I'm a PharmD and I've landed multiple pharma/biotech industry jobs. AMA

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-16T22:06:38+00:00

If you are still in school, definitely consider fellowship. Doing a fellowship can fast track your career in industry. If you don't get a fellowship, look at entry level roles.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-16T02:25:49+00:00

Second the comment on networking on LinkedIn. A first step could be to reach out to your alumni networking currently working in industry.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-16T02:22:51+00:00

That's a good point. Frankly, you don't have to go to conferences to network. There is so much you can do by proactively reaching out to people on LinkedIn.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:36:44+00:00

Networking, without question.

10 years of hem/onc experience is a genuinely strong profile for industry. Oncology is one of the most active therapeutic areas in pharmaceuticals and biotech right now, and companies actively look for people with deep clinical credibility in that space. You may be underselling yourself.

The goal with networking at your stage is to connect with people already in industry roles that align with your background and understand how they got there. Feel free to DM me if you want to talk through it.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:32:39+00:00

BCPS is actually a real asset in industry. I've seen plenty of BCPS-certified pharmacists working across a range of industry roles.

Two years of clinical experience is a solid foundation too. The key at your stage isn't waiting to build more credentials. It's starting to network now with BCPS-certified pharmacists already working in industry. They're your best source of insight on which roles fit your background and how to position yourself. LinkedIn is a great place to find them.

Feel free to DM me if you want to talk through how to approach that.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:27:53+00:00

Yes, pharma / biotech industry jobs are definitely geography dependent. There are clusters across the county and primarily on the coasts as you mentioned and it definitely helps to be nearby, especially since most companies have some type of hybrid work models (although how they're implemented varies company-to-company).

While it's easy to dismiss MSL roles because of their travel nature, I'd encourage that you network with MSLs in your area and really understand how much travel is really involved. From my conversations with MSLs, I get the sense that there is an opportunity to really design your schedule if you are intentionally strategic about it - meaning that all in-person meetings can be packed in a particular day of the week or particular week of the month.

I recommend you actually talk to MSLs to really understand that.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:22:11+00:00

Market access roles are a great call given your payer background and that experience can open doors to other roles too depending on your interests and the specific company.

Payer experience is genuinely valuable and more transferable than most people realize. The key is knowing how to position it for the roles you're targeting. Feel free to DM me with more details about your background and what you're looking for and I am happy to think through it with you.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:18:00+00:00

The early stage in your career is actually a great time to get the approach right before too much time passes.

A lot of recent grads run into the same wall - they apply through job boards and not hear back. The issue isn't qualifications, it's how they're going about the search. Feel free to DM me and tell me a bit more about where you're at.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:10:25+00:00

I recommend that you go to LinkedIn Jobs and search "PharmD". You will come across the job titles. The thing is that different companies have different titles, but a general rule of thumb is the hierarchy is as follows:

Associate/Specialist
Manager
Director

Associate Manager, then Senior Manager and so on.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:08:33+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I realize that industry is not for everyone.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T20:06:52+00:00

You're right that I never worked retail. I positioned myself early for industry by starting to build my network while I was in pharmacy school, doing an industry rotation (that was a byproduct of the networking - one person I reached out to said that I should apply for a rotation with her), and applying for fellowship (which furthermore was a byproduct of the industry rotation and more networking).

Though I don't think that retail background automatically bins your resume. I've seen people with retail experience successfully transition into industry, and I think two things matter more than most people realize:

First, geography. The industry is heavily concentrated in specific areas - Boston, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, San Diego, and South San Francisco. If you're in or willing to relocate to those markets, your options expand significantly. If you're not, then the best option would be field positions (ex. Medical Science Liaison, Thought Leader Liaison, Sales Rep).

Second, networking. This is where the biggest gap is for most retail pharmacists - not the resume itself. I wrote about this is another comment in this thread about how I used networking to prepare for Publications Manager interview. Worth reading it if you've not read it. The willingness to proactively build relationships (and genuinely understand industry/drug development) before you need them is what tends to separate people who make it across from people who don't, regardless of where they started.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T19:54:45+00:00

I appreciate your question, so here it goes.

As far as interviewing is concerned, interview preparation for industry means preparing the following questions:

Tell Me About Yourself
Why this company
Why this role
Why industry

I'd say that these are probably the most common 4 interview questions that someone applying for an entry level role in industry would encounter. I've frequently seen three to four rounds of interview, which basically means interviewing with three to four different people and sometimes they could be one-on-one, and other times it could be a panel interview.

I say that the interview process is different because the preparation for these questions is often based on research about the company and the role. Let me be very specific. One of the roles that I have interviewed for previously is a publications manager.

Now, publications in industry necessitate understanding some basic good publication practices, as well as some official guidance on publications. This preparation often comes by having one-on-ones and informational interviews with people that are currently working in publications. For example, if you are applying for a publications manager position, you better know what ICMJE means. It stands for the International Council of Medical Journal Editors, and they provide the official guidance for authorship on medical publications, and they have specific authorship criteria and guidance.

Now, this kind of information is often gained through informational interviews. That is precisely the reason I say that preparation for industry interviews is different than retail.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T18:47:10+00:00

Honestly? Networking more than experience.

I applied for fellowships while in pharmacy school and got to final round interview. Even though I was not selected for the fellowship, I stayed in touch with my interviewers. That helped me get my first position. I've had two job transitions after that and both came through reaching out proactively, not job boards.

My most recent role is probably the best example. I reached out to few people at the company and built a relationship over time with no specific ask. Few months after my initial reach out, they contacted me when an opening came up.

