Graduate Job Guide: Medical & Pharmaceutical

The medical and pharmaceutical industries have mushroomed, to such an extent that employment options range from becoming a doctor or surgeon, or a nurse, to a career in hospital administration, to developing pharmaceuticals, or even sales.

Medicine and medical treatments are a basic need of people around the globe, and there are countless opportunities in the industry, and there are numerous pharmaceutical giants that hire graduates, including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Lilly, among many others.

Industry Overview:

If you choose a career in medicine, whether it is as a doctor or surgeon, or even a dentist or a veterinarian, there will always be a demand for your services.

Likewise, the pharmaceuticals and drugs these industries use, and the development of new drugs to combat existing and future diseases, will always be a requirement of the human race.

Not even the credit crunch can affect the medical industry, as it is a basic need of people everywhere on the planet, from primary healthcare clinics in developing world countries to plastic surgery practices on Harley Street.

It’s a career that offers a high level of job satisfaction, whether in the research and development of new treatments or drugs, or healing patients in hospitals or clinics, or even in a support or administrative capacity, helping to ensure the smooth running of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities.

Considering that pharmaceuticals are a growth industry, and that the growing awareness of the need for preventative health care, as well as curative, there is little likelihood of a slowdown in the industry for the foreseeable future.

Requirements:

For a career in the research pharmaceutical industry, you will need excellent verbal and written communication skills, meticulous attention to detail and superb record keeping abilities, the ability to analyze data and record findings accurately, and great organizational ability.

To venture into pharmaceutical research, or in fact any of the technical medical fields, an aptitude for maths and science is a requirement, and many graduates in the medical field have an innate desire to help solve the mysteries of illnesses, and save lives. It’s this basis of empathy and caring that most medical careers are founded on, as well as the opportunity to find a cure for a specific disease, and achieve worldwide fame.

Communication, teamwork, and an ability to work with global associates, regardless of culture, will stand you in good stead in research pharmaceuticals, or any of the other hands on medical professions.

Nearly all fields in the medical or pharmaceutical fields, with the exception of the administrative positions, will require at minimum of a BSc degree. This may be followed up by a specialization, or by studies towards a masters or doctorate degree.

Most careers in medicine or pharmaceuticals also include a period of residency or in service training, and volunteering may also assist your future career plans, by providing hands on experience and knowledge.

Positions:

Prospects within the medical and pharmaceutical fields vary greatly, from practicing in the field, to education and training, pharmaceutical sales, and research and development, to name but a few.

Those venturing into pharmaceutical sales can expect salaries in the region of £19,000 to £23,000, usually with a company car or travelling allowance, as the job will generally entail a large amount of travelling.

Clinical research has largely the same package, and will also usually include some form of company sponsored transport, as a large amount of travel is also a part of the job, while those entering research and development positions can expect a similar package, although without a company car or travel allowance, as their work will be based mainly within a lab.

Although pharmaceutical companies generally pay better, there are also opportunities in hospitals, and at universities and other academic institutions, and although the salary may be less than in a commercial setting, graduates will be able to conduct research in a field of their choice, and not merely in the most commercially viable options.

The medical and pharmaceutical fields are ever evolving, with positions and professions within the industry existing today that were unheard of a hundred, or even fifty years ago. The field offers attractive financial benefits to graduates, as well as the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society, so it’s certainly worth a look if you enjoy maths, science, and all things research related.

Career Prospects:

Because the medical and pharmaceutical industries move and evolve so quickly, almost all commercial concerns, and many state or private hospitals and academic facilities believe in providing ongoing training for employees, which means that there is an ongoing education process, and a related opportunity for advancement.

As you skill and knowledge grows, and if you demonstrate a keen interest in continued learning, and the desire to apply yourself fully to your career in the medical or pharmaceutical fields, you will certainly be noticed by your superiors, and may be considered for roles in the industry that are higher up on the research, development, or practice ladder.