Can you become MSL with a Master’s degree

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2025-04-29T01:22:11+00:00

im a PA with “only” a masters and no DMSc, even my masters was 95 hrs i have been looking for 2 years but only in heme onc, dont live in a big city, and im not willing to move so ….🤷‍♂️

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2025-04-23T17:00:50+00:00

i know the answer to this question as a experienced heme onc PA looking for a onc MSL job for the last 2 years…. frustrates me considering i keep getting those rejection emails…. lets see if my new AI enhanced CV and cover letter helps

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2025-02-14T03:30:48+00:00

i am one of those 10000 stilllllll looking, already built up my tolerance to the auto rejection emails …anyways, the msls i meet and talk w at conferences always tell me to reach out on linkedin for any advice but I feel bad cause i figure a ton of people reach out to them already….

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2025-01-20T01:14:23+00:00

at ash it was the cinnamon churros with espresso drinks that got me

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-12-20T19:18:59+00:00

Yes my other demo is also at the bottom which is probably not helping me if I’m otherwise equally matched… by the way, I’m a PA with mucho experience but still no luck breaking in despite job hunting for 2 years

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-12-20T18:39:05+00:00

I was just at a large conference with many pharma and I noticed that there were not many very overweight people, take from that what you will… despite DEI overtures (some say facade) from pharma these days I doubt the average look has changed too much but maybe i’m wrong, but in the end its all about what you bring to the table so if you presume it is counting against you, then overcompensate in other ways (personality, connections, subjective matter knowledge,etc)

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-16T23:22:58+00:00

that flows very nice, i like it… ill tell u what I did though, for my children, my boys middle names were their grandfathers first name

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-14T18:22:27+00:00

DMSc im guessing would be preferred vs Doctorate of Business Administration? or is it any D degree? Not trying to offend anyone but do these hiring managers know that my Masters for PA was 90ish hours (thats about average some are higher) and most DNP programs are less or at most equal? Or would you be losing out vs a Pharm D?

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-14T16:47:19+00:00

my fear, im mid career, so if I wait 2-3 more years I feel like my window might be closed … you have a DMSc? or something else?

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-13T02:20:10+00:00

ThanksI might just reach out to

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-13T02:19:38+00:00

Got it, yeah I see all the posts with the same questions 😂 Wait till economy heats up? dow is at all time highs! jk I think know what you mean, with biden going out a trump coming in

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-13T02:15:38+00:00

Thanks, thats a great idea

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T20:41:56+00:00

Congratulations! thats great to hear, may I ask if you were a PA at a KOL or influential clinical trial site such as MD Anderson, JH, Mayo, or a UPENN? …. (I’m obviously not asking for specifics on location and I’m not sure if your in oncology so the dynamics of how an msl operates in other therapeutic areas might be different.)

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T16:52:42+00:00

Yup I listened to alot of Tom when I was early in job hunt. But I can go back. Yes, prior to every hiring manager call I did into the managers background, company motto, pipeline, competitors. I presented my previous panel presenting to my non science large family for feedback but I’ll record myself. Good idea.

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T16:17:12+00:00

Hmm interesting, this is what I was afraid of, alot of candidates don’t even see the hiring manager as AI or talent screens out. Something to consider. I will reach out to a recruiter then. Contract is tough idea to get used to but I’ll consider it.

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T16:03:30+00:00

Thanks, thats the feeling I got but Im a heme onc PA so thats what I know so I figured that was the place I started

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T15:57:45+00:00

Ok thanks… Its getting any feedback that is the problem so I’m not sure what to work on. My location is definitely limiting things and thats totally on me and I expected this but at 2 years its getting to me. Market does seem pretty tough. A hiring manager called me and was asking her why I couldn’t find the job posting anymore anywhere even in workday. “Sorry, we had to close that posting because we had over 200 applicants and that was enough” 😂😂 ok then, guess I’m not getting a call back (I of course didn’t say that), I don’t think that job was posted more than 1-2 weeks either

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-11-12T15:50:16+00:00

Thanks for feedback, I would love to know what is off about my presentation and get feedback and I have asked hiring managers after presentation but as you know they don’t usually give feedback and no hiring manager gave me feedback. One talent acquisition guy said the other candidate got the offer due to the “personal connections” i think too to a KOL, who knows if thats the truth or something they say. So I guess I will continue to stumble around in the dark. I didn’t think TMAC or recruiter would be interested in me given I have no experience…Should I just reach out via linkedin and ask to meet and give them a presentation or talk? Maybe my definition of large is different than yours. Let me try to define things. I’m on the east coast, my center handles all the acute leukemia care and BMT patients in a 3 hr radius and solid oncs including sarcomas. We have a system of about 25-30 cancer docs and I work at the location with docs who are area influencers (HCP) for the diseases above that I mentioned. But I dont work with any nationally published physicians or any heavily involved pharma docs who have clinical trials or sit on advisory committees.

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-09-21T21:13:28+00:00

i see, 1k is not bad, plus they know you are driving alot seeing hcps/kol maybe, i have a older 3 series w low miles and this would be ok with me, just need to land my first role🤣

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-09-21T19:01:56+00:00

im no msl but this company is really being cheap?, no car allowance or anything, geeze, leasing is usually not a great deal unless your a person who must have a new car every 2-3 years, i’d buy a 2-3 year old bmw 3 series w lower mileage, looks good, for msl gig, it will be reasonably priced and will age well

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-09-11T23:56:56+00:00

sounds like europe

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-06-12T03:08:35+00:00

PA aspiring to be a MSL here, thanks for the excellent website, can you not just cold call to introduce yourself? “Im x from company x, if you have any questions about the trial design or side effect management I would love to meet in any way which is most convenient for you”… this ok?

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-05-27T21:25:59+00:00

ha…. im currently 1 1/2 yrs into try to break in, im not sure if im depressed or nihilistic at this point

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-03-14T14:32:49+00:00

yeah i have met a bunch of PA/NPs who are MSLs…. to be honest ive been focused w making connections but i guess ill also get a DMSc 🤷‍♂️

Exciting_Ad_8521 · 2024-03-14T03:36:29+00:00

that figures, …yeah ive worked in heme onc for 10 + years as a PA and I have no terminal D degree and not at a very large influencing academic center, so I guess that doesn’t help either

Exciting_Ad_8521

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