Helpful Information on Getting a Clinical Research Job as

a CRA

Introduction

Clinical research is nowadays considered to be a fast-growing business, so many people are trying to look for ways to enter. There are many work positions in a clinical research facility, all depending on your experience and qualifications.

If you’re reading this, then probably you’re also interested in getting a clinical-research-related job position. And that’s great because this article is exactly for you!

Next, we’ll help you prepare for a job interview in clinical research, no matter which position you’re applying for! People who are interested in this field, are usually trying to get a job as a study coordinator, a CRA, or a research assistant. However, the strategies and tips we’ll give you can be applied to any research-related job!

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Interview Scenario #1: They know you and want you!

If you’re already an established person in the clinical research world and you enjoy a good reputation, then this scenario would be perfect for you! Basically, these are the easiest types of interviews because the company already knows your work and wants you to work for them. This interview will only occur so that they confirm that you know what you’re doing and talking about. All in all, if you’re lucky, this will be the type of interview you encounter!

In this type of interviews, the interviewer will even sell themselves to

you to convince you to join them, because they will be aware that you

also have other options.

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Interview Scenario #2: They don’t know you and there’s a big competition!

Unfortunately, this is the most common type of interview that you might find yourself in if you’re new to this field. In this case, the company will have one or two job positions open, but there will be a lot of candidates for those positions.

They probably wouldn’t have heard of you or done any research on you, so now - you have to sell yourself! For such interviews, you always have to anticipate and be well-prepared for anything they might ask you!

The questions that they will usually ask in these interviews are all situational -

in the sense of ‘’what would you do if…’’.

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Interview Scenario #2: They don’t know you and there’s a big competition!

The interviewers will tell you a specific situation, ask you what action would you take, and what was the result of your action.

Even if they don’t ask you something like this, but you still feel like you need to convince them of your capabilities, you can initiate this and show them your reaction in a specific scenario. If you decide to do this, try to be as specific as possible! Don’t talk in general, but go in-depth! This will show them that you have experience and that you do know what you’re talking about!

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SITUATION

ACTION

RESULT

GREAT INTERVIEW!

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Know Your Weaknesses

Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses. Being able to admit this and then identify and find out which are yours is a crucial step that will give you a much better chance to prepare yourself properly.

For example, if the site you’re applying at conducts diabetes studies, and you are aware that you don’t have experience in diabetes, make sure that you learn as much as possible on this topic before doing the interview.

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Good things to learn would be the criteria for diabetes studies, common therapies, common side effects from therapies, as well as a general knowledge of what the specific condition means and entails.

By learning all of this in advance and being well-prepared, you can be the one who starts talking about these things. In this way, you might avoid being caught off-guard and being asked questions you don’t know the answers to.

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Know Your Weaknesses

Basically, try to transform your weaknesses into your strengths during an interview. If you don’t do this, then they will want to make sure that you actually know something about diabetes, so they might ask you a question that you don’t know the answer to.

That’s why it’s best to always initiate these conversations in order to give them a glimpse of your knowledge!

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Transform your weaknesses into strengths by being well-prepared!

Moving Up the Ladder

Every successful person that you know had to start somewhere small! This is especially true in clinical research. You cannot work a job for which you don’t have any experience. However, you have to start somewhere! Moving up the ladder in clinical research usually goes as following:

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For study coordinator For CRA

Your best bet is to first intern as a patient recruiter, because usually, every site has problems with patient

recruitment or retention. As an intern that will help

them get more patients, you will be welcome at any research site! Another route

to becoming a study coordinator is to first intern

as a research assistant.

If you want to be a CRA, but you still

don’t have enough experience, start by

being a study coordinator or a

research assistant and learn everything you possibly can in

that time!

Moving Up the Ladder

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I II III IV

PATIENT RECRUITER

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

STUDY COORDINATOR CRA

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Training for a CRA

The demand for CRAs is constantly increasing, which is why many people choose to enter clinical research as CRAs. Taking into consideration that a CRA doesn’t need to possess a medical license, things are even easier. However, you will still need some past experience working as a coordinator and the proper training.

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There are special institutions that provide training and CRA certificates. If you can not find a more appropriate option and this is the career you want to pursue, then it is a good idea to be part of an institution of this type and get formal training. However, be careful when choosing the right institution or academy for your CRA training, as some may be much more expensive than others!

This is definitely the best choice! If you already have experience in clinical trials (such as coordinator, for example), you may feel free to apply as a CRA. Usually, after you have been accepted, sites will offer you a CRA training. This is usually enough to get you started. Many CROs are looking to hire CRAs that they’ll train to work afterwards. When filing a job application for a CRA position, mention any previous relevant experience in clinical trials. This means that you must indicate that you have worked in the field of clinical trials in the past, no matter if it’s as a coordinator or not. Furthermore, if you don’t have any past experience in research, then find out if your government offers financing of CRA training. There have been many cases when governments or other institutions were interested in providing funds for future CRAs.

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PAIDTRAINING

UNPAIDTRAINING

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CONCLUSIONAs a final note, you always have to anticipate and be well-prepared for an interview! Even though you might be lucky and encounter the first type of interview, you should always expect the latter! This will allow you to understand the seriousness of what you’re about to do, thus opening your mind to all the different scenarios and interview questions that might arise. If you see that an interview isn’t going well, be the first one to initiate a conversation and show them what you know! Always remember to prepare for situational questions that require you to answer what would your reaction be to something and what you would do to handle it! Next, make sure that you’re familiar with the therapeutic area of study that the site you’re applying at is involved in! And finally, try to make an internship at a site and go through a CRA training or find the appropriate academy and get a paid training. Doing this will increase your chances of getting a CRA job incredibly!

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