02 September 2009

Extraordinary massage therapist inspired by clinical research field….breaks through certificate program…earning “A” s and NOW..WHAT?

Owning and operating a successful massage therapy clinic has it’s challenges, and learning to navigate the field and job hunt in the clinical research field is definitely a new challenge.

Rather than enter the job search and “resume black hole” this blog is a learning avenue for us all! I'll post what I've learned and implemented, and then we'll see how it's turning out.


Here's some background:

For the last 1o years I have been a practicing massage therapist running my own clinic, and some time before that I was a software engineer. As I chat with my clients, I get to know a little about them and their work. Several of them are in clinical trials management or new medical product development. These initial discussions not only encouraged me, but I became very excited to enter the field. In August of 2008 I decided to enter the certificate program.

So the first thing I did was to research the field some more by chatting up and interviewing people in it to see if it was a good fit for me. I decided it fit my talents, skills, desires, and my drive to excel. From that starting point I let everyone know what I was up to!

Next I enrolled in a program to get a credential in my intended field of clinical trials. I excelled- receiving A's with only one A-. After all this is to be my new career and I want to stand out when it comes to looking at my qualifications.

For the last year at school I have continued to talk-up my expectations and be very excited about this new opportunity I have created. I really see it that way. Even in these times there are always possibilities. Now people are excited for me and are actively helping me find a job. This part really helps generate a positive feed-back loop for all of us!

A class project of mine was to interview four people somewhere in clinical trials or research and get some details about their path. What I found out is that they didn't start in the area initially. Every time they wanted to advance they took some form of continuing education. They changed their positions about every 4 years into something new. They are looking for a dynamic future in or out of the field.

One other help I have had early this year is that my wife landed a great job. Neither of us have been in a formal corporate environment for some time and it was very educational to see her process being hired by a major national company. Seems there is a lot of new verbiage for me to learn! But its all the same in the end. Employers are looking to maximize (aka "Leverage") their skill pool. It's a big risk with a new hire and I want them to feel like they won the triple crown when they ask me join the team!