Put Another Dataset In: Ep. 1 My Journey

Hello all! My name is Amy Alleyne and this is my first blog! I am a 5th year PhD Candidate and an avid PADI SCUBA diver (for those divers who will understand the title of this blog). My most consistent hobby is weight lifting; I competed in an NPC figure competition back in 2016 but haven't done another one since, I'm not sure I enjoyed the diet part...

Anyway, I'm from Baltimore, MD (go Ravens and Retrievers!) but am now in Florida where I live with my husband who is from Trinidad and is an astoundingly talented electrical engineer (seriously, he was offered an internship at NASA during his masters work but had to decline it as he was not a US citizen at the time [now is]). I am planning to graduate with my PhD at UF in Pharmaceutical Sciences hopefully at the end of this year, which is the reason I am writing this blog!

Ever since I learned about the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) role about 3 years ago, it has been non-stop on my mind; I can't get enough of MSL conversations, meeting MSLs, talking with MSLs, looking up MSL careers, meeting other aspiring MSLs, etc. so I thought I would start writing this to talk about various aspects of my journey to the role. I want to highlight that I don't know where this journey will end, maybe I will find another role that suites me better, but for now I want to log and share my efforts just in case it perhaps inspires or helps someone else who may one day find themselves in my shoes, someone with a PhD aspiring to become an MSL but one who has no previous MSL experience. Honestly, even if no one reads this I can at least keep a journal for myself!

I want to share 2 key items I plan to implement to help in my MSL career search.

1. Stop wasting time applying to job positions on LinkedIn, Indeed, or even company pages if you do not have an inside referral/reference. I have kept track of every single MSL position I have applied for on an excel spreadsheet including information such as the company, the therapeutic field, when I applied and if (and when) I heard back (all rejection so far, 30 applications strong : | ). I have known a few people at several (not all) of the companies I have applied for, but only one time bothered to ask them "Hey, I saw this position opened in your company, do you think I would be a good fit?" I didn't want to bug people, I figured if I was a good fit, the hiring managers would see that reflected in my resume and I would be asked for an interview! No. Nope. No. I learned from current MSLs and Medical Directors that without a referral, you are likely just another drop in the bucket. Don't do it- network, make meaningful connections (do NOT just ask for a job!!), and then once you have established a genuine relationship, ask if they think you might be a good fit for the position, and see where it goes, with NO expectation of receiving a referral/reference.
2. You can be a good fit for the company, even if you don't check all the job requirements, and if the company wants you, YOU will set the job requirements! This is the one that really blew my mind- I spent so much time reading job descriptions and debating if I fit what they were looking for, if I checked all their boxes and requirements. However, time and time again we heard stories this weekend that once the company wants you, you can tell them what you want! I'll give a few examples. One woman I met described how a connection led to an interview at a company for a position in which she had no experience. However, because of her education, likeability, etc. the company wanted her desperately. Not only was she able to negotiate her salary, but told them she wanted "Senior Data Scientist" as her title instead of "Data Scientist," thereby saving her years of work to move up in the company...AND THEY DID IT! Another example, one PhD designed her own role in a company that didn't even exist. She liked the company's culture and vision, and thought about what she could (and wanted) to do to make the company better. She interviewed with the company and convinced them they needed this role, they created the position for her, and she got paid the big bucks! Final example, again another PhD lady (lots of strong, smart PhD ladies here!) got a position at a company but didn't want to move to that company's location SO THEY LET HER BE THE ONLY REMOTE EMPLOYEE IN THE ENTIRE COMPANY. Right?! She showed us the company map of where their employees are located, and in one state is one dot representing her, and in another state another other dot representing literally everyone else! Mind. Blown.

Those are two big tips I intend to implement. First, I will not be applying blindly to jobs that have openings, but working with my amazing network to help me find a position where I will be a good fit. Second, I am going to be my genuine self at these interviews so the company sees the value of a PhD with great communication skills who draws people towards her. By doing this, I will make myself invaluable and irreplaceable as an MSL in a company whose culture fits with my values.

Tune in next time to hear about why I am deciding to leave academia!

I look forward to your feedback on this article : )

#PhD #MSL #aspiringMSL