Experience a Fellowship at Sanofi Genzyme

By the Sanofi Genzyme Fellows

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a fellow at Sanofi Genzyme? Take a glimpse into the life of a fellow and see why we are proud to say we are getting our fellowship training here!

Interviewing Tips

Interviewing Tips

By Jennifer Pisani

With the annual ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting around the corner, many of you who are interested in fellowships will likely have interview preparation on your minds.  As someone who has sat on both sides of the interviewing table, I have listed below some key points of advice from my perspective.

• Make a good first impression. It’s interesting that when first meeting someone, we usually obtain a first impression of them within about 7 seconds.  This is not much time at all.  Be polite, smile, and give a firm yet not too firm handshake.
• Be conscientious of your body language. There are a myriad of body language tips that you can find online.  A key point is to exude confidence.
• Dress professionally. Generally speaking, traditional suits are the apparel of choice (slacks, skirts).
• Know the position. Have you researched the position online or spoken with people who currently work in the desired area?  Do you know what your general activities would be in this role?  You should obtain as much information as you can before your interview.
• Know the company/program. What types of products do they focus on? Are there key aspects of the company that you find appealing?  You should have reasons for applying to the specific companies and programs.
• Come prepared with questions. You have researched the company and position beforehand, but there is always something new to learn.
• Think about possible questions that you might be asked. Google questions online, and think about general questions (i.e., “Tell me about yourself”) as well as specific situational questions (i.e., “Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a colleague and how you resolved the issue at hand”).  You should have experiences on APPE rotations, a job, or other activities from which you can pull various scenario examples.
• Interviews are a two-way street. You are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you; think about whether or not the company would be a good fit for you.
• Lastly, relax and be yourself. With all of the above preparation, you will be ready to ace your interview.  Best of luck!

 

References:

Business Insider. “You only have 7 seconds to make an impression. http://www.businessinsider.com/only-7-seconds-to-make-first-impression-2013-4

Scientia Est Potentia

Scientia Est Potentia

By: Corey Robinson

Knowledge is having the right answer.  Intelligence is asking the right question.

One piece of advice that I constantly tell PharmD students interested in applying for fellowship is to be informed – Not only should you know what is going on in the biopharmaceutical industry, but also what is going on in the world in general, and how that might affect the biopharma industry.  I’ll admit that when I was applying for a fellowship at midyear I was completely oblivious to what was going on in the world; as a result I missed many conversational opportunities because of my ignorance.

The intelligent follow up question to my advice would be, “how does one become, and remain, informed?”  Excellent question!  Let this non-newspaper reading, non-TV watching, once clueless fellow, offer up a few knowledgeable suggestions to answer that question.

Pharma News

1. FirstWord Pharma – They send out a daily email in the morning that provides an overview of the top pharmaceutical industry news stories from across the globe.
2. FiercePharma/Biotech/etc. – Fierce provides daily emails around midday with the numerous subscription options to tailor your industry news to your specific interests.

World News

All the following are free daily email newsletter subscriptions.

1. The New York Times – Comprehensive world coverage with a very dry, yet informative style of reporting the news that you would expect from the NY Times.
2. Need 2 Know – A quick-hit, one-sentence description of ten headlines. The headlines tend to focus a little too much on pop culture for my liking.
3. theSkimm – As Goldilocks would put it, “this one is just right!” This is a paragraph style report of about five headlines that are not too long, nor too short and are written in a really entertaining, humorous tone.  As I put it, these stories are written by 20-something year olds, for 20-something year olds.  With that said, my mother enjoys reading the Skimm even though many of the jokes are way over her head.

However you decide to get your news, just make sure you stay on top of it so you are ready to answer those tough interview questions, and more importantly, ask those intelligent questions that will make you stand out as a candidate.  I’ll leave you with the following quote:

What is Medical Affairs?

What is Medical Affairs?

