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✍🏻 Zoe Davies | BSc Pharmacology (with Industrial Placement) student at the University of Leeds
What’s your educational background and why did you choose a life sciences route? 👩🏼🔬
I’m an undergraduate at the University of Leeds, studying BSc (Ind) Pharmacology.
My dad studied chemistry at university, and I remember asking him all kinds of questions about it growing up and just being fascinated.
From there, I always had a passion for science in school, which developed at university into an interest in pharmaceuticals and drug development.
What work experience have you undertaken in the past? 👩🏼💼
In my second year of study, I was lucky enough to secure a summer internship at Pfizer UK in Medical Affairs, as well as an offer for a placement year in Marketing.
During my 3-month summer internship, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to project manage the development of several publication summaries and leaad pieces for a medical congress.
I have nearly finished my year in industry in Inflammation & Immunology marketing. I’ve had so many valuable opportunities and experiences at Pfizer!
What is your current role and what do you do day-to-day? Why did you choose this role/career? 👩🏼⚕️
I work as a Marketing undergraduate for the Inflammation & Immunology business unit. I work within the Dermatology team.
Day-to-day, I manage all updates to our customer-facing website, including managing all pages and content through our review process to ensure they meet compliance standards before publishing.
I lead on the development of many different bespoke marketing materials for our sales force to use, as well as managing the stock levels of materials in our warehouse.
I have helped our team prepare for several global promotional meetings and congresses, and have even been lucky enough to attend a few!
I’ve also attended filmings of some key opinion leaders in the dermatology space and managed the videos through the editing and review process. It’s been an exciting ride and I am so grateful for all the responsibility and experiences I have.
I have really enjoyed this role, as it enables me to work with clinical data every day and engages my scientific side, but it also allows the creativity and innovation that a lab role might lack!
What was the application process for your placement year like?
What tips would you give students looking to apply for placement years, internships, or graduate roles? 📋
Don’t underestimate the power of a good written application.
I didn’t get my placement at Pfizer after the first interview, or even the second! After I was unsuccessful in my first role, other hiring managers were given my application and invited me to interview. On my third interview, I secured a summer placement, and the fourth, my year in industry!
Looking back I am so glad it happened this way, because I know the roles I ended up taking were the best fits for me. It has also given me the opportunity to become more resilient and practice my interview skills! Sometimes a job might not be a right match for you but it doesn’t mean you haven’t impressed the employer.
Make your application concise, and tailored to the job description. Show you’ve done your research and that you understand what the role entails, and the values of the company. Remember that recruiters review many applications in a day, so being succinct is key.
What are 3 things you would tell a young person interested in pursuing a non-lab career in science? 💡
1. Read The Job Description
It’s tempting to mass-apply to roles, especially when you have limited time. But you will get much further by reading and understanding the job description, and tailoring your application to it. I also can’t emphasise enough the importance of researching your role and the company you are applying for: do you know what will be expected of you day-to-day? What has been in the news about the company, do you know anything about their products or services? The more specific knowledge you can demonstrate in an interview, the greater advantage you’ll have.
2. Rejection Is Redirection
3. Keep A 'Brag' File
Written by: Zoe Davies (Content Writer)
Edited by: Grace Pountney (Founder and Director)
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