Getting started in medical writing can feel like continuously rehearsing for an audition, where you work to refine your scientific writing skills, gain confidence, and search for that one break to step onto the stage and blow them away.
But getting to there is a challenge. Even through you may have scientific or medical knowledge, without experience in the industry the job search feels daunting. Most job postings seem to demand several years of prior experience.
But take heart that plenty of people (myself included) have made the transition successfully. Moving from a STEM or healthcare background into medical writing is a path that is very well-trodden!
Most writers I work with, have prior experience in another sector before starting their medical writing journey. So, if others can do it – you can too.
But it takes a strategic approach to navigate this competitive and notoriously tricky career path to break into.
When I first transitioned into Medical Communications (MedComms) writing, almost a decade ago now, I took a very targeted approach.
I identified a list of top companies that seemed to offer what I needed (a strong reputation in the sector – somewhere I that would offer a strong foundation to learning my new trade as a competent medical writer and based in the UK which is where I live).
Then I set to work, focusing in on these companies to find an opportunity and systematically working through a list of top companies. This is the strategy I work on with my coaching clients to help them successfully secure their first role in medical writing.
Here, I’d like to share with you a step-by-step guide to help you do the same:
1. Get Targeted
When you start in any job search, it’s common to check the job boards to see what’s out there and launch into sending applications in FOMO that these job postings trigger. This is understandable. If a job sounds like a fantastic opportunity that excites you, you’ll naturally want to give it a go.
But this can lead you into the trap of applying for everything you see and throwing out application after application only to receive rejections, or worse still hear nothing back at all. At this point you run the risk of falling into the trap of applying for multiple jobs, not making any traction and getting disheartened.
Instead of starting by blindly applying to every medical writing job out there, you want to take a step back and start with a more strategic approach.
Identify up to 10 companies (agencies, biopharma or contract research organisations) you’d love to work at. Don’t over think it – do they look like they’d offer good training opportunities for you? Do they look like a nice place to work? Are they in the right geography? If yes, to some of these questions, add them to your list.
Now start stalking them (in the digital sense). Follow them on LinkedIn, engage with their content, connect with medical writers there, and sign up to their mailing list for insider insights and the latest opportunities. Many companies have dedicated career pages where you can sign up for job alerts, do this to stay ahead of openings.
As you progress in your job search, you may refine your list based on what you start to learn about the employers on your list; whether they’re hiring or not, their culture, how well they support their entry-level writers etc.
2. Don’t Just Rely on Job Boards
Now you have your list of targets, you want to identify job opportunities at these companies.
Entry level medical writing positions are not that frequently advertised, as companies tend to prefer to plough more resources into finding Senior Medical Writers (those who can work independently to solve their problems).
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t openings at many companies for junior writers – they’re just not advertised as frequently. And when they are, they’re candidate magnets for aspiring medical writers. It’s not uncommon to see hundreds of hopefuls apply to entry level medical writing roles within hours of the ad being posted on LinkedIn. Therefore, if your job search relies solely on job boards, you’re making it a lot tougher on yourself to break in.
As many entry-level Associate Medical Writer positions are never advertised, you need to think beyond job boards. Instead of waiting for the perfect job posting to appear, take a multichannel approach to your job search.
This means networking with MedComms professionals, reaching out to recruiters specialising in MedComms hiring, and sending speculative applications to companies on your list who are not openly advertising entry level roles.
My coaching clients use this exact method to successfully land roles, because the reality is, the best opportunities often go to those who actively seek them out.
3. Tailor Your Applications
Every employer has their own style, focus and culture. For MedComms agencies this could be areas of expertise and specialisms – their own unique selling proposition (USP). For example, some might offer highly creative services, others have specific therapeutic expertise and others could have experience in developing patient-focused materials. Whatever it is, your application should reflect their USP. A generic resume won’t cut it.
Adapt your resume for each position, ensuring it highlights skills relevant to that particular company. And your cover letter needs to go beyond simply listing your qualifications and qualifications. The best cover letters speak more about the employer than yourself.
Use your cover letter to show you understand the agency’s goals and how you can contribute.
Also keep your applications concise, engaging, well formatted and ensure they are error free. This is what employers are looking for from their medical writers and your application is your first opportunity to demonstrate an ability to write clearly and persuasively.
4. Prepare for Writing Tests
Most hiring processes for medical writers involve a writing test. These can be particularly daunting if you haven’t encountered one yet and don’t know what to expect.
Most medical writing tests involve summarising clinical study data, so make sure you’re comfortable interpreting clinical research, particularly clinical trial data.
If you have knowledge gaps in this area, consider taking a free online course on clinical trials to boost your understanding. I found this was particularly helpful to my own job search when breaking into medical writing, because I didn’t have a clinical research background myself.
Familiarity with medical literature and the ability to extract key messages quickly will give you a significant advantage. So, get reading and familiarising yourself with the studies published in world-leading, peer-reviewed medical journals like The Lancet or New England Journal of Medicine. Reading is one of the best ways to improve your writing skills.
5. Get Interview-Ready
Once you’ve made it to the interview stage, give yourself a pat on the back – you’ve done very well to make it to this stage, but now preparation is key.
Research the company thoroughly and craft responses using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or PAR (Problem, Action, Result) method for behavioural questions. Expect questions like, “Tell us about a time you had to work to tight deadlines” or “How do you handle constructive feedback?” Have clear, structured responses ready and examples of how you’ve achieved results in the past. Tell them a story and ensure you have key messages about your expertise and strengths that you deliver to them during the interview. What is it that they as a hiring manager should know about you?
You also want to prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. These should reinforce your enthusiasm and demonstrate your understanding of the agency rather than just be used to gather basic information.
The interview is an opportunity to leave a lasting positive impression on the employer enough to receive an offer. So, you need to deliver an interview performance that lives up to this outcome. And all strong performances require preparation and practice in advance.
Final Thoughts
Landing your first medical writing job in MedComms isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy.
The competition is fierce, but if you use a targeted approach as outlined here, you’ll dramatically improve your chances. By focusing on the right companies, networking effectively, tailoring your applications, preparing for writing tests, and preparing for strong performances in interviews, you significantly increase your chances of securing a role.
I took this approach myself and so have many of my clients to successfully break into the industry. If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to launching a rewarding career in medical writing.
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