I finish yet another thirteen hour shift, exhausted, stressed, and frankly, quite miserable. My colleague cracked hours ago, disappearing to the toilets in a fit of tears, never to be seen again. The incoming co-workers look exhausted already, but are talking animatedly about the upcoming strikes. I go home, and try in vain to fall asleep, only to repeat it all the next day.

Sounds horrific, right? Don’t worry, I’m only describing my life a few months ago, a seemingly alternative universe in which I was working as a junior doctor in a busy NHS hospital and not enjoying any minute of it.

But come a month ago, I find myself savouring the croissants in the 7.4 kitchen, bought to celebrate my first day working as a medical writer in their gorgeous Oxford office. A pleasant chatter permeates the premises, and a hearty chuckle can be heard on more than one occasion. Sounds more like it already!

Continue reading →

My weekday mornings start with a series of losing battles.

Laura vs alarm clock. Laura vs shower mixer tap. Laura vs the annoying splodge of toothpaste that ends up on my shirt.

I fight bravely and valiantly to leave my house on time to arrive at the Virgo offices around 8.40.

Then the real work begins…

Continue reading →

Jill Daws, Group Account Director at Synergy Vision, describes her day [Read more on Synergy Vision’s company Blog… ]

Looking back over my writing/editing career in MedComms (25 years and counting), it is fascinating to see how my work-life balance needs have changed during the different phases of my life. In my early career I wanted the buzz, busyness and international travel involved with working as a member of an in-house MedComms team. At this point in my life, work was the dominant factor in my balance – the job was satisfying and well paid, I was happy working long hours, and I made long-lasting friendships and connections. After a few years of this, other things started happening in my ‘life’ department, and maintaining this level of input into the ‘work’ side became exhausting. I think that this is the point when I first became aware of my work-life balance.

Continue reading →

Before university, I didn’t know what career I wanted. I simply knew that I was intrigued by molecular biology. I decided to study Biochemistry and assumed that after my degree, the next step would become apparent. Three years in to my MBioch at Oxford University I was none the wiser about my future, but my 4^th year project was a turning point. I was awarded the Final Honour School Research Prize and with the encouragement of a supportive supervisor, I applied for PhDs.

I was accepted for a DPhil in Oncology at Oxford University. It was an enjoyable four years: the repetitive nature of research and slow progress concerned me, but these doubts were overshadowed by the satisfaction I derived from writing my thesis. Following my viva, I was offered a post-doc with a Nobel Laureate in New York – an opportunity too good to refuse. By the 3^rd year of my post-doc the lab had relocated to London and I was feeling uneasy about my future. I was on a four-year contract, but what next? A career in academia seemed to carry various uncertainties that I wasn’t sure I was prepared to accept. More than that, I realised that I was far happier learning (attending talks and conferences) and communicating science (preparing posters, slides and publications) than I was experimenting at the bench; I had to make a change.

Continue reading →

Nick Chapple, Senior Business Development Manager at Synergy Vision, describes his day [Read more on Synergy Vision’s company Blog… ]

Hannah Charleston, Account Executive at Synergy Vision, describes her day [Read more on Synergy Vision’s company Blog… ]