Selection and Assessment Day

Clinical Research Academy has decided to implement a sure-fire way of finding top candidates for Clinical Research Associate (CRA) posts – by running a Selection and Assessment Day. The first was held at the end of July in Marlow in the UK. The company has set up a three-month traineeship scheme which incorporates the Introduction to Clinical Trials Practice course, in conjunction with the UK's Institute of Clinical Research. While following the course, trainees are actively assigned to a pharmaceutical sponsor. The 25 candidates for the Selection Day were chosen from among over 80 people who applied for the traineeship. The goal was to assess and select the top 10 high-flyers, to enrol them on the course. It was a tough and instructive day, packed with group activities, personal interviews and a presentation session. The assessment was based on the competencies which are inherent to a CRA, at whichever level he or she is working. For example, a CRA trainee must be communicative, detail-orientated and accurate, persuasive and convincing, and highly motivated to do the job. 'We were impressed by the level of talent which was apparent in that group but, as our quest for high quality demands, we have selected the cream of the crop,' says Kieran Engels, European Director of CRAcademy. With varied backgrounds in sales, nursing and other clinically-related positions, the trainees will be able to meet a range of client needs. Clients who have already signed-up to the traineeship scheme will obviously get first choice, but there is still opportunity for those who haven't yet made up their minds to recruit from among CRAcademy's top 10. In fact, so successful was the first Selection Day that CRAcademy now plans to repeat the approach in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France and The Netherlands – with a further Selection Day in the UK in the autumn. Kieran Engels M.Sc. European Director CRAcademy Visit our website at: www.CRAcademy.com Manager Corporate Development Clinical Research Staffing DOCS International T: +31 (0)30 221 90 90 M: +31 (0)6 510 466 50 F: +31 (0)30 221 90 99 E: Kieran.Engels@DOCS-int.com Please visit our website at http://www.DOCS-int.com