Pharmaceutical Jobs / Pharmaceutical Sales Jobs

Career Guide to Pharmaceutical

Are you interested in helping people?  The pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry has produced a variety of medicinal and other health-related products undreamed of by even the most imaginative apothecaries of the past. These drugs save the lives of millions of people from various diseases and permit many ill people to recover to lead normal lives.

Pharmaceutical product development covers a wide spectrum from preclinical test to clinical development, on to product launch issues and other activities related to pharmaceutical product development. There are various unique pharmaceutical product development programs, for large pharmaceuticals, small pharmaceuticals, biotechnology companies or medical device companies. With a large-scale infrastructure, committed project teams, cross-functional therapeutic units and new technologies, there are a large number of companies, operating online as well as offline, that have a worldwide dedication to quality and delivering strategic solutions for compound, pharmaceutical product and market development. These companies are research institutions offering discovery, development and post-approval pharmaceutical product services and multiple partnering programs as well. The customers and partners of these companies comprise of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical equipment, and educational and government organizations. The staff consists of several pharmaceutical scientists whose main task is to assist customers in the development of new products and line extensions.

By making use of the right strategies, innovative technologies and therapeutic expertise for pharmaceutical product development, companies can maximize returns on their research and development investments and speed up the delivery of safe and effectual therapeutics to patients. Pharmaceutical research and development operations are usually divided into two basic units, discovery and development. Discovery is directed towards both, innovative chemical and biological entities. Development activities contain chemical, biological and pharmaceutical development, drug security and metabolism, clinical research and development, and medical dealings.

Pharmaceutical product development involves employing suitable technical information on a wide range of matters related to formulating products for immediate or customized release. Most recent technology in the area of pharmaceutical product development is to create poorly soluble products. Pharmaceutical product development also includes technical transfer issues connected with upgrades and legalization. Pharmaceutical product development also comprises of the ability to design and package drugs that assure the highest level of customer satisfaction.

By ensuring accuracy, quality and experience, companies facilitate the process of pharmaceutical product development, and also guarantee that projects are implemented efficiently and professionally. Pharmaceutical product development ranges of services include drug substance manufacturer selection, clinical support valuation, development pre-formulation and formulation development, and development protocols.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, then a career in Pharmaceuticals might be for you!

In 2006 production workers in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing worked an average of 41.8 hours per week, compared with 33.9 for workers in all industries. Some employees work in plants that operate around the clock—three shifts a day, 7 days a week. In most plants, workers receive extra pay when assigned to the second or third shift. Because drug production is subject to little seasonal variation or fluctuation in economic activity, work is steady.

Work environment. Working conditions in pharmaceutical plants are better than those in most other manufacturing plants. Much emphasis is placed on keeping equipment and work areas clean because of the danger of contamination. Plants usually are air-conditioned, well lighted, and quiet. Ventilation systems protect workers from dust, fumes, and disagreeable odors. Special precautions are taken to protect the relatively small number of employees who work with infectious cultures and poisonous chemicals. With the exception of work performed by material handlers and maintenance workers, most jobs require little physical effort. In 2006, the incidence of work-related injury and illness was 2.4 cases per 100 full-time workers, compared with 6.0 per 100 for all manufacturing industries and 4.4 per 100 for the entire private sector.

What Education/Certifications do you need for:
Pharmaceutical Jobs / Pharmaceutical Sales Jobs

Training requirements for jobs in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry range from a few hours of on-the-job training to years of formal education plus job experience. More than 6 out of 10 of all workers have a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or Ph.D. degree—more than twice the proportion for all industries combined.

 Other qualifications. A Bachelor of Science degree is typically the minimum requirement for these workers. Scientists involved in research and development usually have a master’s or doctoral degree. A doctoral degree is generally the minimum requirement for medical scientists, and those who administer drug or gene therapy to patients in clinical trials must have a medical degree. Because biotechnology is not one discipline, but the interaction of several disciplines, the best preparation for work in biotechnology is training in a traditional biological science, such as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, virology, or biochemical engineering. Individuals with a scientific background and several years of industry experience may eventually advance to managerial positions. Some companies offer training programs to help scientists and engineers keep abreast of new developments in their fields and to develop administrative skills. These programs may include meetings and seminars with consultants from various fields. Many companies encourage scientists and engineers to further their education; some companies provide financial assistance or full reimbursement of expenses for this purpose. Publication of scientific papers also is encouraged.

Sales and related occupations. Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies prefer to hire college graduates, particularly those with strong scientific backgrounds. In addition to a 4-year degree, most newly employed pharmaceutical sales representatives complete rigorous formal training programs revolving around their company’s product lines.

Current & Future Job Outlook for:
Pharmaceutical Jobs / Pharmaceutical Sales Jobs

Job prospects. Job opportunities in most occupations should be good, particularly for those employees with science and engineering backgrounds. Unlike many other manufacturing industries, the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry is not highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. Even during periods of high unemployment, work is likely to be relatively stable in this industry. Additional openings will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other industries, retire, or leave the workforce for other reasons.

 Employment change. The number of wage and salary jobs in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing is expected to increase by 24 percent over the 2006-16 period, compared with the 11 percent projected for all industries combined. Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing ranks among the fastest growing manufacturing industries. Demand for this industry’s products is expected to remain strong. Even during fluctuating economic conditions, there will be a market for over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including the diagnostics used in hospitals, laboratories, and homes; the vaccines used routinely on infants and children; analgesics and other symptom-easing drugs; antibiotics and other drugs for life-threatening diseases; and lifestyle drugs for the treatment of non life-threatening conditions.