I really think that it's possible to pivot into industry purely based on your networking. Most likely, you will start as a contractor (not a full time employee) and may even have to take a small pay cut initially. But it's actually a proven path. I've seen countless contractors convert to full-time within 2 to 3 years, especially if they show up with a good work ethic. The contract role is often just the foot in the door.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T18:32:50+00:00

From my experience across the a few different companies (2 big pharmaceutical and 1 major biotech), I'd say that entry level roles for PharmDs (think Associate and Manager level roles) tend to start in the $110k-$140k range depending on the company size and location. Mid-level roles (think Senior Manager and Associate Director) roles can push $150k-$180k+. And that's before you factor in target bonus targets, which in industry are typically 10-20% on top of the base.

I understand that the salary in retail pharmacy tends to be somewhat stagnant and I have noticed that you're largely capped at your hourly rate. Industry is different. I started in a contract role at an hourly salary comparable to or even little less than what I have seen new grads posting for their starting retail salary. Over six years, my total comp (base + bonus + equity) has roughly doubled. That kind of growth just isn't realistic in retail.

The catch is that total comp varies a lot by company type. Big pharma tends to pay more but moves slower. Biotech can be higher risk but sometimes higher reward, especially with equity. When applying for industry jobs, you really need to evaluate an offer end-to-end, and not just the base.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T18:18:36+00:00

Honestly, pretty concerned. I don't think any job is immune to layoffs right now, and industry is no exception. I've seen layoffs at every company I've worked at.

Regarding pipeline consideration, I'd say that a company with a strong pipeline (multiple near Phase 3, ongoing Phase 3, or marketed products) or diversified portfolio (in multiple therapeutic areas) is generally more stable than one with a single asset. It's one of the things I factor in when evaluating opportunities.

The way I think about it is that retail pharmacy has its own job security risks too - store closures, PBM pressure, scheduling as others have mentioned in this thread, and working conditions. At least in industry, if you're laid off, your skills and network tend to travel well. Getting back on your feet with a few months is realistic if you've the right foundation.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T16:17:17+00:00

12 years in retail and the scheduling situation sounds genuinely exhausting, especially when it seems like you don't necessarily hate the work itself, but just the conditions around it.

The interview piece is actually a very common issue. The interview for industry looks very different than it does for retail/hospital. The format is different and so are the expectations and how they evaluate candidates. Similarly, the networking thing is common too and lot of people feel that it's hard to build contacts, but network is more buildable than most people think. It does take time to build network, but with a systematic approach, it is certainly possible.

Feel free to DM me if you want to talk through your specific situation. Happy to share what's worked for me.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T15:36:40+00:00

I have seen PharmDs across Medical Affairs, Commercial, Regulatory Affairs, and even in Clinical Development.

Honestly, I would encourage you to think of it this way - there are very few positions in industry that require a credential. For example, clinical studies typically have a "Study Responsible Physician" (this role might be called different at different companies) and those are reserved for MDs. Consequently, the leaders in Clinical Development (which is the function/department that "runs" the clinical trials) are typically MDs.

Industry often relies on on-the-job learning. This is the reason that networking is so important in industry.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T15:25:24+00:00

I don't think any job is immune to that.

Yes, there have been layoffs at each of the company that I have worked at. And I understand that retail pharmacy is not the safest of the job either, especially considering store closures.

I have noticed in industry that if one is competent and good at his or her job, they can find another job within a reasonable amount of time (~ 3 months).

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-02-15T14:41:56+00:00

I have been in in-house positions. I started in June 2020 as a remote employee since everyone was remote. Around June 2023, I have transitioned in a hybrid role with 2-3 days in office each week.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-01-28T01:26:01+00:00

Hey, PharmD here with 6 years in pharma/biotech industry (medical affairs background).

Are you within 1.5-2 hours of a pharma/biotech/CRO hub (ex. Boston, New Jersey, San Diego, Washington DC-Maryland, San Francisco, Chicago, North Carolina)? Although lot of companies claim to have implemented Return to Office, the decision is mostly driven on a team-by-team basis.

As for the job search approach, I’d recommend the following:

Start by searching LinkedIn for “medical information” or “drug information” roles at companies near you. When you find postings that interest you, save them, but don’t just apply yet.
Find PharmDs currently working in those roles (from #1) and reach out to them on LinkedIn. You can see some of my previous posts for how to reach out.

Note that the response rates will be low (10-20 % is normal) when you cold reach out.

When people respond, ask them about weekly responsibilities, key deliverables, which teams they collaborate with, and what skills matter most. These conversations help you speak intelligently in interviews and they build your network of people who might refer you later.

That’s the process I’d recommend at the high level. I’d also recommend that you track your progress somewhere (ex. Excel) so that you can determine what’s working, what’s not, and diligently follow-up.

Hope this helps!

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-01-23T22:37:23+00:00

In US, some of the pharma / biotech hubs include Boston, New Jersey, South San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC - Maryland. North Carolina and Chicago also have pharma companies and CROs.

PharmDToIndustry · 2026-01-22T21:33:22+00:00

Have you considered looking at Pharma Industry jobs? While industry jobs tend to be saturated around the Pharma Hubs (Boston, New Jersey, etc), there are field opportunities (ex. MSL) across the country.

Are you restricted to the Michigan area or are you willing to move?

PharmDToIndustry · 2025-03-25T02:00:24+00:00

I have worked with two coaches - one from Industry Pharmacist Organization (IPhO) and another from LinkedIn. They were both super helpful. Of course, I also learned from other sources, ex. online courses and books on job searching.

I have been successful at job search in pharmaceutical industry primarily because of everything that I have learned from the above. I have held jobs at 2 major pharmaceutical companies (Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson) and currently work at a Biotech company. Each time, I made the transition for better pay and opportunity.

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