October 26, 2008   |  Vol. 1 No. 5     Published by Biotech Ink, LLC, and Word Angel Document Design Solutions
Dear ,
 
In recent weeks, the US and global economies have been very volatile. While the countries of the world seek economic stability, many of us in the trenches are thinking about how these changes will affect us--especially our jobs and incomes.
 
As the job market tightens and becomes more competitive, the finer points of seeking a new job become more critical. This week's feature article, Insider Insights: The Job Hunt, Part 3, focuses on tips for using business networking sites in your job search that may increase your odds of success.
 
If you'd like to write an article for publication in the Insider, please call or email me to discuss the article topic, publishing deadlines, and related issues. The article topic should focus on some aspect of medical writing (and related) jobs or careers, or on the job hunting process. We reserve the right to refuse to publish articles that contain inappropriate content.
 
We welcome your comments and questions about the Insider's content. Good luck with your job hunt! 
  
Warm regards,
 
Susan

Susan E Caldwell, PhD
Managing Editor, Biotech Ink Insider, and
Medical Writer Consultant and President
Biotech Ink, LLC
Tel: 650-286-9300
Fax: 650-286-9301
Email: caldwell@biotechink.com
Web: www.biotechink.com and www.biotechinkinsider.com
Inside the Insider
Insider Insights, The Job Hunt, Part 3: Guidelines for Online Business Networking
reference material-itis
Open Medical Writing Jobs
Regulatory Writer - LA Area Biotech
Contract Senior Technical Writer - Foster City, CA
Director PV Medical Writing, Philadelphia
Article Archive
 
Feature Article
 
Dr. Susan Caldwell Insider Insights 
The Job Hunt, Part 3: Guidelines for Online Business Networking


by Susan E Caldwell

 Last week, we examined LinkedIn.com as a model business networking site. LinkedIn (LI) and similar sites can be very useful tools in your job hunt. Your LI profile can contain information about your work experience, education, publications, recommendations from people who know you, and more. It can be posted in public, for all to see, or you can make it private. Recruiters, human resources managers, and hiring managers often use LI to find job candidates or expand their business networks.

If you're interested in the art of online business networking, you can find much more information on the subject in the book, The Connect Effect, by Michael Dulworth[1].

Here are a few guidelines for using business networking web sites:
 
Network demo. Online networks come in many flavors, and you may like some more than others. Most networking sites have a demo, trial, or free account option. If you're thinking of joining a network that's new to you, consider using one of these accounts before you plunge in. Check out the site's features, services, membership, and reputation before you commit to posting lots of information or upgrading to a paid membership. While you demo, you may want to limit access to your profile to family, friends, and/or colleagues you trust, rather than making your information available to everyone.
 
Network referrals. A weakness of online business networking is that site members sometimes acquire contacts in their networks who they don't know. Don't refer your network contacts to third parties, if you don't know the people you're referring. If you refer an unknown contact to a third party, and the referred person is incompetent, dishonest, or worse, it reflects badly on you, the person who made the referral.
 
Anger. Avoid expressing anger online, and be aware that expressions of emotion online can be easily misinterpreted. After all, you can't see facial expressions or body language in an email, blog, or public LI profile. One example of expression of anger is using ALL CAPS. The internet convention is that ALL CAPS is the online equivalent of SHOUTING. Don't do it, unless you want to lose your readers because they think you are hostile. And if you're angry, wait a while before you write an email response. Take time to cool down before replying. This can result in wording that is more balanced and less likely to fan the flames.
 
Public profile and email content. If it's public, be sure you're comfortable with your profile content's being read by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The content you include, or emails you send, can be downloaded. Once downloaded, you can't pull those words back, even if you regret them.
 
Be careful about posting your or others' personal information on networking sites, too. This includes email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and other information used to establish identity (eg, driver's license numbers). If you post someone else's information, get their permission before you post.
 
Generous online persona. If you participate in online business networks, think about how you can help others, and how they can help you. Seek opportunities to facilitate introductions between people who may be of professional interest to each other. Practice helpful networking with a generous spirit and a positive outlook. It is the right thing to do, it yields big benefits to all when practiced reciprocally, and it could lead to a new job.


[1] Dulworth M. The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.; 2008.
 
Copyright 2008 Biotech Ink, LLC. All rights reserved.
reference material-itis  -by Angel Bivins
Angel Bivins photo 
reference material-itis
A disease caused by an obsessive collection of PDF articles that get lost in your "My Documents" folder, further complicated by printed source materials filed randomly, and buried heaven-knows-where in multiple file cabinets.
 
As the electronic submissions coordinator for a biotech company, I was responsible for collecting every article or report cited in our massive documents. Often I'd go directly to the contributing authors' desk to track down some article or the other that either was published so long ago it was not available online, or some government report that they didn't quite have all the citation pieces right.
 
I was surprised to hear from some of them that it would take an entire work day to come up with even a small chunk of articles. They were always under deadline constraints, so creating a bibliography or coming up with the article cited was just an extra task that they really didn't need at the last minute. That's why I want to share with you about this common problem I've termed reference material-itis.
 
