Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Field of Opportunities in Medical Writing

Have you thought about being a medical writer but don’t know how to break into the business? Are you already a medical writer but in a job that bores you? If you have a dream of a new career path in medical writing, bring that dream to the 2013 American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Annual Conference and make it a reality! With the theme of Expand Your Horizons, the conference is designed to help new and experienced medical writers learn more about the field of opportunities in medical writing.

From students who want to explore a career in medical writing or editing to scientists who are considering a switch to writing to experienced writers who are thinking about a different type of writing, all can get the kick-start they need at the AMWA Annual Conference. Medical writing is a diverse profession offering a variety of settings and work products, with new opportunities emerging every day.

Discover the Field
Starting a career in medical writing is not always easy. In a recent survey of AMWA members, nearly one-quarter of respondents listed “breaking into the field” as a top challenge. AMWA has created conference programming to address this need. The most important first step you can take to learn about a career in medical writing is the AMWA Annual Conference session, “Scope of Medical Communication,” which covers a range of unique practice settings, including regulatory writing, medical editing, medical communications agency, public relations, medical device writing, and freelancing. Experienced medical communicators from these settings will outline the knowledge, education, and attributes that lead to success in each setting, along with how to advance and what you can expect to earn. This year, “Scope of Medical Communication” is offered on Saturday, as a convenience to students and full-time workers.

Explore New Opportunities
The “Scope” session is also a great place for experienced medical writers to learn about other traditional career paths. Medical writers already in the field can learn about new career paths in “New Opportunities for Medical Writers,” where a panel of experts will describe two emerging areas of medical writing: health technology assessments and consensus manuscripts. In “FDA’s Other Box: Medical Device Regulation for Pharmaceutical Writers,” panelists will inspire regulatory writers to think outside the pharmaceutical industry box and learn more about writing for the medical device industry.

Get the Inside Track
Find out what employers look for in medical writers at “What Employers Are Interested In: How to Progress Your Career.” The speakers in this session include a hiring manager and a recruiter who will give tips on how to structure a resume, discuss common interview questions, and describe what makes a good candidate for a medical writing position. For broader career help, consider the expanded seminar “Create Visibility and Influence to Fast Track Your Career.” Here, John West Hadley, a well-known career search counselor, will show you how to recognize when it’s time to leave a job, how to best search for a new job, and how to make the most of your potential.

Learn to Market Yourself
Two informal small-group discussions can help students and others new to the field, regardless of your educational background, learn how to best present themselves to potential employers. For those who studied English, Communications, or Writing, there’s “Marketing Your Liberal Arts Background to Employers and Clients” and for scientists looking to move to medical writing, there’s “Transitioning from the Benchtop to Medical Writing: Rethinking the Format of Your CV.”

The AMWA Annual Conference offers even more than these outstanding programs. Look through the registration brochure and make the decision to attend the conference—even if only for a day. If you’re a student and concerned about the cost, learn why the conference is a great investment in your future. You need to act fast, though, early registration closes on Friday, October 18. After that, you can register on-site, but it will cost you more. Save by registering now!

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