How To Put Academic Experience On Your CV/Resume For Pharmaceuticals
When showcasing your experience as a graduate for an industry job in the pharmaceutical sector, it's essential to highlight relevant skills, knowledge, and accomplishments that demonstrate your potential value to potential employers. Before taking this further, it’s important to remember that there are two periods of time when job applications are at their slowest, in summer and Christmas. It’s important to realise that for when you first graduate as you will likely be looking for your first job in summer and it can be frustrating when you are not getting responses. Here are some tips to effectively present your experience:
Tailor your CV/resume: Customise your CV/resume to align with the specific job requirements and emphasise your relevant experiences. Highlight internships, research projects, coursework, and any other experiences that demonstrate your understanding of pharmaceutical concepts and techniques. Don’t assume that everyone knows the ins and outs of your specific course, every course is different and are constantly evolving so make sure to spell it out in black and white what it is that you have learned.
Focus on transferable skills: Highlight transferable skills that are valuable in the pharmaceutical industry, such as laboratory techniques, data analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and attention to detail. Provide specific examples of how you've applied these skills in your academic or research work. How did you perform experiments? What reagents did you use? How were the results analysed? What programmes did you use? How did you troubleshoot when things inevitably went wrong?
Showcase research projects: If you've worked on research projects during your studies, highlight them prominently. This is the closest that many graduates have to work experience. You need to treat it like a project that you have been assigned by a company. Discuss the objectives, methodologies, and results of your projects, emphasising any relevant findings or contributions. Describe any specialised techniques, equipment or software you used.
Include relevant coursework: List relevant courses related to pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, or any other specialized subjects you've studied. Highlight coursework that directly applies to the job you're applying for, such as drug development, pharmaceutical analysis, or organic synthesis. This can’t be stressed enough. Many of my clients don’t have this basic piece of information on their CV, by doing this you will be putting yourself ahead of the crowd.
Highlight internships and industry experience: If you've completed internships or gained industry experience during your studies, provide details about the organisations, your responsibilities, and the skills you developed. Emphasise any practical experience in areas like research and development, quality control, formulation, or regulatory affairs.
Showcase academic achievements: Include any academic honors, awards, scholarships, or research publications you've received or contributed to. These achievements indicate your dedication, commitment, and ability to excel in your field.
Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration: Highlight your ability to work effectively as part of a team, both in academic projects and extracurricular activities. Provide examples of group projects, lab collaborations, or team-based activities that showcase your interpersonal skills and ability to contribute to collective goals. These are called soft skills and are becoming increasingly important for employers. Technology is evolving ever more quickly and the ability to adapt and work with people is becoming essential.
Highlight problem-solving abilities: Describe instances where you encountered challenges or problems during your academic or research work and successfully resolved them. This of this in context of money and time. Why would someone be interested in paying for this result? Illustrate your ability to think critically, adapt to new situations, and find innovative solutions.
Develop a strong online presence: Create a professional LinkedIn profile and keep it up to date. Connect with professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, join relevant groups, and engage in industry discussions. Share any relevant articles, research, or insights to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the field.
Obtain professional references: Request references from professors, advisors, or supervisors who can speak to your skills, work ethic, and potential. Positive references from reputable individuals can enhance your credibility and increase your chances of securing an industry job.
Remember to tailor your application materials for each job you apply to, highlighting the most relevant aspects of your experience and skills. By effectively showcasing your experience as a graduate, you can demonstrate your suitability and enthusiasm for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
