Posting date: 15/05/2019
Alex Czuprynski began his
career at ProClinical as an intern/placement year student while studying for
his biomedical science degree. After a successful year, Alex returned to
ProClinical when he completed university in 2016 - but not before a few months
of travelling! Thanks to the experience he accumulated
during his placement year, Alex skipped the entry associate level and returned
as a fully-fledged consultant.
In the three years since,
he has thrived at ProClinical, having been promoted consistently from
consultant through to senior consultant, principal consultant and finally his
current position as team lead of Regulatory Affairs. Here’s a bit of insight
into Alex’s experiences and career progression over the years at ProClinical:
What was your placement year like?
For
the first three months it was quite an adjustment. I’d previously never worked
in an office environment before, so it was tricky getting used to working in
front of a computer and getting on the phones. But the training was really
good. I was assigned to the Regulatory Affairs recruitment team and had a
mentor to guide me through a structured learning development process.
Luckily
there was no huge pressure to make placements right away. ProClinical was good
at giving me time to find my stride as I had a slow start. I didn’t make a placement
for 4 months! With some help from my mentor and other team members I quickly found
my way, making multiple placements and earning commission.
What attracted you to ProClinical for your placement year?
Much
like other life science graduates, I was disaffected by working in a laboratory
during the summer. I found it quite boring and repetitive, and it was quite
poorly paid in comparison to other sectors. I had never considered recruitment
as an option but after finding out more I saw that it was a happy medium for
me. It was a chance to continue working in the life science industry whilst
having an interesting, variable day-to-day job.
Ultimately, I applied for a placement year at ProClinical because it was
something a little bit different, but I also felt like I was putting my
scientific knowledge to really good use.
What does recruitment offer you that a career in industry wouldn’t?
Generally
speaking, recruitment can be challenging, but the career development offered to
me was far superior than any of my other options. It’s clear what your targets
are and what is required to progress, so it’s simply about getting down to it
and doing what you need to get to the next wrung on the ladder. It’s also given
me a financial sense of freedom and a great feeling of stability. The earning
potential is uncapped, unlike with other jobs where there are defined salary
bands. You’re the master of your own destiny when it comes to what you earn.
I’ve also had the opportunity to travel around the world, visiting New York,
South Africa and Iceland, most notably.
Also,
unlike a lot of scientific jobs where it’s difficult to focus on any other
areas, in recruitment you have the opportunity to diversify. For example, I
could go down a technical route because I’ve got the skillset to understand how
a drug company works. I could also opt to work in-house at a life science
company as a talent acquisition specialist, or even move into a consultancy. There
aren’t too many avenues working in a scientific role, unless you’re much
further on in your career.
The
most important draw for me however, is the variety recruitment provides in my
day-to-day life. Instead of working on one scientific experiment or project in
a lab, I’m working with such a broad range of life science companies with a
huge variety of projects that span the entire spectrum of the life science
industry. I’ve been exposed to some really interesting and ground-breaking work
that our clients are undertaking.
What have you found most challenging about recruitment?
As
I’ve said before, recruitment has its challenges. I found it tough at first to
adjust to working full-time, being on the phone a lot and of course, the
pressure of hitting targets. At university, I was used to pressure but it came
in shorter bursts. In recruitment, the pressure is less intense but more
constant. But it’s definitely what you need to keep motivated and to push
yourself. I found targets and expectations quite daunting at first, but soon
realised that targets are set according to your abilities and potential.
Eventually I understood that they weren’t unrealistic or unachievable, and this
was an important shift of mentality for me.
What were your breakthrough moments?
Definitely
when I made my first placement. That’s when I felt like I’d cracked it, I
understood how it worked - even though it took me a little longer than most.
There was a huge sense of pride that I’d successfully managed a process from
start to finish.
When
I brought in my first client, that was also a significant moment. A company
genuinely wanted to work with ProClinical because of me and my ability to help
them. That’s a rewarding feeling.
Ultimately,
becoming a team lead was a huge breakthrough. I realised I had the capabilities
to advise and help others succeed, too. It’s so fulfilling to see your team
member make a placement knowing that you’ve played a part in helping them get
there.
Were there transferable skills from your academic background that helped you in recruitment?
Initially,
I was concerned that I didn’t have any sales experience. But I soon realised I
already had a lot of the skills I needed thanks to my academic/scientific
background. For instance, I had to do a lot of presentations when I was
studying and when working at the lab, and this has come in really useful as it
taught me to speak clearly and concisely. These communication skills have
enabled me to speak to different types of audiences - peers, candidates, hiring
managers, HR and even CEOs of companies - which is key to success in this
career.
Also,
sales experience isn’t necessary as long as you have the ability to understand
and convey complex messages, which I certainly did thanks to my background. My
scientific understanding and industry knowledge helps clients and candidates
alike to trust that I really know what I’m doing.
Any tricks of the trade?
The
one thing that recruiters don’t always do that they should is learn how to
build genuine relationships with people. That’s what helps you stand out against
other recruiters. For example, when you take the time to develop a relationship
with a candidate, it could span many months or even years. You could end up
helping them climb their own career ladder as someone they trust and genuinely
want to continue working with.
It’s
the same with clients. ProClinical trains you to understand that the services
we offer are a ‘value-add’ to their business, instead of a financial drain or a
necessary evil. We’re taught to add the knowledge, experience and resources
that the company doesn’t have, helping them to reach their goals more
efficiently. So basically, grasping that recruitment is about good
communication, striking up genuine relationships and being extremely organised
will set you apart from the competition.
Any advice to life science students/graduates considering recruitment?
I
really recommend it. I chose recruitment not because I didn’t have a passion
for science anymore, but because it was a balance of everything for me. A
varied, challenging job that kept me close (much closer than I thought) to the
industry I was interested in. As I’ve progressed, I’ve actually felt more
immersed in the industry than I did when I was doing lab work. For example, I
recently went to Iceland to visit a client’s manufacturing facility to see how
their drugs are developed.
Recruitment
is challenging but I’d choose it again every time because what you get back in
return for your hard work far surpasses what I could expect working in
industry.
Are you currently studying or have recently graduated with a life science degree?
Whether you dream of making a difference to people's lives, climbing the career ladder or having the opportunity to travel or relocate abroad, we can get you there. We provide real opportunities for consultants to progress and an excellent training and development programme to help boost you up the career ladder. Whether you dream of contributing to medical research or taking on leadership responsibility, you’ll have everything you need to make an impact.
Think you've got what it takes to be a successful life sciences recruitment consultant? Find out more.
About ProClinical:
ProClinical is a leading international life sciences consultancy that helps experienced professionals find contract and permanent jobs, and provides life science companies with a range of solutions to fix business critical needs. Our clients include leading global brands and smaller emerging companies within pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and clinical research.
