Practical Strategies for MSLs, Aspiring MSLs, and Medical Affairs Leaders

By Patrina Pellett, PhD

You’ve sent out 30 MSL job applications.

Crickets. The problem probably isn’t your experience: it’s your resume.

If you are applying for jobs and not hearing anything back, it might be time to revamp your resume. When an academic decides to switch to the dark side (industr...

By Yutong (Rainey) Yang

The Turning Point in My MSL Job Hunt

Every MSL success story looks polished in hindsight. But behind every offer is a trail of rejections, awkward cold messages, and second-guessing. This is the real story behind my first MSL role.

We love success stories with clear tim...

By Sarah Snyder

You’re not being interviewed by a person anymore for that first Medical Affairs interview. Let that sink in. 

It’s happening.

You prepared for a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) interview: notes in hand, ready to talk science, strategy, and stakeholder relationships. But instead of a...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn) 

Rejection is inevitable in the Medical Affairs world. Whether it's a job rejection, a KOL who won’t meet with you, or an internal opportunity that slips through your fingers, the sting is real. But the most successful MSLs don’t just survive rejec...

By Sarah Snyder

"Don't bother applying to that MSL role directly - I can double your chances of getting an interview."

I used to think recruiters were just middlemen until I became one. Now, after placing hundreds of Medical Affairs professionals at top pharmaceutical companies, I've seen it al...

By Sarah Snyder, PharmD

A Medical Science Liaison candidate recently confided, “I miss the old days of interviewing in person. I’m just better that way. I can connect more easily.”

I understood. In-person interviews had a certain simplicity and immediacy. Sitting face-to-face, shaking hands, an...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Imagine waking up to a notification that a recruiter is interested in you for an MSL position. Sounds like a dream, right? It's not! This is the power of a highly optimized LinkedIn profile.

However, many aspiring MSLs fail to utilize this power. ...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Jamie, a recent PhD graduate, was over the moon when she received her first invitation for an MSL interview. However, her excitement quickly turned to anxiety as she sat in front of her computer, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information about...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Preparing for the first MSL usually makes people feel two very strong, but completely opposite emotions:

1. Extreme excitement
2. Blood pressure rising, nervousness

It's high-stakes, so it makes complete sense to have this type of reaction. On my fir...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

I have a friend who has a PhD in evolutionary biology from Harvard. She told me that she doesn't have transferable skills. My mind exploded 🤯. I thought you were crazy—you have so many transferable skills.

This is a common theme among folks with t...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

We are like a broken record over here about how important it is to network for your job search. It is absolutely one of the best ways to get your resume in front of hiring managers.  

Here are some great resources to improve your networking skills...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Everyone talks about job searching being so painful but does it have to be? Why can't the job search process be something that you enjoy? This article is here to inspire you to flip your negative views of the job search on its head and instead thin...