Become a Medical Science Liaison

Mistake #1 Not Knowing the MSL Role

How this mistake costs you:

• You can’t prepare well if you don’t know what you don’t know

• Your “application presence” will show that you don’t know

• Your not knowing becomes a safety hazard for the company

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• From “Don’t know” --> “Know” that you don’t know

• Fill basic knowledge gaps [$free]

• Gain advanced knowledge [$fee]

How you can stand above the crowd

• Start applying “MSL critical skills” right now

• Connect with experts about MSLs

• Connect with MSLs

Mistake #2 Not Knowing Your Career Goals

How this mistake costs you

• You may come across as uncertain, confused, worse - desperate

• You may be inconsistent in your answers

• You will appear to be a “fair-weather” employee

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• Be self-aware

• Be honest about your career aspirations

• Be continually learning about YOU! [the best $ you can spend]

How you can stand above the crowd

• Engage the hiring manager as a partner in your career development

• Convey your value as an employee up-front

• Share your extracurricular activities [“that you are a real person”]

Mistake #3 Not Knowing the Rewards and the Challenges of the Job

How this mistake costs you

• Everything in Mistake #1 plus:

• You can feel burned out and disillusioned about the job

• Other people around you may suffer!

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• Both eyes open – Know the challenges!

• Create strategy for challenges BEFORE you need them [$free]

• Get people who know the job to help you with strategies [$fee]

How you can stand above the crowd

• “What will be your biggest weakness as a MSL?”

• “What will be some challenges you may face as a MSL?”

• Draw from your past lessons-learned and life challenges

Mistake #4 Not Knowing How to Make Your Applications Actionable

How this mistake costs you

• Your resume and cover letter gets filed away/deleted/ignored

• You don’t even get a chance to “prove yourself”

• You get discouraged, frustrated, upset, worse - bitter

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• Learn what your resume and cover letter ARE SUPPOSED TO DO

• Get help BUT DO NOT OUTSOURCE YOUR RESUME WRITING! [or if you do, at least pay an expert in the field to do it]

• Make your resume memorable by being concrete about your results

How you can stand above the crowd

• Show me the numbers [I want performance not promises or potential]

• Show me your growth

• Show me your resilience and resourcefulness

Mistake #5 Not Knowing the MSL Recruiting Game

How this mistake costs you

• You get pissed off

• You piss someone else off

• You leave your future in someone else’s hands

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• Know how recruiters make their money

• Know what will make recruiters want to talk to you [EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE MSL EXPERIENCE!]

• Know how to make every minute count when one calls you back

How you can stand above the crowd

• Engage them as a peer (treat them with respect)

• Give them some value (i.e. your contacts)

• Leave the door open (maybe not now but in the future)

Mistake #6 Not Preparing for Your "Candidate Screening"

How this mistake costs you

• Missed valuable opportunity for next step

• Word gets around and people talk

• Your confidence may suffer

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION!

• Ask someone you trust to drill you with questions [$free]

• Ask an expert to drill you with questions [$fee]

How you can stand above the crowd

• Be prepared for the expected

• Be prepared to manage the unexpected

• Come with questions – engage as a peer and interview them too

Mistake #7 Not Knowing How You Are Tested

How this mistake costs you

• Everything in Mistake #6 plus:

• This is the WORST step to botch up because you are SO CLOSE

• Your confidence WILL suffer if you botch up here

What you can do to avoid this mistake

• Everything in Mistake #6 plus:

• Know how they may purposely trip you up, and why

• Practice saying “I don’t know.”

How you can stand above the crowd

• Practice giving 15-minute, 30-minute, 45-minute presentations

• Get someone to heckle you and practice getting back on track

• Practice saying “I don’t know.”

Additional Considerations for MD Candidates

• Can we afford you?

• Can we keep you?

• Can we get you to realize you are no longer a “practicing” MD?

• Can we trust you to work well with others (in a team)?

• Can we expect you to make your own appointments?