By: Nathan Thibault

While interviewing for fellowships at Midyear, the most difficult question I was asked was, “How would you describe Medical Affairs with one word?” I first responded with a request to have two or three words, which unfortunately was denied. Almost a year later, I cannot recall which word I picked to answer this question. I only remember being told my answer was wrong.

Why does this question stand out in my mind? At that time, I felt that a single world could not describe everything that goes on under the “umbrella” of Medical Affairs. Many functions exist in this area, from Medical Sciences Liaisons to Medical Communications/Education to Medical Strategy, and all have very different responsibilities. I could have easily responded to questions about why I was interested in Medical Affairs, why I was not interest in other departments, why I thought I would be a good fit for the group, and why the group was a good fit for me. Yet a good answer to the question at hand escaped me.

So what is the right answer to this question? There of course is not just one right answer, but my interviewer offered his opinion, which was “communication.” Looking back to that time and my time at Genzyme thus far, I would have to agree. Every function within Medical Affairs is tasked with communicating. MSLs communicate with physicians in the field, Medical Education communicates with internal employees to inform them on disease states and treatments, and Medical Communications communicates with KOLs to produce publications, just to name a few examples. So while the word “communication” may not describe every function we perform, it provides you with the essence of our overall responsibility in Medical Affairs.

How to Be Liked As a Fellowship Candidate

How to Be Liked As a Fellowship Candidate

By:Ting Lin

                Before I give you my thoughts on how to become a well-liked fellowship candidate, I would like to disclaim that this is a very big topic that I am about to delve into. Surely, like anything else, “social likeability” is a science. It requires a lot of trial and error. So the following tips are only to serve as food for thoughts. You shall develop your own fail-safe techniques.

The fellowship interview process is about a few things: The candidates demonstrating their career potential to potential employers, the employers showing the candidates what they can offer in return of their two year fellowship employment, and whether the two parties can stand working with each other on a daily basis for the next 104 weeks of their lives. Much like romantic relationships, a fellow-company relationship can only thrive under high compatibility that comes from, among other things, similar temperaments and habits, common career or life goals, and appreciation for the differences existing between the two parties.  So remember, while you can try to become the best fit for your desired fellowship company, you ultimately cannot force the match when the chemistry is not there.

From my extensive internet research and personal experience, I have summarized the below techniques to help you become a likable candidate:

• Kill them with kindness they say, so be kind. Greet everyone you see with an enthused smile. Interviewers from fellowship companies face many candidates a day, and sometimes have no time to rest in the three-day Midyear interview period. Establish the first impression that you are positive and energized for whatever comes next, and appreciative of them offering you the opportunity to interview. Your positive energy is likely to be contagious, so set the tone of the interview in your favor. To do one better, start and end your interview with a verbal statement of appreciation, and drop personalized thank you cards after.
• Don’t be a “know-it-all”. During your interview, don’t throw out tons of buzzwords to feign expertise in the area you are interviewing for.  Your interviewers are more the expert than you are. Instead, ask your interviewers questions that show you have done your research and are ready to learn more. Use questions strategically to show you are the right fit for the fellowship position in both interest and ability. Stay away from questions that are too basic: i.e. what is med affairs? Instead, ask how the med affairs department at one company is different from another company. Then based on the response, bring out your personal examples of why you can handle those responsibilities)
• Be confident but not cocky with yourself. People are naturally attracted to confidence. Don’t be afraid to show off what you have accomplished during your time in pharmacy school. After all, that’s what interviews are meant for. Try to bring out your uniqueness. It doesn’t have to be big things like winning a prestigious scholarship. Maybe you volunteer at the community center every week because you care about giving back, and you took that as an opportunity to hone your pharmacy and social skills. Explain why the examples you chose are significant to you and why the interviewers should care. Example, don’t tell me you worked as the school newspaper editor, unless you follow up by saying you became a great project lead who can develop timelines and lead your group to complete each news issue on time and in high quality.
• Be yourself. Some candidates are so rigid and careful during their interviews that they ended up concealing their personalities. The interviewers do not want to hire a robot. Without seeing your true colors, they may have reservations about hiring you. What if you turned out to be a cold and heartless office jerk?! So let your true self shine… at 75%. If you are naturally loud and talkative, don’t let the flood gate open. Match your interviewer’s tempo and temperament. Ultimately, observe how the interviewers are behaving and mimic without faking who you are.
• Lastly, listen to what the interviewers are saying. If they mentioned anything interesting about themselves, make a note, and maybe ask them to elaborate at a later occasion. During the reception after the interviews at Midyear, the interviewers are trying to find the candidates that they want to work with. If you make the interviewers feel special by remembering small details, they will remember.

