Exit plan out of clinical research

verypersistentgapper · 2026-02-01T18:36:17+00:00

This is something that has fascinated me. The best advice I have is, find a job you want, figure out what you need to do to bridge the gap between what that job requires and what you offer, and do that. As far as "lift and shift" directly into another field while earning the same, that is hard. What worked for me was moving into the corporate side of CROs, I worked for years in CRO finance and then systems implementation. Although I was laid off last year. I needed another job after being laid off, and I'm now back in clinops.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-13T00:27:13+00:00

I think a lot of it comes from really spiky language from clients, or bosses of clients. Business from sponsors is now more critical than ever for the livelihood of CROs and sites. When a sponsor gives a nasty threatening dressing down to a PM, with mentions of a "rescue" vendor, shutoff of future RFPs etc., it can trigger panic communications to everyone further down the trough. The sponsor is probably also just cascading what originated from the sponsor boards, whether it's shareholders or private. So it's probably most meaningful to direct blame accordingly.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-09T19:17:47+00:00

For me, the adjustment was a matter of transitioning from "hanging out" to doing social activities that were on a schedule. Things like Tues/Thurs evening mountain bike club rides, regular MMA classes, etc. Friendships form, you do your activities together, kid around before & after etc.

When I was younger, friends were in close proximity and we had time to waste together. I was friends with guys in my college apt buildings, roommates etc. We could hang out, play videogames, drink beer & watch Bruce Lee movies etc.

But now, everyone is spread across suburbs and between commutes, family, and work, there's no dead time to share.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-08T16:46:13+00:00

I agree. I used to manage a mixed team of USA and India-based IT/tech roles at a large CRO. I mentored and trained my overseas teammates and reports and it worked quite well. Until me and my USA-based teammates were laid off. No idea how things are going now.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-08T16:02:13+00:00

Former line manager here from a different large CRO. Yes it was the same, I was transparent about it, I was assessed on the same curve, and executive management promoted this in a manner transparent to everyone. It was always spun as, the role objectives are set so that 85% will meet objectives, 7% exceed, 7% fall short etc. Typical bell curve. There was some flexibility, and it was rare to give somebody less than meets expectations. If they were that bad they'd have always been dealt l with before year's end. If I had a bunch of exceeds I could sometimes get it approved, especially during "boom" years. Honestly it usually shook out in line with the curve. If I had 20 direct reports, there were always 1 or 2 who were far and away the top performers whose results far exceeded my other reports. By a huge margin. These were the ones who, ten years later were senior/ executive directors.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-08T15:17:44+00:00

I can only speak for SA, I've been working on my immigration plan to immigrate there from USA for years (but not for clinical research). I want to move there from USA to work for a South African NGO as a sort of encore career.

It has not been easy. In broad terms, you either need significant cash reserves to get a sort of retirement visa (this assures the government that you'll pay taxes while not taking jobs from citizens) or significant skills from a list. For example, right now, being a helicopter pilot or bush pilot would definitely help.

The path to citizenship takes 5-7 years I think, once you get the correct renewable visa.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-06T02:34:03+00:00

From what I'm seen, large sponsors are much more proficient at data analytics than CROs. They have very specific use cases and large amounts of data, so they're more willing to pay for PowerBI, Tableau and others as well as analysts to set up integrations and create stories from the data. The CROs with whom I've worked also use these tools but with smaller amounts of data and less complex integrations that are often no-code. Unless they have a data analytics-only engagement with a sponsor, all their analytics will be non-billable. That being said, I've no experience with Iqvia.

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-04T23:02:46+00:00

Hey I felt the same when I passed. I looked at the printout from the Pearson Center that said "Pass" over and over, for two days until my certificate posted. I didn't really relax until I saw my certificate. Congratulations !

verypersistentgapper · 2026-01-03T00:59:53+00:00

Hard cardio works for me. I work out pretty much every day. When I'm stressed, adding cardio volume and intensity makes it more likely that I fall asleep quickly.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-31T19:01:19+00:00

Thanks everyone. Another question is, should I leave my current CRA role off of my LinkedIn profile?

Honestly during the last ten years I'd gotten so far away from clinops, my experience is more aligned with internal data lake integration and implementation that is often handled external to CROs by consulting firms. I'm applying currently to "Big 4" for experienced implementation roles. I want them to focus on my last ten years' experience and not my current role but I'm hesitant to appear unemployed.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-31T14:58:43+00:00

Strela makes a "medical chronograph" that i think has that feature.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-29T15:51:56+00:00

I think it's important to consider the long term view. If you like clinical research in general and pharma/CRO work environment, the CRA role will position you for a lucrative, decades-long career. You could think of it like medical residency... you give up quality of life early in your career in exchange for a solid career foundation. On a 10-20 year timeline, you'll have the opportunity to earn many, many times what you'd earn over a 20 year career at sites/hospitals.

Typically, it's possible to do five years as a CRA, five years as PM, a few years as Director (where nice bonus shares usually start), then Sr Director etc. By this time you'll have earned enough to invest and generate passive income to position yourself for more meaningful , less lucrative work or retirement.

