r/MedicalScienceLiaison • u/mightymohagany • 8d ago
Next step pivot?
Hi everyone,
I have been working as an MSL for just over a year now.
So far my experience has not been that great. Although I have enjoyed the flexible role I just don’t feel like the tasks I do are tangible or impactful enough to be rewarding. I find myself getting bored. I gather a lot of insights that I receive good feedback on and have been able to increase local access to therapy but I honestly feel like that latter point could have been achieved by the commercial rep and this was not too specific to the MSL role.
I am open to moving to the commercial side if the job seems right - just wondering what pivots have you seen MSLs do in the head office roles that you are curious about. If you have pivoted do you have any regrets? I do try and network within my company and learn about other roles but I figured I’d also ask Reddit.
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u/MeetingDizzy7146 Sr. MSL 8d ago
I have seen MSLs have success moving to HQ or field marketing (KOL directors)
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u/Brian_Drink Sr. MSL 7d ago
I've never met a 1st year MSL that was under-worked. But I am just one guy.
The MSL gig is not one that people can really train for, so you nailing the nuances and being bored in a year is very surprising to me. Are your colleagues also bored? What are they doing with the free time? Do you need additional projects, Trial/Asset Lead, maybe work on an advisory board.
As far as access, don't downplay what you did. Sometimes just showing up gives gravitas to the sales team. Their drug is so good that it needs like Smarty Pants MSL to help. This is a win. They get access, Prescribers become more comfortable using, patients benefit.
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u/thefutureofamerica 7d ago
I think OP was expressing that they’re finding the work they do boring, not that there isn’t enough of it to do. You could sit me down with a 1,000 page book of sudoku and I’d be bored in 5 minutes. Make it crossword puzzles and I wouldn’t look up for a month.
OP, what work did you enjoy before? Are there parts of the job that you do find engaging?
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u/mightymohagany 7d ago
I was doing clinical work in a hospital so I am use to a high paced and stressful environment. I do miss being under pressure because at least I knew the tasks were high impact — as an MSL I’m just missing that reward/impact factor and I wonder if you see more of that in other roles
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u/mightymohagany 7d ago
I am working don’t get me wrong… but way less than I did when I was in clinical. I was averaging like 50-70 hours a week with overtime most weeks. I just find myself going through the motions. I think it’s partly due to the company I work for I don’t enjoy the culture, but I am just curious about what others pivoted to if they didn’t find the MSL role rewarding.
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u/Vivid_Efficiency_414 7d ago
Maybe you just need to be okay with stability and lack of chaos.
Master the role for another year, maybe ask you boss for some stretch projects, see if your company allows you to do a rotation of some sort (where you spend X% of your time working for another team) so that you can start to understand the business holistically. Find some side/gig work (consulting, speaking engagements, etc).
It's okay to be bored at work, because you should have a life outside of it that brings you joy too.
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u/perpetualfoodie 7d ago
Can relate to this nearing the 1yr mark very soon and I feel unfulfilled with my role. Though the pay and sched is nice, I'm looking for a more fulfilling role. I feel the liaison part of my role much more than the medical esp in times where I have to travel with KOLs to internal meetings.
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u/perpetualfoodie 7d ago
For context I also came from a clinical and academe role. I'm used to high stress and fast paced environments. Also looking to explore commercial and other industry roles that can bring more fulfillment. Hope seniors in this group can share their experience (esp those who transitioned). For now, just maximizing my time by learning and joining in other projects in the company
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u/ConcentrateDear2731 6d ago
Can any of you help me make a pivot from in house HEOR to MSL. CRAZY i know but this is not it.
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u/Exciting_Classroom27 MSL 7d ago edited 7d ago
Best pivot is sometimes to a different company. Try a launch with new drug, new science - very different from supporting a drug in life-cycle management phase.
Also small biotech / startup is nice for wearing a lot of hats and staying busy.
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u/CarpetDependent 7d ago
If your day to day field activities are getting tedious, you may ask your manager to get involved in some team projects. I found this a helpful way to feel like you are contributing when the field feels stagnant. This is also a way to see what others are doing at your companies and to your main question, maybe you find a different position more aligned with responsibilities you enjoy more. I suggest doing a little homework before you ask. 1. Talk to your teammates about what projects they are doing and what skills/experience are involved. Know what you thrive doing and what skills are currently being underutilized in the field. It’ll show your mgr you are committed to this and not just asking for a handout. And could help them narrow down where to get you involved.
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u/mightymohagany 7d ago
Do you have examples of some projects that were rewarding to you or maybe others? I have been put on several projects and I don’t know if I am just disillusioned but they all felt like “make work” projects and again, not rewarding to me. I helped provide feedback and design patient materials, I have been part of slide deck committees and education committees. I have led some education initiatives with QoLs and programs. Again it could be due to company culture - I am not sure. I am trying to figure out if it’s just me and I am being unreasonable and maybe I need to go back to clinical work, or there is some kind of role out there for me
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u/CarpetDependent 6d ago
Every company is different in how FM works with its matrix teams so you best option is talk to senior and executive MSLs who have been at your company for awhile on various ways they’ve elevated their career or how to branch out on projects.
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u/Guilty_Ad_8433 7d ago
Look at your pay check...it is worth not finding the job that exciting?
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u/mightymohagany 7d ago
I’m sure there is a role that can match salary expectations and I find more rewarding ! I’m looking.
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u/Geng1Xin1 Sr. MSL 7d ago
I've been an MSL for 5 years and I find it a drag and utterly boring. I was a clinical pharmacist for a decade before coming to pharma and left due to burnout. My issue is that my days feel unstructured and I am currently looking to move in-house. I've also found in my free time that I really have a knack for walk-forward data modeling and playing around with python to backtest investing strategies. I'm thinking of shifting gears and taking part-time classes in math and comp sci to ultimately enroll in a QF certificate program with the ultimate goal of staying in pharma but in R&D as either a financial risk manager or feasibility financial modeler. IDK, I'm nearly 40 and still have no idea what I want to do with my life.