I have been a medical writer for the pharmaceutical industry since obtaining my first medical writing job with Wellcome in 1995. I was a postdoctoral scientist with no previous experience of writing for the pharmaceutical industry and during the interview my scientific knowledge and problem solving abilities were examined in more depth than my medical writing. Nowadays, people hoping to begin a career in medical writing with no previous “relevant experience” encounter many more challenges trying to obtain their first medical writing post.
Over the years I have received numerous enquiries from graduates hoping to start out in medical writing and asking for advice. They find themselves in a “Catch 22” situation because more and more advertised positions are asking for candidates with medical writing and/or pharmaceutical industry experience. The age-old conundrum is how to deal with this prerequisite when you cannot access a relevant job? My advice to anyone in this position is to try “thinking outside the box” either by capitalising on the strengths you already have, or by approaching the challenge from an altogether new angle.
For example, if the prospective employer requires up to one year of medical writing experience do not be disheartened. They may be quite willing to consider someone with suitable or related therapeutic area knowledge as this can also be an important aspect for some projects.
Some adverts may not specify a therapeutic area. Most companies advertise therapeutic area expertise on their websites and if your hoped-to-be employer has one always check it out. You never know, their expertise might match your own! But don't stop at the company website. Do they have a social media presence? If so you should be following them on twitter, facebook, LinkedIn etc and becoming familiar with the company ethos and any exciting news.
Don’t be afraid to call the employer to discuss the merits of your application and sell your therapeutic area knowledge to them. If you are a bench scientist, can you provide copies of your own scientific publications to support your writing abilities?
If the potential employer is asking for pharmaceutical industry as well as medical writing experience, can you gain this in another way? The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is the trade association for around a hundred companies in the UK producing prescription medicines. Their website provides contact details for pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organisations, many of whom offer placements allowing suitably qualified candidates to gain that much needed pharmaceutical industry experience. If you are an undergraduate toying with the idea of becoming a medical writer try to arrange for a placement during your long summer break. Check out the ABPI website for useful information about careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
Think about other, perhaps temporary, writing-related jobs. By accessing writing support jobs like quality control of document content, you can be exposed to an element of proofreading and editing as well as familiarising yourself with the content of pharmaceutical industry documents. If you do manage to obtain one of these jobs or placements take advantage of any training opportunities that may arise and keep any certificates, or a list of the courses you attended. Be sure to add them to your CV to impress the next employer.
Consider short courses that can demonstrate your commitment to following this career path. Often run as one or two day training courses or workshops they can offer an insight into the pharmaceutical industry and medical writing in general.
The European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) runs a large number of training workshops at their regular Spring and Autumn conferences. These workshops cover many aspects of medical writing in more detail, including writing both manuscripts for publication and regulatory documents. More information can be obtained from their website (see: www.emwa.org). Medical writing vacancies submitted from companies based in the UK and the rest of Europe are also regularly posted on the EMWA website.
Attention to detail is often one of the necessary skills cited by an employer. The accuracy of document content is an important aspect of medical writing and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders(see: www.sfep.org.uk) runs a one day “Introduction to Proofreading” course in London which is held at regular intervals throughout the year. The SfEP also run some on line courses at very reasonable cost. These courses will provide you with a flavour of editing and proofreading and could help impress your would-be employer.
Interested in finding out about becoming a medical writing for a medical communications company? Be sure to check out www.medcommsnetworking.co.uk where you will find lots of useful information on this area of medical writing including webcasts and advice from other medical writers.
If you are in the process of applying for your first medical writing post please do not be discouraged by the requirement of “suitable experience.” From my own understanding there are not enough people to fill all the posts being advertised and like most chosen career paths, to make your aspiration a reality some forward planning and extra effort will pay enormous dividends.
