Exploring the Field of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Having Fun with it

Over the past decade, pharmaceutical sales have soared, making this industry an ideal career choice for chemists. Chemistry jobs in the pharmaceutical industry range from research and development roles to production and quality-control positions. If you love chemistry and you want to explore the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, it is important to understand your own personality and values. Different chemist jobs suit different types of people. Some positions allow you to work in a team and collaborate, whereas others are more solitary. Some chemistry jobs are creative, others are repetitive. As with any job, it is important to find a position for which you are a good fit and which in turn suits you.

One of the best ways to explore pharmaceutical science jobs is to undertake internships with pharmaceutical companies during your four-year college degree. Try to work for different companies you may be interested in and make sure you get to do some real work for them. Not only will this give you genuine experience, which will be meaningful when you look for graduate employment, it will also give you a good idea about the different work environments you are likely to encounter. You may discover that you would love to work for some companies while you would not ever consider others. You will also make valuable contacts while interning, and the experience can result in job offers well before graduation.

If you want to get into research and development and higher-level supervisory roles, you will generally need to complete a PhD. A postdoctoral position in a pharmaceutical company laboratory can be a wonderful way to explore the possibilities of pharmaceutical chemist jobs. Some postdoctoral researchers take more than one postdoctoral position in order to gain necessary experience, to gain contacts, and to explore the field of pharmaceutical chemistry. However, many of these researchers are offered permanent employment with the companies for whom they are conducting research.



Here are some steps to help you explore the field of pharmaceutical chemistry and have fun doing it:

• Internships—There is no doubt that internships can make all the difference when it comes to professional employment as a chemist. You can find these opportunities by visiting your college careers office, talking to members of your faculty, browsing internship job sites and contacting pharmaceutical companies directly about their internship programs.
  
  
• College Career Days—Many pharmaceutical companies will take full advantage of college career days to discuss employment opportunities with their companies. It is important to take advantage of these opportunities of talking directly to company representatives. Discover what the entry level opportunities are and how to apply for them.
  
  
• Postdoctoral Jobs—If you are a postgraduate student completing your PhD then you are probably interested in a postdoctoral position which will provide valuable research experience. There are postdoctoral associations which advertise these positions and your university will be able to direct you to them. You can also find them by doing an Internet search and discovering helpful links.
  
  
• Contract Positions—Contract positions to complete specific projects can also be a great way to gain experience and get a foot in the door with pharmaceutical companies. These can give you experience, provide variety, and give you an overview of pharmaceutical science jobs. You may also get job offers as a result. You can find these jobs by directly contacting the pharmaceutical companies, using job boards, and keeping abreast of events in the industry.
  
  
• Online Job Sites—Online job sites can be very effective sources of pharmaceutical science jobs. There are specialist sites which only advertise science-related positions or healthcare positions, and there are large generalist job sites which advertise all categories of positions. You can browse the latter by category or search by location, salary, and job title. You can do an advanced keyword searches for more specific information. Online job sites often provide the opportunity for you to receive email alerts to inform you of new jobs which match your specifications. Receiving this information straight to your inbox can save you a lot of time wading through these job boards. They generally allow you to apply online, making the application process quicker and easier than ever before.
  
  
• Recruitment Companies—Specialist recruitment companies can also help you to into employment in this field. There are companies which focus on science professionals and some even on the pharmaceutical industry in particular. These firms can often provide the helping hand you need into the industry. Even if they are not currently advertising vacancies for chemist jobs, they have contacts in the companies you want to work for. If you have the qualifications, skills, and experience, they may be able to advocate on your behalf and get you an opportunity

If you love chemistry, it is important to look for chemistry jobs that keep that enjoyment alive. If you treat the job search process as an intriguing challenge, you can have fun while you explore the possibilities in the pharmaceutical industry. But you will gain the best long-term benefits from the experience if you keep a sense of wonder and enjoyment alive in your career. You did not study chemistry at university to be bored to tears every day, so you owe it to yourself to love your job.

If you take these job search steps determined to find a job you will enjoy, you will enhance your opportunities of landing an interesting chemistry job with people you enjoy working with.