What are the best job search strategies for a competitive market? Seeking your next position or perhaps trying to find your first position is never easy and always stressful. Without guidance, knowledge, or prior experience, your job search will not only be frustrating but may wind up unfruitful. No one wants to settle for a position that is less than ideal. My advice…seek help! Do your research and learn from experts. Tom Caravela is a social media influencer and podcast host who is helping Medical Science Liaisons and job seekers reach their career goals through effective job search strategies. He is the Managing Partner of The Carolan Group, a Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison recruitment firm and host of the internationally ranked MSL Talk podcast.
Tom Caravela has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. He has been managing The Carolan Group for 20 years as a leading Medical Affairs Executive Search Firm that specializes in identifying top talent for its clients. The company is highly niche-focused, client-driven, and fully dedicated to the scientific community. He and his team specialize in Medical Science Liaison builds/expansions as well as recruitment for various levels of Medical / Scientific Affairs professionals.
Tom provides the following job search strategy that can help ANY job seeker.
1) Job Search Tools and Strategy: Follow this 3 step process for utilizing career development sites Indeed and Simply Hired.
Step 1.) Set up “job alerts” on both sites so that the research comes to you. Here’s how it works:
a. Go to Indeed.com
b. Type in keywords “Medical Science Liaison” and your nearest major city
c. Hit “search” for results
d. Create a “job alert” with that criteria by adding your email address
Next, Follow the same basic instructions with Simply Hired so that you have multiple sources emailing you new job postings daily. Of course, search jobs on LinkedIn as well as other industry or career job boards that you can find on the Internet.
Step 2.) Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the opportunities you wish to pursue. Document the job title, company, territory, posting date, contact person (if available) and when you apply.
Step 3.) Try to get a foot in the door. Before applying to a specific position, go to LinkedIn and do a search on the company to see if you are first connections with anyone in the organization (this is why it is so important to add as many connections as you can). You can then send an in-mail to this connection so that you can try to get your resume to a person, versus submitting online to the big black hole of a company website. Stay organized and use your spreadsheet to keep track of where and when you apply. If you are able to obtain a contact person’s name, document that as well.
Important Note: Be tactful about your follow-up, and do not apply multiple times to the same position or follow up too frequently. I believe in follow-up and tactful persistence, but be careful not to overdo it or overstep your bounds.
The best way to go about a successful job search is to have a plan. Be very deliberate and intentional about your strategy. The three step process outlined above is a great start but just one piece of the equation. Your success will be found in your level of consistency and commitment to this effort. Schedule time each day to work towards your search effort. Included in your daily schedule should be networking, seeking mentors, sending out LinkedIn invitations, researching companies and positions, submitting applications, follow ups and of course interview preparation time. Finding a job is almost a job in and of itself. Make sure you have a strategy and set out the right amount of time each day and week to make a true impact on your progress.
Tom is optimistic that through the podcast, MSLs and Medical Affairs professionals can gain valuable insights and learn from some of the smartest minds in the industry. New episodes of the MSL Talk podcasts are released each week on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Followers can also find episodes regularly on his YouTube channel by searching “MSL Talk”. Tom uses his extensive industry experience and achievements to educate and lead job seekers through proven search strategies. He wants to empower and guide MSLs around the world towards a path to success in the pharmaceutical industry.
