Sharpen Your Skill-Sets for a Career in Clinical Research

Acquiring skill-sets are like owning special tool-kitsto help you go those extra miles and reach your dream career goal. If you are looking to either grab your most sought-after job, sustain the tremendous competition that prevails in it, or achieve therequired growth,then it is the skill-sets that pave the way!

A skill is the ability to do a task through training, experience, or practice. Skills could be broadly two types; hard and soft.

Hard Skills:

The key traits of hard skills are that they are:

• Industry/job specific
• Learned through training
• Based on technical knowledge

Hard skills can be gained through specific training programs. For instance, a training program in ‘clinical research’ can provide a strong foundation to support one’s qualification through training in basics of:

• Clinical research
• Clinical data management
• Pharmacovigilance, or
• Medical writing.

Students beginning a career in healthcare administration must possess an array of professional and management skills,in addition to a strong understanding in the field of healthcare. Proficient ‘computer skills’ are a prime example of an essential tool for healthcare. These include computer-centric skills such as:

• Word processing
• Graphics and presentation using operating systems
• Spreadsheet analysis
• Email etiquette
• Downloadingof appropriate information
• Knowledge of databases

Soft Skills:

Soft skills on the other hand enable a person to interact effectively and harmoniously in the work environment. They are hence never to be undermined. These include:

• Effective communication through speaking, listening and body language
• Spirit of teamwork
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving ability
• Time management
• Leadership qualities, and the like.

Skills make you more confident during interviews and make your resumes, cover letters, and job applications stronger. The bottom line is to continually assess your skills at all phases of your career.

The one resolution that can make every other skill set fruitful is the most powerful act of ‘practice’!

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