Things To Consider If You Want A New Career In Pharmaceuticals Or Life Sciences

If you are looking to break into the field of pharmaceuticals or life sciences, there are a few things to consider that can help make the transition a success. Pharmaceuticals and life sciences involve complex scientific work environments, so having an understanding and knowledge of the industry is important. 

Let’s explore the things you need to consider before exploring a career change into the life sciences.

Prepare yourself financially

As a new career path in medicine or business, you will need to be prepared financially. While medical school is not necessary to begin business or financial careers, the entry-level positions are usually paid at a higher rate than clinical pharma positions.

You will need to build your resume and network to get jobs and recognition as an expert in your field. You will also need to learn how to manage your time and finances effectively to succeed in this career.

In the early stages of your career, you will likely receive very little funding which makes paying for food, transportation, and other basics difficult.

Know what you are going to specialize in

After identifying a career path that you love, you should next consider which fields of medicine you would like to practice in.

Are there specific diseases or conditions that you want to treat? If so, then being a doctor in an area of high demand is a great way to make money and spend your free time in what you want to do.

Are there specialized fields of medicine that don’t currently have a field-specific medical career? Then being a doctor in such a field can be like becoming an investigator or researcher, as your role is to find evidence and publish results.

It is hard to know what fields are going to be the next big thing but here are some important points to consider when choosing your field of medicine.

Know your target company or companies

As mentioned earlier, pharmaceuticals and life sciences are areas of high demand. So, it is important to know the target company or companies for your career.

At a minimum, have a basic understanding of who they are as a company and what they offer. Do they use social media to promote their careers? Does their website offer any information about upcoming job openings?

Does the company have any past experience in your field? If so, does it look like recent experience has been dropped off and new positions have arisen since former employees left the company? Or has an existing position been taken on an extension of previous knowledge and experience?

Having this knowledge can help when applying for jobs or when being interviewed for a position at a company. It can also help when deciding where to go into business after leaving this role.

Make connections

Making connections is a critical part of entering the life sciences field. Without the help of industry allies and friends, you will be forced to develop your skills on your own.

Many entry level Ph.D.’s come from outside the fields they originally trained in and work in corporate scientific positions as a stepping stone to a career in science.

While this may not apply to the field you want to enter, it will help you grow as a person and professionally. You will gain new skills and concepts that will apply to your new position, making you more prepared for professional success.

In the life sciences, you will need to learn how to properly present yourself and what type of data/data that you put out may get lost in the shuffle of all the other stuff out there. This can be hard to do on your own!

Make sure to have fun while working and keep learning new things so that future employers know what you are doing is important.

Network with professionals in the industry

As described earlier, graduate pharmacology and medical technology programs are very popular. Thus, it is important for people in their first or second careers to have a basic knowledge of pharmaceuticals.

Most recently, research has shown that a strong knowledge of pharmaceuticals is an important part of being prepared for the job market. In fact, according to the Pharmaceutical Applied Research Board (PARB), nearly one third of all job postings include a reference to pharmaceuticals.

That’s not just saying something for jobs in pharmacy-based medicine, but also for science related to medicine like chemistry and physics. For example, members of the media may be asked to provide references for stories because they work in an area that affects health and safety.

In addition to being able to help guide someone through the application process for colleges or universities that offer graduate program in pharmacy tech or medical technology, you can also help them find potential employers.

Get experience working part-time or volunteering for an organization related to your interest

While a full-time career can be beneficial, you should be aware that it may require obtaining a full-time position or paying for one out of pocket. That is why it is important to consider new careers that may not always require a full-time position to fully consider them as options.

There are many ways to get experience working part-time or volunteering for an organization related to your new career. Look into becoming a volunteer with your local community center, local hospital, or even your community health organization; work at a soup kitchen or food pantry; and work at a day facility for kids with disabilities.

Each of these experiences can make you valuable assets in your future job interviews and as proof of skills and knowledge in your new position. You will also be helping out the community surrounding you and making sure you are competent enough to advance in their role.