Many enter clinical research careers by accident, without realizing it until they find their first position. Unfortunately, this often leaves people feeling trapped or frustrated due to unclear career advancement opportunities.
1. Focus on your strengths
Dr. Hanid Audish articulates that clinical researchers utilize medical discoveries to create real-world benefits that improve patients' length and quality of life. Their capabilities range from problem-solving and data analysis to knowledge of regulatory guidelines.
Starting a career in clinical research can be challenging for those without prior industry experience, even with a bachelor's degree and formal training from an academic program. Many applicants find it hard to gain entry-level positions.
To overcome this obstacle, focus on your strengths to outline a path towards success. Define your ideal role and research how you might progress along that path. Gain clarity around your career ambitions while investing in Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Volunteer for research projects outside your comfort zone, learn more about clinical trial roles through nonprofit organizations like ACRP or SOCRA, and fix up your resume to demonstrate them to prospective employers. Finally, accept that rejection may arise, but don't let it derail your plans!
2. Networking
Dr. Hanid Audish conveys that respondents in many surveys reported that networking and connections had an enormous effect on their ability to secure initial clinical research positions, especially those transitioning into this area from other areas of life science or seeking an entry-level job within it.
Beginning your career in clinical research may benefit from starting in a lab or quality assurance role that gives you an overall sense of the clinical research process and its various elements that contribute to each trial's success. Doing this may help you discover which parts interest you most while others might not align with your desired future goals in this industry.
Networking can also help keep you abreast of the latest research practices and trends in the field. Attend industry events or participate in workshops hosted by clinical research professionals so that you can exchange experiences. Doing this will keep your knowledge fresh while possibly opening doors within the industry.
3. Mentoring
Research suggests mentoring can be a powerful method for increasing clinical research skills and job satisfaction. This learning technique involves senior colleagues (mentors) working closely with junior or student clinicians (mentees) for an extended period to share knowledge and provide guidance regarding specific topics.
Dr. Hanid Audish points out that mentors can assist their mentees in building the communication and leadership skills necessary for running clinical trials successfully. Mentees may also gain greater insight into medical issues through introspective discussions and constructive debate with their mentors.
Clinicians with mentors are twice as likely to pursue academic careers than those without one, and facilitated mentoring can assist junior researchers in exploring unique medical fields and developing their careers accordingly.
Research requires collaboration among multiple professionals, such as nurses, doctors, and research assistants. Strong verbal communication skills are vital for clinical researchers as they must explain trials to patients and other stakeholders and provide updates regarding studies to sponsors and staff members. Thus, clinical researchers must regularly practice their public speaking abilities.
4. Volunteering
Research and clinical trials are vital in discovering new treatments for illnesses and diseases. Clinical research volunteers, also called clinical study participants or patients, play an integral part in this advancement in medicine. Volunteers may include healthy people seeking to aid medical research or those diagnosed with illness seeking alternative treatment solutions.
As highlighted by Dr. Hanid Audish, participating in research studies allows you to expand your knowledge about an industry while making contacts within it. Volunteering will also showcase your leadership and management abilities - an asset many hiring managers highly value.
When recruiting clinical research assistants (CRAs), life sciences employers must be more inclusive. Organizations such as Clinical Research Fastrack and ACRP offer training programs for career changers who wish to make the switch easier for themselves. From earning specialty certifications to networking with senior CRA roles, these tips may prove instrumental.
5. Continuing Education
Continuing education is one of the best ways to advance your clinical research career. Enrolling in new courses will teach you about current industry research trends and regulations, giving you a competitive edge.
Dr. Hanid Audish puts forward the notion that clinical research requires diverse skills that may not be covered in traditional education programs. To excel, you will need to be able to analyze medical literature and apply discoveries from lab experiments directly into real-life scenarios - something that takes years of development if you want to be successful in this industry.
Regardless of your career, continuing your education can open more opportunities, give you confidence to take risks, and increase your earning potential. Learning has been proven to improve patient outcomes, so this investment could ultimately pay dividends.
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