Sr. Clinical Research Associate Gets Candid On Clinical Research Career and Avoiding Traps

This video provides an in-depth exploration of career development within clinical research, featuring a candid discussion between host Dan Sfera and guest Jasmyn Adams, a Senior Oncology Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and career coach. The conversation delves into Jasmyn's personal journey, highlighting the unconventional paths available in the industry, the importance of practical experience over excessive academic credentials, and the strategic necessity of personal branding and career management. A significant portion of the discussion also touches upon the operational realities of clinical trial sites and Contract Research Organizations (CROs), including the role of technology like Veeva Site Vault.

The discussion begins with a notable shout-out to Veeva for sponsoring the podcast, specifically highlighting Veeva Site Vault's free offering for clinical sites to manage e-regulatory documents. This segues into Jasmyn's career trajectory, starting from her decision to leave a PhD program with a Master's degree to pursue clinical research, driven by a desire for a more direct impact on science, medicine, and patients. She recounts her early experiences, including a brief but impactful stint at an SMO (Site Management Organization) that engaged in questionable, even fraudulent, data practices, which she quickly left due to ethical concerns. This experience underscores the critical importance of regulatory compliance and data integrity within the industry.

The conversation further progresses to Jasmyn's extensive experience across various large CROs, where she advanced from CTA (Clinical Trial Assistant) to CRA and eventually to CTM (Clinical Trial Manager), though she expresses a preference for the CRA role due to its direct impact and higher earning potential at certain levels. A key theme that emerges is the concept of "job-hopping" as a legitimate career growth tool in an industry where internal promotions can be slow. Jasmyn emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their own career development, not their employers. This leads to a discussion on the "institutionalized education shock," where many aspiring professionals believe more degrees and certifications are the answer, often overlooking the value of hands-on experience and soft skills. Jasmyn's coaching philosophy, "Confessions of a CRA," focuses on shifting from a "job mindset" to a "career mindset," teaching clients how to create a "job attraction system" through robust personal branding, marketing, and effective negotiation.

Key Takeaways:

• Veeva Site Vault as an Enabler: Veeva Site Vault is offered free to clinical sites, enabling them to digitize e-regulatory documents and passively share them with CRAs and sponsors. This streamlines operations, reduces manual tasks like emailing documents, and enhances data accessibility for Trial Master Files (TMFs).
• Unconventional Career Paths in Clinical Research: The industry lacks a single, clear-cut path like medicine or law. Success often comes from diverse experiences and strategic career moves, rather than solely academic progression.
• Prioritizing Experience Over Excessive Degrees: Many professionals are "over-educated" with multiple degrees but lack practical experience. Gaining hands-on experience at a clinical site, even through volunteering, is often more beneficial for career advancement than pursuing additional academic qualifications.
• Ethical Compliance is Paramount: Early career experiences can expose individuals to unethical practices, such as data fabrication at SMOs. It is crucial for professionals to recognize and disengage from such environments to protect their personal livelihood and the integrity of clinical research.
• Job-Hopping as a Strategic Career Tool: In the absence of rapid internal promotions, strategically moving between companies can be an effective way to gain diverse experience, accelerate career growth, and increase earning potential.
• Personal Responsibility for Career Development: Individuals must take ownership of their career growth, as companies often prioritize their own objectives (e.g., shareholder profits) over individual employee development.
• The Value of Personal Branding and Marketing: Developing a strong personal brand, marketing skills, and the ability to "sell yourself" are critical for career attraction. This includes optimizing LinkedIn profiles, crafting effective resumes and cover letters, and networking.
• Challenges of Large CROs vs. Mid-sized Companies: Large CROs can offer less personalized onboarding, a feeling of being "just a number," and a focus on company-centric compliance training. Mid-sized companies often provide a more supportive culture, better career development resources, and closer access to decision-makers.
• Importance of Soft Skills and Mindset: Interview anxiety, limiting beliefs, and a lack of confidence are significant barriers to career success. Coaching on mindset, communication, and negotiation skills is essential for professionals.
• Negotiation Gaps, Especially for Women: Many professionals, particularly women, fail to negotiate for what they want (salary, promotions, benefits). Developing negotiation skills and overcoming the fear of asking are crucial for maximizing career potential.
• CRA Metrics and Performance: Key performance indicators for CRAs at CROs typically include report turnaround times (first draft within 5 business days, final within 10-15 business days) and timely completion of mandatory training (both study-specific and corporate compliance).
• Bringing Value as an Intern/Volunteer: When seeking entry-level positions or internships, it's vital to demonstrate value by doing homework, understanding basics, and actively contributing to day-to-day operations rather than just expecting to "shadow."

Tools/Resources Mentioned:

• Veeva Site Vault: A platform for e-regulatory document management for clinical sites, offered free by Veeva.
• LinkedIn: Emphasized as a crucial tool for personal branding, networking, and job attraction.
• The Clinical Trials Guru (Dan Sfera's platform): Host's channel/podcast, offering content on clinical trials.
• Confessions of a CRA (Jasmyn Adams' podcast/coaching): Jasmyn's platform for CRA career coaching and development.

Key Concepts:

• Institutionalized Education Shock: A term used to describe the phenomenon where individuals are so ingrained in the belief that more education (degrees, certifications) is always better, that they overlook practical experience and delay career progression.
• Job Attraction System: A strategy for career development that focuses on personal branding, marketing, and networking to attract job opportunities rather than solely relying on traditional job applications.
• BMS (Branding, Marketing, Selling): Jasmyn's acronym for the essential skills needed to advance one's career in the competitive clinical research landscape.
• Equity (in a capitalistic society): Defined as ownership in a business or idea, contrasting with the common misconception of equity solely as fairness or equality in compensation.

Examples/Case Studies:

• Fraudulent Data at an SMO: Jasmyn recounted an early experience at an SMO where data was fabricated (e.g., non-existent patients, tweaked lab values) to meet enrollment criteria and secure budget payments, leading her to resign due to ethical concerns.
• Onboarding at Large vs. Mid-sized CROs: Jasmyn contrasted the impersonal, self-directed onboarding process at large CROs (receiving equipment with minimal guidance) with the more supportive, structured, and personalized onboarding at mid-sized companies, which included daily check-ins and comprehensive development resources.
• Employer Conflict over Personal Branding: Jasmyn shared an experience where a previous employer gave her an ultimatum to shut down her coaching business and podcast or resign, highlighting the potential conflict between corporate interests and individual branding, and reinforcing the need for personal career autonomy.