S.P. wrote:Let's assume that I have the skills, that I'm a writing prodigiy, and that I can nail any test. Where do I go from here?
As I despairingly mentioned before, I'm yet to see an ad (at least here in Europe) where "entry level medical writers", or, for that matter, entry level anything, are looked for. No experience: don't bother applying. How will a compendium of companies serve me in this regard?
You mentioned certifications. Highly professionalized. Can you empathise with me a little when I say that I never wish to hear of any further education ever again? When I started studying biology 12 years ago it was the next hot thing. Computers out, biotechnology in, everyone said. Twelve years later I'm on the verge of collecting deposit bottles in the street. You're suggesting I take some kind of expensive, lengthy medical-writing course so that two years from now some cryptic "personal relations" will make everyone call the other twenty writers in their contact list?
(Don't take my tone personally, as some here have. I'm simply jaded).
"Start by talking with people about what they do and how they did it". Here, I'm talking to you.
There are many entry level medical writer Jobs available, in this case many 3rd Party Medical Communication/or Medical Service Agencies do not advertise however does not mean they don't have work-load and Need helping Hands. Grunt work in the begining but you learn on the way. You can call them up and see if they have a need. That's what you do with such compendium. Plain old cold call and unsolicited inquiry combinded with request for Informational interviews.
As for Training, no medical writer i know has gone through any form of self-paid Training, they learned on the Job just like I did. Crash-course style with some failures and misses in the begining of thier career. They shared in common, willingness to learn, suck it up, and carry on. Certainly MPB is correct with Expertise and professionalism needed for one to Position oneself as an experienced "Editor" or "medical writer" or a medical writer linked to Content genearation. MPB is just advising you, since we don't the full extent of editing on the subject matter on what is required to Position oneself as such in our industry. I think the key Point here, without fully knowing your Expertise level, is we all have to start someplace. When I first became a medical writer, I had Zero experience beyond the publications and presentations I did as a grad Student and post-doc in the Basic sciences, MPB is right when in Comes to clincial level acumen that's needed which is something I had to learn on the Job. The 3rd Party Medical Communications firm that hired me from the lab-bench threw me in to swim or sink, it remains today an experience that I treasure. And I did sink by the way..massively, at first. But, here, good old Fashion picking up the phone or emailing or linkedin will help. To Position yourself as a freelancer you should have some experience that MPB refers too with demonstrated Portfolio of successful Projects as supporting evidence to your Client(s).
So you have MPB and you have me - for me back in my day and most I knew it was reaching out to agencies directly and using recruiters.
At PG: I can say on the Commercial side of pharma, compromises are made as well on experience, sometimes that is traded for demonor and other experience that is not in the Job description. Certainly, i've been a beneficary of it, I've Held Jobs where the Job description clearly called for someone beyond my level of experience which has generally been the case in all companies that have hired me. And this is the case for many others I know where the Job description was quite laughable to the reality and the candidate they hired. Alot of times These Job descriptions are quite astronomical - so ye old truth, if you feel you are somewhat competitive and meet some of the Points but not all, just apply - usually number of years of experience is the softest of them all.
DX