No Experience – How to overcome this objection when starting a career in Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance?

Many students and health care professionals, when stepping out in the territory of Drug Safety often feel the lack of skills or proper prior experience with an organisation as an obstacle when venturing forth. Coupled with less confidence and tons of queries it can be quite nerving for some. Here are some pointers to go about when starting afresh.

1.  Practical Exposure through Safety Database Training 

Safety databases like Argus and ArisG are undeniable parts of a Drug Safety Training. Any organisation or company when one joins, it’s a mandate to be trained in these databases as it occupies a key role in the state workflows of Pharmacovigilance. It’s advised to get some practical exposure before appearing for interviews so that one can see and operate themselves the various processes from book-in to locking a case in Argus or ArisG. Knowing just the theory can prove less sufficient when dealing with these databases.  Our modules are especially designed to help students and professionals get a real immersive experience from the safety database training. 

2. Volunteer/Internship Training 

Volunteer training or interning under a team of Drug Safety Professionals will give the candidates real-time ordeal with case processing. Each Individual case (ICSRs) is different from the other – some may require more information or have multiple queries generated, some may need more follow ups than the other, some cases may be marked as serious and need quick attention. Say, In the Argus case form – Products tab, Event tab, Analysis tab, Activities tab ; all need to be operated in a specific manner. The training would make the candidate at ease when handling these various tabs.

3. Seeking a Mentor 

The role of mentor in a career path like Pharmacovigilance is highly beneficial for someone who is starting out. There are dozens if not hundreds of training programs and certificates available now-a-days who promise to teach the A-Z of drug safety databases and other aspects of Drug Safety. It can get confusing and time consuming to decide “the what’s and how’s”. A mentor who has years of experience in this very industry can guide and direct the candidate towards the right training program and also help in making smart career choices, from the start.