Difference between revisions of "Get a Clinical Research Job"

Clinical research involves testing products, normally medicines, for safety and effectiveness. The work often involves working with test patients during extended experiments to record and quantify the effect that different medicines produce. Experiments are usually conducted in hospitals or at testing facilities run by universities, private corporations, or the government. Because of the importance of the work and the fact that human subjects are involved, clinical research is a highly regulated field. An educational background in the sciences and a knowledge of testing procedure is required for working in clinical research.<ref name="rf1">http://www.clinicalresearchtraining.net/clinical-research-associate</ref> As one acquires more qualifications, the opportunities for remuneration and responsibility increase; positions range from trial assistants to clinical research coordinators. In 2015, the average pay for a clinical research associate was $60,732, with a salary range of $39,000 to $87,000.<ref name="rf2">http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Research_Associate_%28CRA%29/Salary</ref>

[[Category: Job Search]]

[[Category: Occupations]]

# Earn a Bachelor's degree in a health-related discipline or in a life science.<ref name="rf3">http://www.acrpnet.org/MainMenuCategory/Education/How-Do-I-Get-Started-in-Clinical-Research.aspx</ref> Majoring in fields such as medicine, nursing, pharmacology, physiology, biology, chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, anatomy, genetics, or bio-engineering will give you the relevant science and medical knowledge and technical skills to qualify for a job in clinical research.  

# Take relevant courses. Even if you have or are working towards a Bachelor's degree in health or life science, be sure to take courses that will give you experience and knowledge in topics relevant to conducting clinical research. These courses may be offered at your university or through a professional organization, such as the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). Relevant courses should include topics such as:<ref name="rf3" />

# Get certified as a clinical research associate. Only enroll in a certificate program with a reputable organization; beware of scam programs.<ref name="rf4">http://www.clinicalresearchassociated.com/cra-entry-level-jobs-shortcuts-and-tactics-revealed/</ref>

#* Both the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and the Society of Clinical Research Associates offer reputable certification exams for people with a Bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience in clinical research.<ref name="rf3" /><ref name="rf5">https://www.socra.org/certification/certification-program-overview/introduction/</ref>

#* Consider an advanced degree, such as an Master's degree or Ph.D., if you want to become a clinical research coordinator (CRC). CRCs usually must hold at least an Associates degree, but having an R.N., Master's degree, M.D., or Ph.D. and expertise in a specific field of medicine or life science is advantageous.<ref name="rf6">http://blog.proclinical.jobs/how-to-get-a-job-as-a-clinical-research-associate-cra</ref>  

# Study ICH-GCP. Every clinical researcher must be trained in the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practices (GCP) guidelines and ethics.<ref name="rf7">http://www.ich.org/home.html</ref> It will be next to impossible to get a job doing clinical research unless you have documented training in ICH-GCP.<ref name="rf4" /> You can get such training through your Bachelor's degree program in health or life sciences or by taking a course on ICH-GCP through professional organizations like the ACRP.<ref name="rf8">http://www.acrpnet.org/MainMenuCategory/Education/eLearning/Introduction-ICH-GCP.aspx</ref>  

# Highlight your knowledge on your resume. If your education is ongoing, list the programs you are enrolled in and note that they are "in progress." In addition to your Bachelor's degree, highlight any additional courses or professional development to demonstrate you have the requisite knowledge in science, medicine, and technical skills to be come a clinical researcher. You should also highlight any "soft" or related skills that you gained through your education and that would make you a good fit for a clinical researcher position. These include:<ref name="rf8" />  

# Keep good records of your education and certificates. Potential employers may want to see documentation of your education, certification, and coursework, especially your ICH-GCP training. Keep detailed records, including your university transcripts and any certificates you earned, so that you can provide documentation when you are applying for jobs.<ref name="rf8" />  

# Do research projects while in school. It is difficult to get a clinical researcher job without at least two years of monitoring experience.<ref name="rf6" /> One way to begin getting experience is to conduct research studies using human subjects while you are earning your Bachelor's or graduate degree.  

