QA Big Pharma or CRO wheres better to work Viewpoint careers advice blog

QA Big Pharma or CRO â€" where’s better to work Embarking on a career in the Life Sciences Industry can be a daunting task. As recruiters, it is our job to decipher what kind of environment would best suit your personality and skill set. There is a huge demand for professionals in Life Sciences (see our article on the UK Life Sciences Skills Shortage) in both Pharmaceutical and  Contract Research Organisations (CRO) and this demand is on the rise. One area we are experiencing growth in is Regulatory Affairs and there has been a notable rise in permanent opportunities. With more opportunities available for regulatory consultants and specialists at Pharmaceutical and  CROs, how should candidates decide which kind of organisation to work for? QA with Dr Andrea Sisneros, Senior Regulatory Consultant Dr Andrea Sisneros, Senior Regulatory Consultant I’ve spoken with Dr Andrea Sisneros, Senior Regulatory Consultant, about her experiences. Tell me a bit about your roles at CRO and Pharmaceutical companies. I’ve worked in CRO and Pharmaceutical environments as a freelance Regulatory Scientist, and my experience is divided roughly half and half between the two. My responsibilities have included acting as a Regulatory Manager Lead for Clinical Studies in a CRO and managing labelling processes in pharmaceutical organisations. What have you enjoyed most about working as a consultant at a CRO? I really enjoy the fast-paced nature of CROs and that you can interact with clients directly. There is regular in-house training provided so you are always expanding your skills, and I’ve really enjoyed working in a variety of therapeutic areas. What advice would you give to someone transitioning from a pharmaceutical environment to a CRO? Be prepared to work on projects that you haven’t worked on before. If you are transitioning from a pharmaceutical company than you are likely to take on an increase in the volume and variety of workload. Take it all in, enjoy the opportunity to grow professionally and ask lots of questions. Do you feel there is a big difference in the respective company cultures? Yes there is a difference. CROs put the focus on client satisfaction and therefore there needs to be added transparency in working, speed and efficiency. There is an immediate sense of accountability towards the client which is different to simply reporting to internal line management at a pharmaceutical company. At Pharmaceutical companies there is a tendency towards reactive working and there is a lot less pressure which can make it feel as though work is not moving as quickly. Your skills will be developed in a specific area and you are likely to be working in a department or team with the same specialist skills. What kind of personality type do you feel is best suited to a CRO organisation? Someone who is an effective communicator with good negotiation skills would get on well at a CRO. You also need the ability to multi-task, see the bigger picture and think outside of the box. Have you worked in a large pharma and/or CRO? We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences of working in both environments, please leave your comments below. Stay up to date with latest news from across the globe by joining our LinkedIn group,  Life Sciences Industry Insights with Hays  and follow us on Twitter  @HaysLifeScience