As a contractor in the pharmaceutical industry you are presented with a number of opportunities. Contracting is sometimes a short stop gap for a number of people but for others it si a career choice because it offers:

Flexibility - There are sometimes opportunities to work on projects remotely or at times that are more convenient to you (not always). Flexibility is often cited as one of the main reasons people work on contract

Experience life working in a range of different environment – As a permanent member of staff you can sometimes find that you are going to the same place every day and after a number of years begin to feel that you know the company very well but perhaps may be loosing some of your skills so working in more than one environment can sometimes put you out of your comfort zone and keeps your skills up to date

Money - Contracting in the pharmaceutical industry can be very lucrative and many contractors work on this basis purely to increase their earnings potential

Home working – Some contract roles lend themselves well to working from home or remote working. So if you have made a life style choice to work from home, contracting may suit you well. Jobs that are available to work remotely are more likely to be Medical Writing jobs or field based Clinical Research Associate jobs

Experience - Contracting may give you experience dealing with different people in different places and different therapy areas. Contracting offers a unique opportunity to get a broad range of experience arguably more quickly than you would do in a permanent position

Different countries - Contracting in the pharmaceutical industry has one of the added benefits that English is often used as the common language. His means that contracting in pharma can open up more opportunities to work in other countries than some other industries or careers

Politics - Some contractors say that as an interim member of staff they find it easier to stay out of office politics. Something they find very refreshing

Project based - If you are task or assignment driven working as a contractor in pharma offers opportunities to work on specific projects with defined end points. This means that you have the chance to get involved in something tangible where you can complete a project before moving on a new opportunity.

Entry level – Some contract opportunities offer valuable experience at the entry level to working in different disciplines such as regulatory affairs, clinical research and medical information. When permanent opportunities do not give the chance to new entrants sometimes contract jobs will

Short term availability - There may be times that you are available for a limited period of time, contracting can offer you the opportunity to work for the time you have available.

Rewarded for results – Working as a permanent member of staff, there are occasions that you may feel that you are not rewarded for your efforts. As a contractor you are often paid on either a project or a time and materials basis as a result you are directly rewarded for your input and achievements

Expert recognition – As a contractor in the pharmaceutical industry you are recruited for your expertise and your specialist knowledge to enable you to complete your project. As such you are recognised as an expert in your field and are given the respect and responsibility you deserve

If you are interested in working as a contractor in the pharmaceutical industry, please contact the CK Clinical team on +44 (0)1438743047 or search our current jobs.