How Can I Break Into Field of Regulatory Medical Writing w/ Zero Experience?
Well, you may already be in.
As crazy as that sounds, this is what I mean. We all tailor our resumes/CVs to fit the key qualifications of the jobs we are interested in. While regulatory medical writing is a highly specialized occupation, it’s not beyond you - the average chemistry & biology major, graduate student researcher, or science writing enthusiast.
After all, if you’re on this page, if you stumbled onto Acce-Sci-ble, one way or another, you are most likely someone with or pursuing a STEM education or someone with passion for scientific research.
And that in of itself is 25% of the battle won.
The other 75% I will demonstrate. If you can check off at least three of these boxes on your resume, you are on track to an offer for entry-level regulatory writer positions.
A portfolio of personally crafted scientific documentation (blog posts, peer-reviewed publications, thinkpieces, whitepapers etc.)
Experience working in a science or health care environment (laboratory, hospital, clinic, animal care center, etc.)
Experience conducting clinical or animal research, whether as a participant in a trial
Strong data visualization and graphical presentation skills for condensing mass quantities of scientific/clinical evidence
Proficiency in EndNote or similar citation software
Ability to quickly interpret scientific and clinical literature and translate into layman terms
Interpersonal skills for cross-collaboration with a variety of teams
So there you have it. Recruiters from pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and medical device manufacturers like to see these as baseline. Of course, exposure to the higher sciences at the masters or doctoral level is a plus and with more education, less experience may be expected.
Notice not a single one of those bulletpoints included actually knowing the underlying regulatory principles, whether that be EU MDR 2017/745 for medical device writers or the E3 guidance for clinical study reports. This can come with time on the job, and a surface level understanding can be sufficient to getting your first entry level role.
But here’s the kicker, and one that I think will be kick in the pants for a lot of us:
Be willing to work on-site and not remotely in your first few years as a medical writer.
Yes, I know. This is very anti-climatic, especially for those of us who dream of zipping around the globe typing on the beach as we sip pina coladas. The work-from-home life aesthetic is compelling indeed. And it is within reach as an entry-level medical writer, but to give yourself the best chances, this is what I recommend. Based on my research perusing the postings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Handshake combined with firsthand interview experience, the trend is that 100% remote positions are offered to writers with at least 3 years of regulatory writing experience.
Now, here come the naysayers. I’m referring to those who believe this entire blogpost is wishful thinking and say, “Entry level medical writing positions do not exist. You’ve gotta have experience to even get an interview.”
Well, to that I will offer a quote by a wise person from an era past: “To those who think the door is closed, it is closed indeed. To those who think the door is open, there is a door no more.”
Let this be your motto as you embark upon this extremely rewarding career path. Your courage and optimism will get you far and will be contagious to everyone you encounter, especially the recruiters.
And finally, here are more resources for those trying to break into medical regulatory writing:
https://www.myglobalcro.com/cer-internship-program (Paid, remote internship opportunity for clinical evaluation report writing; available to non-students)
https://www.myglobalcro.com/intro-to-cer-writing (Live training courses that provides an introduction to clinical evaluation report writing)
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3586405653/?alternateChannel=search&refId=fG28Ya4Tsnf%2Fo8JIbxp8JA%3D%3D&trackingId=K9kJhnbZCscI304ql9qh4A%3D%3D (internship opportunity for those working on masters or doctoral degrees)
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3497804612/?alternateChannel=search&refId=c17c0a61-b8b7-4a4a-9504-85eccfda91ba&trackingId=WSqCoEJITl6B50MrY0JTGQ%3D%3D (Paid internship opportunity fully remote or on-site in Boston, MA, available to undergraduate juniors or seniors)
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3551284415/?alternateChannel=search&refId=2bpE1vRFwAEotBn7X3cpIQ%3D%3D&trackingId=yZG3%2F%2BwHyKrbTfV7346ABA%3D%3D (Based in Bar Harbor, Maine; 10 - 12 week program starting in mid-May; must be currently enrolled in a college or degree-seeking program)
