Welcome to the MSL Mastery Blog

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Most aspiring MSLs walk into an interview as their personable, engaging selves and then something strange happens. They switch to “robot mode,” giving overly formal, rehearsed answers. The warmth and authenticity that make them memorable vanish, an...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

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If there's one thing I’ve noticed about aspiring MSLs, it’s that they’re lifelong learn...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

“Network,” they say. “It’s the best way to get a job,” they say. But let’s be honest, networking is the worst. Awkward small talk, reaching out to strangers, and getting rejected. It's really cringey.

But there is no way around it! Whether you're ...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

You know that feeling when you absolutely crush a presentation? You walk out of the room or hit 'Leave Meeting' feeling like a million bucks.

There are several presentations in my career where I know I just CRUSHED it. One was in person at a lab a...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

The MSL job search process can feel like an endless uphill climb. You send out application after application, only to be met with silence. You finally get an interview, but then you’re ghosted. Or worse, you make it to the final round, only to be t...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Have you noticed how almost every MSL job description mentions insights? That's because insights are one of the core responsibilities of the MSL role and a central way that Medical Affairs teams deliver value. Without a doubt, if someone wants to m...

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)

Sarah Snyder always says one of the biggest misconceptions that aspiring MSLs have about the MSL role is that it is an educator role. Folks tell her they love educating and that's why they want to land their first MSL role. Many envision themselves...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

The Aspire MSL program is Tom Caravela and Sarah Snyder's secret sauce to helping folks land their first MSL position. Included with the online component of the program are weekly office and bimonthly group coaching calls. I recently started attend...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

As an aspiring MSL, you've likely asked yourself, "Do I have what it takes to be an MSL?" But as we've explored in my previous article, "Do You Have What It Takes To Be An MSL?", the more important question is: "Do I want to be an MSL?"

However, f...

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 ...

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...