I have rambled on enough. In a short few sentences to summarize: Think of your interviews as your romantic pursuit. What would you do to woo your potential boo? How would you do it? Try to appear interesting and interested. Be kind. Be attentive. Try to demonstrate that you share a lot in common… and voilà! Chemistry and connections are made. You are a likable and likely future fellow.

Good luck!

My Experience as MFN President

My Experience as MFN President

By Becky Pleat

 

After an eternally long winter in Boston, I started to become anxious for the warmer weather to move in and decided to get a head start on a little pre-Spring cleaning.  For me, the change of seasons in the Northeast is my favorite time to get re-organized and also to reflect. Interestingly, as I was sorting through the miscellaneous documents saved on my computer that piled up over the year, I came across the statement of interest that I wrote around this time last year detailing why I was interested in becoming the Eboard representative for Genzyme. As I read through what I wrote, I started to think about what the Eboard accomplished this year as well as the challenges that still exist. Many of the themes I wrote about last year that motivated me to join the Eboard are still very relevant today. The idea of being a voice for the fellows, building stronger relationships with alumni, program directors, and preceptors, and ultimately creating a stronger, more connected network still forms the foundation of what I feel the Eboard can contribute to.

Midyear Experiences from a Fellowship Applicant’s Perspective

Midyear Experiences from a Fellowship Applicant’s Perspective

By Amy Monpara

The ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting is one of the most anticipated conferences for pharmacists, fellows and fellowship applicants. While it is an exciting time, it can be overwhelming and stressful for those who are seeking a pharmaceutical industry fellowship. Here is a brief (key word being brief, since there is just too much to cover in one post) overview of the Midyear process from my experience as a candidate and some tips to take away from it.

Industry Fellowship Interviewing/Application Process

Industry Fellowship Interviewing/Application Process
By Chelsea Binkowski

*Disclaimer: I have included my personal suggestions to highlight items that helped me or things that I wish I knew.

PRE-MIDYEAR

• Print business cards (I utilized vistaprint for my business cards), and try to keep track of the people you meet!  A helpful tip for this: When you receive a business card, write a short description of the person on the back so you won’t forget what they look like.
• Build your CV with unique opportunities (publications, leadership roles, industry experiences, etc.). Have at least 2 people (family member and professor) review  your CV.  Once you have your final draft, print 50 copies on nice CV paper to bring to Midyear.

Navigating Midyear: Directions for Success

Navigating Midyear: Directions for Success

By Christina Gallagher, Chief Fellow 2014-2015

 

The ASHP Annual Midyear meeting is an overwhelming, stressful, and exciting week for all participants, even those of us who have attended for several years in a row. However, the magnitude and importance of Midyear is perhaps greatest for pharmacy students interviewing for Post-PharmD Fellowships through PPS. Read below for helpful tips & tricks that can help make your Midyear a success.

Residency vs Fellowships

Residency vs Fellowships

By Eddie Han

Coming into pharmacy school I did not know all of the different career options for PharmDs. I’m pretty sure that I still don’t know all of the different options. Out of the options that I did know, I focused on two routes: a residency or a fellowship. Now of the two options, residency is by far the more popular. Students are aware of what it entails and its focus. Industry fellowships on the other hand are enigmatic for a few reasons. It is a relatively new route and does not follow a conventional curriculum, but industry fellowships vary immensely depending on the functional area or company/school you commit to. I’ll explain what the differences are.