Symptoms:
Loss of time and money spent looking for that needle in a haystack of articles you've collected over the years.
 
Frustration experienced when attempting to wade through binders full of articles provided to you by a client in order to get familiar on a topic.
 
Tediousness of reformatting bibliography lists or works cited in order to meet different citation standards required by journals or clients.
 
Treatment:
Have Word Angel build you a Web Library!
With a web library, you can search through your articles by keyword, author or title. Consider creating keywords to identify projects or documents so you can call up a list of references cited later. You'll have easy online access to your "Intellectual Capital" wherever you go.
Or
Reference Manager Database
If you already have the software, but don't have the time to enter your articles, I can do the grunt work for you.  
 
Copyright 2008 Word Angel Document Design. All rights reserved

Open Medical Writing Staff and Contract Jobs

Regulatory Writer
LA Area Biotech Company

Exciting new opportunity for an experienced Regulatory Writer.

My name is Bernie Cohen and I am an executive recruiter with Radian Executive Search. I've just been asked to fill a very exciting full time position. My client, located in the LA area, is a Biotech company with a stellar reputation.
 

The Regulatory Writer will assist in the production of documentation required by regulatory agencies for IND/CTA and NDA/MAA assessment.

Regulatory documentation responsibilities include

  • Preparation of appropriate document templates that comply with regulatory guidelines to support worldwide regulatory submissions.

  • Templates include Briefing Packages, Investigator Brochures, Protocols, Clinical Study Reports and Summary reports, as well as EU Expert Reports.

  • Writing/updating other regulatory support documents, including the Target Product Profile, Core Data Sheet and draft product labeling.

  • Participate in submission specific sub-teams focused on regulatory submissions (i.e., IND/CTA; NDA/MAA; Health Authority Response, etc).

  • Collaborate cross functionally with other Medical Writers to establish efficient documentation processes;comply with strict regulatory and company guidelines; ensure that the regulatory documentation format used is correct and the content is consistent with the agreed upon "messaging."

As part of the "writing team," the Regulatory Writer may assist on other writing tasks (i.e., CSR, Protocols, etc.)as needed.

BS degree in a life science (MS, PhD or PharmD preferred)
 
My client offers a very competitive compensation package and also offers relocation assistance.
 
If you have interest please contact me ASAP @ 203-205-9628 or by email
b.cohen@radiansearch.com
Contract Senior Technical Writer 
Foster City, CA, Biotech/Device Company
Applied Biosystems, Information Development Department     
Exciting opportunity at large successful biotech company that produces instruments, software and consumables for scientific research. This contract is onsite.

Contribute to making the world a better place by joining our fun, cohesive Information Development team of technical writers, editors, and production staff. Learn from and participate in our move towards XML/DITA-based content management.

Your responsibilities would include developing user documentation for hardware, software, and chemistry kits. Experience in biotech preferred but not required.

Responsibilities:

Develop technical documentation for paper, web, or multimedia Tightly manage your projects to meet milestones and deadlines Learn and follow our processes to support regulatory compliance

Skills required:

Education: BA/BS degree preferred

Experience: 3 years technical writing experience

Chris Flanagan | Sr. Technical Recruiter | netPolarity
phone: 408.200.6186 | cell: 408.316.9806 | fax: 408.971.0806 | toll free: 866.971.6911
Director PV Medical Writing
Philadelphia Biotech Company
Strategic Search Solutions, LLC
120 North Main Street, Suite 302
New City, New York 10956
 
Strategic Search Solutions specializes in the recruitment of top tier scientific and medical professionals. Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company, located in the Philadelphia area is seeking to fill a newly created position:
 
Director PV Medical Writing
Reporting to the Sr. Director, Pharmacovigilance, the Director, PV&RM Writing will be responsible for medical writing, management of reference documentation, training and quality control associated with aggregate report writing in pharmacovigilance. Activities include preparation and expert oversight in the preparation of company PSURs, Risk management plans, responses to regulatory enquiries and ad hoc safety reports. The Director will support the PV&RM therapeutic area teams in the preparation and updating of risk management plans; maintain and archiving and version control of RMPs. Provide expert oversight and quality control in the preparation of aggregate reports in liaison with the therapeutic area-specific physicians and associates accountable for their authorship. Report review, revision and editing will be part of these responsibilities. Training and mentoring for the Pharmacovigilance and risk management department, which includes MDs, in medical writing skills and best practices in association with aggregate report preparation. Liaise with safety operations, quality and standards to develop and maintain associated processes within company, identify areas for process improvement as required.  This position offers the opportunity to work across several therapeutic areas, have Global responsibilities, and provide necessary support to the EU qualified person.

This position requires a life science degree with PhD or PharmD preferred. Minimum of 5 years previous experience working in a similar role with direct experience in aggregate report preparation. Ability to summarise aggregate safety data and identify the key areas for focus in reports.  Solid understanding of the regulations supporting aggregate regulatory reports including ICH guidance, FDA regulations, EU clinical trial directives and Volume 9a.
 
Qualified candidates should submit CV to:

Sue Bell
Executive Recruiter
845-639-6727 direct phone
sue.strategic@verizon.net
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