AbbVie was formed in 2013 when Abbott Laboratories separated into two publicly traded companies. AbbVie would operate as a research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer that specialises in making small molecule drugs. The company focuses on therapy areas such as immunology, oncology, neurological disorders and metabolic diseases. They are most well known for the rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Humira.
What We Learned from Analysing 100 Entry Level Pharma Job Ads
We checked 100 ads for entry level jobs in the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry.
Job Hunting When You Don’t Yet Have Your Qualification in Your Hand
Does this sound familiar - you have done your part, completed all your studies, handed in all your assignments, finished all your exams, BUT you don’t yet have your qualification in your hand to prove it to employers when job hunting? There isn’t anything you can do to get your qualifictaion quicker - it’s out of your hands. So what can you do so that you can wrestle back some control on the situation?
Stryker in Ireland
Dr. Stryker founded his company in the U.S in 1941, aiming to make products that met patients’ previously unmet healthcare needs. Today, Stryker is one of the biggest medtech companies in the world. They have seven sites located across Ireland - five manufacturing sites and an R&D Innovation Centre in Cork, and a manufacturing site in Limerick. They also have a manufacturing site in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Johnson & Johnson in Cork, Galway and Limerick in Ireland
Johnson & Johnson is a US-based multinational company that was founded in 1886 with the initial idea that wounds should be treated and dressed using sterile equipment. Over time it has grown to be one of the biggest healthcare companies in the world. In Ireland, there are more than 5,000 people employed across sites in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
How to Convince Your Employer to Pay for Your Education
Are you thinking about going to university or taking a course to get a professional qualification? Trying to balance your commitments between work and home life is never easy. However, one of the biggest challenges can be figuring out how you are going to pay for the programme. But a great way to help with this is to convince your employer to help fund the cost of your tuition. Keep reading to figure out what steps you need to take and how to pitch your boss or manager or company.
How long does it take to get a job in the pharma industry?
How long does it take to go from making a job application to starting your first day at work in a pharmaceutical or medical device company? Of course, it varies from company to company and depends on the type of job you are applying for but the answer is commonly “much longer than expected”! Getting a job in this sector takes time and requires a significant amount of effort, preparation and waiting. The recruitment processes are generally multistep and rigorous with multiple checks and balances.
Medtronic in Ireland
Medtronic began as a medical supply repair shop in the US in 1949. When they moved into medical device manufacturing, their first commercial product was a battery-powered, wearable pacemaker. Today, they aim to develop and manufacture technology that improves the treatment and management of chronic conditions. In Ireland, the company employs more than 4,000 people across 5 sites in Galway, Athlone and Dublin.
MSD in Ireland
MSD was founded in 1891 and has grown to be the world’s seventh-largest pharmaceutical company. MSD began production in Ireland in 1976. They have so far invested over $4 billion in the country, developing six sites across five counties – Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Meath and Tipperary. Today, they employ approximately 2,800 in Ireland and export products made there to over 60 countries. The company’s annual turnover makes them one of Ireland’s top 20 companies.
Lilly in Cork and Limerick in Ireland
Colonel Eli Lilly started the company in 1876. His motto to his employees, and all that followed within the company, was: “Take what you find here and make it better and better.” In 1923, Lilly launched the first commercially available insulin product. Their focus on diabetes care continued and in 1982, the company launched Humulin – insulin that was manufactured but identical to that produced by the human body.
Abbott in Ireland
Abbott was founded in 1888 by Dr Wallace C. Abbott in Chicago, USA. The company is involved in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of a range of products. Their portfolio spans the breadth of healthcare including medical devices, diagnostics, branded generic pharmaceuticals, and nutritionals.
Boston Scientific in Cork, Galway and Tipperary in Ireland
Boston Scientific is one of the biggest MedTech companies in the world – employing over 41,000 people around the world and selling products in 115 countries. The company was founded in 1979 with the aim of creating less invasive medical devices and procedures, and they continue to innovate across expanding areas of medicine. Today, their medical devices are used to diagnose and treat patients with issues in the areas of cardiology, urology, endoscopy and many more.
Pfizer in Ireland
Pfizer is the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company with operations spanning the globe. Its research headquarters are located in Groton, Connecticut, America. Pfizer develops and produces vaccines and medicines for a range of conditions in the areas of oncology, infections and infestations, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry. It has been in Ireland for over 50 years and currently has 3 manufacturing plants located there.
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Guide (without the jargon)
What are good manufacturing practices (GMP)? Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) – are a set of product quality regulations that have the force of law and require that manufacturers and packagers of medicines and medical devices take steps to make sure their products are safe, pure and effective.