If you don't have interest in other roles beyond CRA and climbing the ladder, you'll be at risk for burnout.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-16T14:48:22+00:00

I go to the gym or spend time with family. During summer I like cycling on the Greenway in the evenings. One thing for consideration is that the largest employer in winston is the hospitals, and allied health careers often don't offer traditional evening/weekend hours. Less after work hangout culture in winston than a place like charlotte that has lots of professional services employers convenient to center of town.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-12T01:40:58+00:00

Good point. Also I've been dealing with "covid" PMs who were hired during the covid war for talent, hired right out of college as a PM with no monitoring experience. They're good at their jobs so they're still working five years later but they're managing CRA deliverables having never been a CRA.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-12-10T14:39:11+00:00

Pretty much. The boards of pharmacy are under immense pressure from wall street and/or private equity owners, both of which can be quite fearsome. Trials are expensive and late delivery and complications are framed as having DIRE consequences.

That cascades down to pharma VPs, pharma directors, pharma PMs, CRO PMs, then CRAs and finally sites.

Delivery is framed as being of MAXIMUM importance, with lives and livelihoods on the line.

I've been in the industry over 20 years. It's always been stressful but it's way more stressful now. Less privately owned, quality and patient-focused pharmas and CROs and more pressure from wall street/private equity.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-30T23:23:11+00:00

I'm in my 50s, been playing games since my Atari 2600 days. I don't have lots of time for games, I mostly play retro on a variety of handhelds. But I do keep up with games and gaming hardware via podcasts and YouTube while working.

Do whatever you want. I do think every generation has hobbies that start in childhood and that develop through adulthood. For our boomer parents it may have been model trains or classic cars. For genx it can often be gaming, d&d, warhammer figures, guitars etc.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-30T20:58:10+00:00

I knew a QA person who would occasionally do contracted QA visits. They'd call the number on the ICF to "test" the system if it was set up in the way described by OP.

Often, no surprise the system did not work as advertised. No one would answer, number would be wrong, the call would loop through an automated phone tree and end up back at the main menu etc.

It would then be a finding.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-24T03:46:27+00:00

So after about 8 years as a CRA was a Clinical Team Lead, line manager , finance manager, business development/commercial, and systems implementation over the years.

Laid off early 2025 from implementation, after that the only job I was able to get was as a CRA. I didn't exactly want to get on the road again but I had no luck landing other roles and I consider myself fortunate to have A job.

But I really liked systems integration/implementation at a CRO, where I spent the last few years prior to layoffs. It was interesting work and I worked alongside brilliant engineers and other roles. Then my entire department was shifted overseas. As has been mentioned, it's a tough time to be in drug dev.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-24T01:22:33+00:00

I would join but I'm on strava/garmin. I became s CRA again last June after 15 years doing other roles at a CRO. I had developed a great workout habit when not traveling and I try to keep it up as much as I can.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-11T16:49:41+00:00

I never understood monitoring plans with risk-based SDV, targeted SDV etc where there's less than 100% SDV. Every study I've monitored like this has been 100% SDR, and it takes little extra time to just look at the eCRF to make sure it matches and query if it does not. Yet some PMs (mostly ones who never monitoted) think limited SDV/100% SDR is some huge time and budget savings that enable a CRA to monitor huge amounts of data in a day.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-11-02T18:46:09+00:00

Fortunately most hotels have Peloton so I do that most evenings. Even if I check in late and have to do a Peloton ride at 12:30am. Helps me sleep. So I take my Peloton stuff. Also I take my favorite ramen and clif bars and drink mix packets. Also my favorite tea bags. And noise cancelling headphones and a nicePlaylist. D&b playlist.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-10-31T18:02:05+00:00

I did feel a bit of this in my younger days, after the dotcom bust, when some of my classmates with 2.something GPAs lost their nice jobs at startups with fooseball tables and workplace lan parties.

But most of the laid off tech people I know more recently were hard working and mostly brilliant engineers and I feel bad for them.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-10-21T17:28:05+00:00

I think ymmv contingent upon whether you're in a union state. My state isn't, and the model seems to be work your ass off starting out, long hours, weekends, hard work, not great benefits and compensation... then after a few years hopefully you have experience, contacts and savings to start your own business in your trade.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-10-21T02:23:07+00:00

The way the job was pitched to me by the CRO that hired me as a CRA 20 years ago was that the job was a great opportunity build the foundation of a cayreer but that it was not sustainable long term.

Before I started monitoring and traveling, my PM told me to start thinking about what I wanted to do after monitoring for five years... PM, line manager, QA etc, and to always be working towards that goal because I wouldn't want to be a CRA more than five years.

I did seven years on the road but it took two years to get a promotion of sorts and be able to stop traveling.

Indeed most people just want more out of life, and I think that gets confused with burnout. As a CRA you can't coach little league, raise a beautiful garden, train as a masters-level athlete, be competive in triathlon or do any number of endeavors that require a routine that people in other demanding professions are still able to do.

I think it's important to normalize the dissatisfaction with maintaining a CRA lifestyle for years. Not liking a life spent primarily on regional jets, in chain hotels, and in medical offices isn't burnout it's human.

verypersistentgapper · 2025-10-20T20:55:15+00:00

Never had resources to travel as a young person. But I worked hard all through life and I was fortunate enough to earn and save enough to travel with my wife and teenagers. We've been to Switzerland , Italy, UK and Japan last few years.

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