#* Get approval from your university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) before starting your research. This is required for all studies involving human subjects.<ref name="rf9">http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/assurances/irb/</ref>

# Volunteer. After researching volunteering opportunities that are available in your area, volunteer to help with clinical research projects to get exposure to clinical research and its professionals.<ref name="rf3" /> You may start out doing non-clinical research tasks, such as data entry or clerical work, but if you start at the bottom, you can work your way up to gaining clinical research experience over time. If you volunteer, be sure to discuss the possibility of applying for a position as a clinical researcher with the organization in the future.<ref name="rf4" /> Volunteering opportunities may include:

#* ACRP Chapters or the chapters/special interest groups/regional events of other professional organizations related to medicine and/or the clinical research field. <ref name="rf3" />

#* Hospitals or medical centers.<ref name="rf3" />

#* Public health departments, medicine-related charities like the Red Cross, churches, patient advocacy groups, or assisted living/retirement homes.<ref name="rf3" />

#* Institutional Review Boards or research ethics committees.<ref name="rf3" />

# Get an internship. While you are in college, seek out formal internships with medical centers; local biotechnology, medical device, and/or pharmaceutical firms; vendors of services to clinical researchers; or the regional offices of large contract research organizations. Some firms' internships may offer academic credits with partnering universities.<ref name="rf3" />  

#* Join professional organizations related to clinical research. Actively participate in those organizations by attending their conferences. This will allow you to meet and learn from established professionals.<ref name="rf3" />  

#* Initiate informational interviews or lunches with established clinical research professionals. You can find their information through your university alumni program and clinical research professional organizations. Use these meetings as an opportunity to ask about what clinical research jobs involve, what skills you need, how to gain experience, any tips the professional might have for you.<ref name="rf3" /> This is also a good way to cultivate relationships with potential mentors by following up and staying in touch with the professionals after your meeting.

#* Ask to shadow a clinical research professional or observe a clinical research trial. Again, your university alumni organization or clinical research professional organization can put you in touch with established professionals willing to allow you to do this. Use the opportunity to develop a relationship with the person/people you shadow and see if they will become your mentor(s).<ref name="rf3" />  

# Apply for an entry-level CRC or CTA position. You need to have at least two years of experience as a clinical research coordinator (CRC) or a clinical trial assistant (CTA) before you can apply for a job as a clinical research association (CRA).<ref name="rf4" /> Apply for these entry-level jobs to start. You will waste your time if you apply for jobs that you are unqualified for.<ref name="rf6" />

# Apply for positions at smaller firms. Most people who want a job in clinical research apply for positions at the largest pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations, which make these jobs very competitive. As a result, most of these large firms' human resources departments will not even read applications for applicants who do not have the required 2 years of monitoring experience. It is easier to get jobs at smaller and mid-sized companies because such positions receive less applications and because these companies may be more willing to hire an applicant who does not have as much experience.<ref name="rf4" />

# Don't only apply for advertised positions. A lot of smaller and mid-sized companies rely on word-of-mouth to find new employees and may not advertise open positions. Take a chance by sending them a letter of interest and your resume. Be sure to include an explanation about why you want to work for that particular company and which skills you have that will make you a good fit for a clinical researcher position with their firm.<ref name="rf4" />

# Look for jobs with a government or international healthcare body. Large healthcare institutions, such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) or World Health Organization (WHO) may be willing to hire someone with your educational background and entry-level experience. Keep an open mind about the type of position you are looking for. Taking an entry-level position with a healthcare body can lead to career advancement in the government or non-profit sector or help you build career networks that can lead to later positions in the non-profit clinical research industry.<ref name="rf6" />

#* See if mid-sized and large pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations have graduate recruitment programs. Some large companies have special programs for new university graduates that prepare them for clinical research jobs with those companies. Look on the companies' career opportunities web pages and their social media sites for announcements.<ref name="rf6" />

#* Hire a head-hunter or life science recruitment consultants. Ask established clinical researchers if they can recommend job placement companies/head-hunters who can help you find a position that fits your skill set, or do research online for such companies. Many job placement companies exist that help job-hunters find suitable employment.<ref name="rf4" />

