I Got Hired: Molly

Posted on: 17 October 2024 by Ruby O'Sullivan in Class of 2023

Molly Harrison is  Class of 2023 Biological and Medical Sciences graduate who is now working as a Trainee Pharmaceutical Training Writer at Nazaré.

How did you hear about your role and decide to apply for it?

I discovered the job through an advertisement on Handshake. While exploring career options with my life science degree, I came across the field of medical communications, and I felt my skills and interests aligned well with medical writing. I am passionate about making complex scientific concepts accessible and easy to understand for a wide range of audiences. The pharmaceutical training writer role is a niche within this field, focusing on developing scientific training materials related to pharmaceutical processes, clinical trial data, and regulatory compliance for customer facing teams in the pharmaceutical industry.

How did you get to where you are now?

The recruitment process for the role began with an informal meeting, followed by a writing assessment and a formal interview. My primary writing experience before applying to this role came from my degree, which involved a lot of essay writing and scientific reports. I was able to leverage transferrable skills from other experiences, such as volunteering and a lab research internship to demonstrate my suitability for the role. These experiences, along with the support from mentors and peers, have been essential to help me reach this point.

Your favourite experience as part of your role?

My favourite part of the role is working across a wide range of disease areas and collaborating with diverse teams, including experts in scientific writing, editorial, design and project management. I enjoy the constant learning and adapting required to communicate and train effectively in the ever-evolving pharmaceutical industry. It's exciting to stay up to date with the latest developments in pharmaceutical sciences. Additionally, the remote nature of my role offers flexibility, allowing me to maintain a great work-life balance while staying engaged in meaningful work.

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

The most challenging part of my graduate journey was deciding what to do with my degree. In my final year, I felt an immense pressure to perform well academically while also applying for jobs. The never-ending stream of job rejections added to the stress, making it a difficult time. Balancing these pressures with trying to enjoy my final year with friends in Liverpool was a challenge. However, despite the stress and uncertainty, things ultimately worked out in the end!

Top 3 Tips for current students and graduates:

1. Get involved in clubs and societies. Joining as many as possible not only helps you gain transferrable skills for your CV, but also allows you to form lifelong friendships that enrich your university experience.
2. Seek support from professionals. Don't hesitate to ask lecturers, mentors, or career advisors for help or advice. Building these connections can lead to future opportunities and help you excel in your degree.
3. Broaden your job searches. I wasn't aware of my current role until I started looking into less familiar areas of life sciences, which lead me to a rewarding career path. Expanding your search can open doors to unexpected but exciting opportunities.

 
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