Become a Medical Science Liaison

Avoid these MSL APPLICATION Mistakes and Stand Above the Crowd

By Jane Chin, Ph.D.

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?