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Progressing Your Life Science Career

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Taking the time to set professional goals allows you to learn, grow and develop.  Identifying what skill sets and experiences are required for you to achieve your goal then evaluate what you already have and what you need to acquire. 

Identifying Professional Goals

If you are looking to advance your life sciences career, start with setting a goal.  Where would you like to be in three to five years? From there you can then begin to work backward by asking yourself, and others who have more experience, what skillsets, experiences, or positions you need to get there.  

For example, if you are currently a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and you strive to be a Clinical Trial Manager (CTM), have conversations with current and former CTMs, letting them know your aspirations and asking for their guidance. Beneficial questions to ask are:

  • Tell me about your career journey and how you got to your role? 
  • What skill sets, experiences or positions do you believe are the most important for the role?
  • Are there any organizations, associations, or certifications that I should be exploring?
  • Who should I be build relationships with to help me achieve my career goals?

Networking and Relationship Building

Once you’ve identified the skill sets you want to acquire, begin seeking out relationships and networking.  This will help you foster relationships with mentors that can help guide you and advocate for you as you progress.

This is also a great time to begin building a relationship with a strong recruiter at a reputable life sciences agency, such as Precision Life Sciences.  A recruiter can assist you with building your resume, providing interview tips, and can help you understand what hiring managers are looking for.  Additionally, if the role you are looking for is not available at your current organization, a recruiter can also help you find your next role within your career. 

Final Step

Once you’ve identified what skills you’ll need to develop, and the relationships you need to build, it’s time to put your plan into action.  If you recognize development opportunities within your current organization, you should work with your manager to help you develop a plan for advancement. This could include strategically stepping up for assignments or tasks to gain more experience.

You could also include signing up for courses, career training, and participating in industry organizations or associations to obtain certifications. 

Summary

Career progression is important to think about at every phase of your career.  You should have a goal of where you want to be in one, three, and five years.  If you are looking for opportunities and want a recruitment expert to help you map out your career progression goals, consider Precision Life Sciences.  With more than 50 years of leveraged staffing experience, Precision Life Sciences is better equipped to help you with your career objectives.  You will be supported by recruiting experts who specialize in your field and will have access to our robust network of clients.