Welcome to the MSL Mastery Blog

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 & Sarah Snyder

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2026 is YOUR year. It’s the year to elevate your impact, refine your craft, and prioritize what ...

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 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)

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)

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)

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)

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...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

"AI won't take your job. It's somebody using AI that will take your job." - Richard Baldwin 

In other words, it's time to get on the AI boat. How can job seekers in Medical Affairs use this technology to stick out during the job search? Tom Carave...