When I first applied for a job in healthcare communications as an Associate Medical Writer, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I received a job offer to join the Allegro programme a month after I had submitted my PhD thesis, and, to be honest, working outside of the comfort of academia was a little bit daunting. Allegro is a 12-month programme, comprising an eight-week training phase followed by two five-month rotations in different agencies within Ashfield Healthcare Communications (AHC). I have now just finished my eight weeks of training, and it has been quite the journey!

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My journey to become an Associate Medical Writer (AMW) for Ashfield Healthcare Communications (AHC) began on 21 November, 2016. I made the move North in pursuit of a career in Healthcare Communications, having spent several years working in roles that had left me feeling either unsatisfied professionally, or bored. It had always been my intention to go into Medical Writing, but after numerous rejections citing ‘a lack of experience’ I felt it wise to get in on the ground floor and work my way up. So it was with great enthusiasm that, having passed the interview and editorial test stages of the recruitment process, I began my new role as an Editorial Assistant (EA) for CircleScience (one of AHC’s agencies).

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Two weeks after joining Allegro, a new training programme for Associate Medical Writers within Ashfield Healthcare Communications (AHC), I feel privileged to be part of this new initiative and excited by this new chapter in my career.

On my first day, I experienced none of the normal new-job apprehension. The other 14 new recruits and I were already friends after meeting at our Assessment Centre, a get-to-know-you lunch and the AHC Christmas party, and so we could chat properly instead of making nervous small talk. These events had also provided an opportunity to meet and socialise with our line managers and other key people within the business, and therefore I felt relaxed and comfortable. I’d had plenty of opportunities to ask questions about what we would be doing, and we’d all been sent some small details that make a first day easier – what to bring, what to wear, where to go, what to do if delayed – and so I knew exactly what to expect.

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Learn more about Sam Bestall, who has been working as an Associate Medical Writer for Watermeadow Medical, an Ashfield Healthcare Communications agency, for 6 months [Learn more on Ashfield Healthcare Communications’s company Blog… ]

Lucy Hooper, Client Services Manager at Adelphi Communications, reflects on three years in account management.

When you first mention medical communications to people it’s not uncommon to be met with an enquiring look, and if I’m honest when looking for new opportunities and first considering a role within a MedComms agency I wasn’t 100% sure myself of what this involved.

What I found was an industry that is exciting and challenging and provides strong development potential for people from a diverse range of backgrounds. Although from a scientific background myself, my previous professional experience had not been in the medical or pharmaceutical field. However, I quickly learned that despite the initially daunting prospect, the Medical Communications community is a supportive and progressive network that takes into account a wide range of transferable skills.

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Amy is one of the newest members of the Medical Writing team at Synergy Vision. She sheds light on what it is like to work there and her experience in the first few weeks. [Read more on Synergy Vision’s company Blog… ]

Erica Brockmeier, now an Associate Medical Writer for Prime Global, writes that “finding your path involves trial and error, a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and the confidence to go forward without a perfect plan. There’s certainly no ‘typical’ way to finding your own career path. I hope that examples like mine can inspire you to take those crucial first steps on your own path.” [Read more on NatureJobs Blog…]