[Imaginos]

Qualifications and experience. There is no substitute for either, and the better both are, the better your chances. A way to improve your chances is to also provide a skill other candidates may not have, here your previous career could come in handy, but there is also room to develop a new skill alongside your study and work experience, maybe get into mycology or entomology (especially groups other than the well studied Lepidoptera, hoverflies and carabid beetles) or develop your presentation skills. It all boils down to being a good candidate for the jobs you have in mind and that little 'something different' could give you the edge.