6 Top Skills for Entry-Level Pharma Manufacturing Jobs in the UK
What does the ideal candidate for an entry-level job in pharma manufacturing look like? We’ve analysed job adverts from pharma employers across the UK to find out. In this article we’re specifically looking at “soft” or transferable skills, counting down to the most popular. No matter what your educational background or work experience is, it’s likely that you can boost the case for yourself as a suitable candidate by demonstrating you have these skills. And while this is a good general guide, the most important thing to remember is to carefully read each individual job advert and highlight the skills mentioned within it as your tailor your CV for that application.
The Pharma Industry on YouTube
Whether you're trying to get to grips with what working in the industry "looks" like or you're preparing for an interview, it's always valuable to hear directly from employers. YouTube is a great place to do this. Not every company has a YouTube channel but those that do, are a really valuable resource. We've [...]
How to Write a CV – Part 8: Formatting
If you’ve worked through these articles in order, you’ve seen how a CV builds section by section. We’ve thought about the content that should go in every section so that you’re doing the best job possible at selling yourself to potential employers. We’ve also talked a little about layout options for each section.
How to Write a CV – Part 7: References
As soon as you start your job hunt you’ll need to consider who you can use as references. You’ll typically need 2 people, at least one should be a previous employer (and usually you’ll need to include your last employer). Former employers are legally obligated to give basic reference details for their employees but if you’re using someone who wasn’t a former employer, you should check ahead of time that they are willing to be a reference for you. Then you have to decide if/how you’re presenting this information on your CV.. If you choose to include it, the references section should be a brief section on your CV.
How to Write a CV – Part 6: Skills, Hobbies & Interests
The purpose of this Section: To give an employer an insight into how you spend your personal time and the type of person you are. You might historically have viewed this section as a tick-box exercise that you only include because you “should”. But this section can actually be really useful in convincing someone you’ve got relevant skills for the role. This can be particularly helpful if you can demonstrate a skill listed on the job advert that you’ve not been able to demonstrate within another section of your CV
How to Write a CV – Part 5: Employment History
Purpose of this section: To give an employer a full but concise overview of your employment history, highlighting relevant experience and skills. The “Employment History” section of your CV should be far more than dates and a list of the duties of your job. By adding in specific achievements, tangible details and transferable skills, your previous employment section can be a highly persuasive section of your CV, even if you’re making a mid-career change.
How to Write a CV – Part 4: Education & Other Courses
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 Purpose of this Section: To give an employer a useful overview of your academic history The Basics of this Section This should be a quick and easy section for an employer to read and [...]
How to Write a CV – Part 3: Personal Profile
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 The Purpose of this Section: To give a succinct overview of yourself that grabs the attention of the reader by highlighting the key things about you that make you suitable for this role. Personal Profile… Personal [...]
How to Write a CV – Part 2: Personal Details
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 The Purpose of this Section: To ensure that an employer can reach you by their preferred method of communication if they want to follow up on your application. The personal details should be the easiest [...]
How to Write a CV – Part 1: The Clues Hidden in Every Job Advert
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 If you’ve been viewing job adverts as a basic description of a role’s duties and responsibilities, and the education and employment background they want from a candidate - you’ve been reading them wrong. A simple change in mindset will revolutionise [...]
How to Write a CV – Your Ultimate Guide
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 Everybody thinks they know how to write a CV. The problem is, what they typically mean is… “I wrote a CV a while back and it did me fine then, I can update that and send it out for any [...]
England’s North West Pharmaceutical and Med Device Companies
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: July 2023 Image: Danone UK North West Pharmaceutical Industry and MedTech Sector at a Glance Employs 25,500 people across the North West Turnover of £6,072m Generates 38% of all UK pharmaceutical output Home to Alderley Park, the UK’s largest [...]
26 Myths, Misconceptions and Observations About Finding a Job in Pharma and Medical Device Manufacturing
By: Claire Wilson BSc and Donagh Fitzgerald B.Prod Eng. Last Updated: April 2022 Image: Körber What are some of the biggest myths about trying to find a new job within the pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing industry? And what are some of the things [...]
The Thriving Life Science Sector in Wales
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: July 2023 Image: tradeandinvest.wales Welsh Life Science Sector at a Glance Employs over 12,000 people across 360 companies Annual turnover of over £2bn Average of 5% growth in recent years 20% more life science companies per capita than the [...]
The Best Pharma & MedTech Podcasts
By: Claire Wilson and Sinead Creaner. Last Updated: April 2022 Whether you're in the industry and trying to stay up-to-date, or looking to start a career in pharma or medtech and trying to get to grips with the environment, keeping of top of industry developments isn't easy. [...]
UK Pharma & Med Device Manufacturing – A Strong & Stable Career Option
By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: April 2022 The Life Sciences industries have been an important part of the UK economy for many years. And while the spotlight is often directed towards R&D activities and clinical trial capabilities, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device manufacturing make up a significant proportion [...]