# Tailor your application for each position. Write a cover letter that is tailored to each position you apply for, and tailor your resume/CV for each individual application. Based on the job description/position advertisement, highlight the relevant skills on your CV/resume, and mention those exact skills in your job letter. Be sure to explain why you want that particular job with that particular company and how your skills will make you a good fit for them. Personalized applications have a much better chance of landing you a job than a generic one.<ref name="rf6" />

#* Ask several colleagues or established researchers to show you their resumes and cover letters they wrote for their jobs so that you have examples to use as models.<ref name="rf10">http://irp.nih.gov/blog/post/2015/03/careers-in-science-series-academic-job-application-tips</ref>

#* Ask one or more colleagues or established researchers to read your resume and cover letter and give you feedback and suggestions before you submit your applications.<ref name="rf10" /> They can make sure that you don't have any mistakes/typos and that your application is as strong as possible. More experienced, established colleagues should be able to help you shape your application to be as appealing as possible based on the conventions in the field.

# Craft a strong resume. Your resume should be brief and to-the-point. It should highlight your skills and experiences by including only information about your present and past experience, accomplishment, and skills that fit the job for which you are applying. Leave out non-relevant experiences and information.<ref name="rf11">http://www.mayoclinic.org/jobs/how-to-apply/resume-tips</ref> Your resume should typically be no longer than two pages.<ref name="rf12">http://www.pharmainfo.net/book/clinical-pharmacy/resume-preparation-tips-clinical-trial-jobs</ref>

#* Organize your resume into different sections by theme, such as contact information; education; work experience; professional memberships, certifications, and licenses; honors/awards (only if relevant to the job); special skills; publications (only if relevant to clinical research); and references.<ref name="rf11" />

#* List these experiences and accomplishments, and elaborate on each item by writing concise descriptions of each experience/accomplishment/skill, using bullet points below the job/accomplishment/education that you list.<ref name="rf11" />  

#* Begin each description with an action verb.<ref name="rf11" /> This quickly conveys key information in an engaging way. Try to use some of the same words - the "buzzwords" - from the job description or job ad to show that your experience matches what they are looking for.<ref name="rf12" />

#* Make sure each description is brief. Do not write long sentences and paragraphs because hiring managers generally read resumes quickly, so you need to provide them with only the most important information that they can see easily if they scan the page.<ref name="rf12" />

#* Put the most critical information first in each section.<ref name="rf11" /> In the job experience section, list your most recent position first, followed by your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, so that your oldest job is listed last.<ref name="rf12" />   

#* Do not include non-relevant personal information, like your age, family status, religion, political affiliations, hobbies, etc.<ref name="rf11" />

#* Before starting the letter, read through the job description carefully. Take notes on exactly what the employer is seeking so that you can address each requirement in your letter. The required skills and experiences will be different for every job, so you must write a different cover letter for each application.<ref name="rf13">https://globalhealthtrials.tghn.org/articles/how-write-brilliant-cover-letter/</ref>

#* After you write your greeting, write your introductory paragraph. It should state the position you are applying for (i.e., I am writing to apply for the research coordinator position in your Clinical Trials Unit, which is advertised on your careers website).<ref name="rf13" /> If you have a connection at that company, you may wish to mention that person and his/her position at the company and say that he/she encouraged you to apply.

#* In your next paragraph, explain why you want this job. Why do you want that particular position, and why do you want to work for that particular company/organization? Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the position and company so this does not seem like you just wrote a form letter and are applying simply because you want a job, any job. Also explain why you are the perfect person for this position, and what you will bring to the organization.<ref name="rf13" />

#* Your next paragraph should explain why the company should hire you. Explain how your past experience and skill set will make you the perfect fit for this job. Be sure to address each aspect of the job as listed in the job description/job ad.<ref name="rf13" />

#* Your conclusion should be brief and should thank the person for their time and say you hope to hear from them soon about your application.<ref name="rf13" /> Then sign your name (i.e., Sincerely, X).

#* Use a professional font (i.e., 12-point Times New Roman), put the date at the top, use nice letterhead, use professional language, and use proper spelling and grammar.<ref name="rf13" />

#* Do not simply repeat your resume, write a lengthy letter, or use informal language.<ref name="rf13" />