Imagine having a stable but flexible job with discounted gym membership and lots of package benefits.
Sound good?
When looking at your career options, the pharmaceutical industry is definitely a sector worth serious consideration. In the UK alone, almost 70,000 people are employed by a pharma organization, so it is a huge part of the economy. Plus, there is still so much discovery and research to be done into both existing and emerging ailments that the industry has a solid future and offers employees experience at the very cutting edge of scientific development.
The pharmaceutical industry can be a great place to establish a career for life, so if you are thinking about joining the likes of Novartis or GSK you are heading in a healthy direction.
Many students will assume a pharma career is for them if they have a preference or flair for the science topics and this is certainly a solid basis for essential elements of pharma organizations such as research and development. However, it is important to consider that there are many other areas to a pharmaceutical company within key areas of manufacturing & supply, commercial and support functions. As such there are a broad range of job functions to be involved in from doctor to IT specialist, sales rep to forecasting expert. So whilst those keen on pursuing a marketing role may look to advertising agencies and major FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) brands for a way in, pursuing the same career at a pharmaceutical company could be an unexplored option.
Why exactly would you want to work at a pharma company instead of a funky sounding FMCG brand like L’Oreal?
Well for many working in this sector the fact that the ultimate aim of their company is to improve people’s lives or even save them can be a strong motivating factor. It does seem a more worthwhile pursuit than encouraging the population to eat junk food or spend money on a fuel guzzling vehicle!
Furthermore, the world is always going to need solutions to healthcare problems so this is a stable environment to operate in, and an industry with a strong long term viability. Pharma companies go to great efforts recruiting the very best graduates and their aim is to keep hold of them for a long time as few drug development plans are operating on a 2 year cycle.
Low staff turnover is a must for a consistent approach in bringing a drug to market and selling it. Therefore, you can not only expect to see good levels of remuneration, but package benefits which make a role in the industry significantly more attractive than others.
Employees can look forward to enjoying supported career development a healthy work/life balance with most major pharma companies and the website career section on their websites should demonstrate the commitment they show particularly to elements such as flexible working options shows a modern way of thinking and crucially a trust in their employees to choose the working environment which suits them best.
So, how do you find out more?
For the UK based, the ABPI website has an extensive and fascinating list of which subjects at school, college or university level are required to access different pharma business areas. Speak to your careers advisor about what aspect of the industry would most suit the subjects that interest you.
Also, work experience at a pharmaceutical company can be an invaluable way of learning more about the way they operate and figuring out where you would like to be involved. The great thing about this extensive sector is that you can mould a job to your strengths rather than vice versa.
A career in the pharma industry can look rather sober and unexciting from an outsiders perspective, but when examined more closely it’s forward thinking, innovative and has an incredibly worthwhile raison d’Otre.
On top of this it offers well paid, stable careers and is supportive of its employees to the extent of offering options such as job share and home working, which many industries have great difficulty coming to terms with. Employees are encouraged to work hard, but enjoy their leisure time with cut price gym membership, subsidized socializing, and paid charity work.
Even if you thought your arts background made you a non contender for the pharmaceutical industry, think again, it could be the best decision you ever made.
By Alexandra Kisby
Are you considering a pharma career and have concerns you need help with or do you have advice you can pass onto others considering a career in pharma?
Related posts: