaTruth]

Unless you're applying to "Meharry", I wouldn't recommend it.

Meharry accepts $7 million from Juul -- and faces criticism

A historically black medical college intends to use a $7 million grant from an e-cigarette giant to study the effects of tobacco. Some question the ethics.

www.insidehighered.com

 

[SalmonFisher]

Why would this person even take this job if they were considering applying for medical school?

 

[Goro]

Why would this person even take this job if they were considering applying for medical school?

I agree

 

[SalmonFisher]

Presumably if you could get a job in RnD for a vape company you could easily swing a much better option such as being a scribe or research tech.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

I agree

Their work consists mostly of ensuring that the product is safe for consumers and less actual product development. The company markets itself to people trying to quit smoking so his take on it is that he is developing safety measures for a smoking cessation tool. Now if you (and more importantly adcoms) buy or not any of the statements above is kinda the big question

 

[SalmonFisher]

Their work consists mostly of ensuring that the product is safe for consumers and less actual product development. The company markets itself to people trying to quit smoking so his take on it is that he is developing safety measures for a smoking cessation tool. Now if you (and more importantly adcoms) buy or not any of the statements above is kinda the big question

I mean it can't look great. It can only be neutral at best. To be fair to your friend, all of the deaths are from tampering with the device and customizing for THC use, not its original function.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

Dont have an answer to above but, he mentioned it and got into an MD.