Dear Aspirant, you have asked a very good question. the academic record matters a lot while looking for a biologist position. It happnes to some some students who could not score good grades starting from graduation to doctoral degree. A biologist could be a botanist, zoologist, environbmental scientist, microbiologist, biochemist, genetecist of may be holding any discipline degree in Agriculture.

At the time of job, definitey the marks are important criteria to get selection. But one can improve ones credentials by improving academic or scintific record. Let me explain you with an example.

Lets take a person, who was an average student during his graduation, masters and doctoral degree program. After PhD or MSc he looked for job but could not strike choice of job due to grades. He wants a job, therefore, he joins a research project as Senior Research Fellow (SRF) or Junior Research Fellow (JRF). While working as SRF/JRF he works hard and learn lots of techniques, prepare reports and publishes good research papers. He also utilizes his time to write review articles, or book chapters.

A biologist has to improve his or her credentials on regular basis by increasing his publications (research papers, review articles, books, book chapters, news paper articles, popular articles, delivering radio talks). These things are also required for an established "Biologist" in any university or institute to get promotion.

Continuing the above story, in the mean time after completion of project he may try to find a job in a college as lecturer (now a days there are many private colleges and private universities) and works hard. Here he teaches well, which improves his command over the subject. He guides masters , M.Phil or PhD students whose research will increase his publications. He can make his groups of like minded people, to organize conferences, seminars, workshops and training programs.

These things are very important because while getting a job a API (Academic Performance Index) form is required to be filled, This API form is required for screening the candidate at the time of interview.

In nut shell, any one can increase the acdemic credentials at any time. One has to be serious, good planner, hard worker and far sighted. These tips are also useful while looking for a job of biologist in private sector.