The Hollywood director, James Cameron, once said:
“Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you’re a director. Everything after that, you’re just negotiating your budget and your fee.”
As a sci-fi movie fan and someone who helps people in their career transitions, I love this quote. It perfectly encapsulates the mindset needed for a successful career change.
Eight to nine years ago, I went through my own career change from academia to medical writing. I embraced Cameron’s approach: I stopped thinking of myself as a researcher and started thinking of myself as a writer. Even though I was still in academia at the time, this mindset shift was crucial.
The one-step versus two-step approach
Looking back, my career transition took on a two-step approach instead of a one-step one, which I believe would have been more daunting. Richard N. Bolles discusses this in his famous career handbook ‘What Color is Your Parachute?’
- The one-step approach
I wanted to move from a position as a scientific researcher in academia to being a medical writer in pharma. This transition is a change in both job title and work sector. It’s a pretty big jump.
- The two-step approach
I identified as a writer in academia. Then used this as a springboard to finding work as a writer in pharma. I turned my hand to writing as much as possible during this time – manuscripts, abstracts, congress presentations, blog posts, and communication activities such as outreach programs, scientific presentations, and event organizing. I also offered to act as a reviewer on as many pieces of colleagues’ work as I could manage.
On paper, I was still a researcher, but I was spending as much time as I could building my craft as a scientific writer and communicator. This gave me lots of prior experience to claim and draw upon once I began applying for medical writing roles.
Implementing the two-step approach into a career transition
Start talking to people working in biopharma by conducting informational interviews. Knowledge gathered from these conversations enable you to make informed decisions about career options and set realistic goals.
Industry-insiders can provide you with a deeper understanding of the different types of roles biopharma has to offer, and will help you build connections that may prove to be beneficial in your job search.
Networking can also open doors, sometimes leading to mentorship opportunities and job referrals.
2. Identify your target role
Whether it’s medical writing, clinical research, R&D or regulatory affairs, having a clear goal will guide your steps and make the transition more manageable. Spend time researching the various roles available in the biopharma sector, and understand the skills and qualifications required for each.
Use this research info to determine the specific role you want to transition into. This clarity is crucial to focus your efforts and tailor your experiences accordingly.
Once you know the direction you want to take, double down on the networking by engaging with professionals in this target field. Conduct informational interviews with those individuals already doing your desired job, attend industry conferences, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and participate in webinars. All these activities will help you build your future role network.
3. Embrace the mindset shift
Start identifying as the professional you want to become. This mental shift is essential as it aligns your daily actions with your long-term career goals. By seeing yourself in the new role, you begin to act in ways that start to make it a reality.
By thinking of myself as a writer, I opened myself up new opportunities that I might not have otherwise seen. This was as much a mindset shift on my part as anything else, but once I’d figured out where I wanted to go next, it helped me move to the medical writing career I wanted. This change in perspective enabled me to build relevant expertise and approach my job search with renewed confidence and focus.
And this proactive approach can open doors and create opportunities you might have otherwise missed. Embracing this new identity can also boost your motivation and resilience, helping you persevere through challenges and setbacks (that inevitably come with a job search).
4. Bridge the gap
Find ways to build relevant skills and experience in your current role. For example, if you’re an aspiring medical writer in academia as I was, take on writing tasks, get involved in outreach programs, or organize events. Every bit of experience counts. Whilst gaining valuable skills you’re also demonstrating your commitment to your new career path.
This proactive approach will make you a more attractive candidate when you start applying for jobs in your target field. Volunteering for extra relevant responsibilities (inside or outside academia), joining relevant groups and societies, and seeking out professional development opportunities will all help bridge the gap between your current role and your desired position.
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