In this series, ex-government contract pharmacists share their experiences in transitioning to the private sector in Malaysia. This article focuses on the pharmaceutical industry.

3 ex-government contract pharmacists. 3 different roles. 3 unique journeys to venture into the pharmaceutical industry.

All writers have requested anonymity. It is our hope that the reader will be encouraged by their stories of resilience, adaptability, and hope in the midst of uncertainty.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. Tell us a little bit about your career background.

A: I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy in July 2018, before being a PRP in October 2018. I did my PRP at a hospital and successfully completed the one-year module in September 2019. After completing my PRP, I was posted back to the same hospital and served as a clinical pharmacist. 3 years of service later, I decided to venture into the private sector where I landed my current role in pharmaceutical market access.

B: I started my pharmacy career with KKM, where I completed my PRP in the hospital setting and did my FRP in the clinic setting. After I completed my 2-year contract with KKM, I moved to the pharmaceutical industry where I am currently working as a product specialist.

C: I was a KKM contract pharmacist upon graduation. I completed my PRP in the hospital setting and proceeded with FRP in the clinic setting. I left KKM after 2 years + when I received a new job opportunity in regulatory affairs.

2. How did you prepare for opportunities in the private sector?

A: Initially, I only considered pharmacist roles in the private hospital or community pharmacy settings due to limited exposure to private opportunities. My job hunt began with browsing through job platforms (JobStreet, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc). It wasn’t long before I found myself considering other roles which require pharmacy expertise. Here are some of the tips I can share for this stage:

i. Be open to different opportunities

Unless you are very clear on your desired path (I wasn’t initially), one suggestion would be to keep your options open and spend time researching new job titles that you come across, including their requirements, key responsibilities, and opportunities for professional development. After some thorough research and thinking, I found myself leaning towards roles in the pharmaceutical industry.

ii. Connect and ask

Learn more about roles of interest by speaking to connections who are involved in the role or sector itself. This approach gave me more insight into real-life scenarios and expectations which were useful in deciding the path that I wanted to pursue.

iii. Optimize resume

For someone with experience only in hospital pharmacy, the job search process in order to venture into the pharmaceutical industry was truly challenging, especially when most positions require prior industry experience.

As a job seeker, the immediate goal was to land interview opportunities. For each job application, the resume should be tailored to address the key requirements of the position applied to increase the chances of being called for interviews.

iv. Ask and reflect

Before I was accepted into my current organization, I attended multiple phone screenings and virtual interviews. Those were key opportunities to enquire about the roles which I applied for, where I learned further about the day-to-day responsibilities, cultures, work environment, and in some instances, even the range of salary offered. I also made sure to ask for feedback from interviewers at the end of interview sessions to gauge my performance and reflect on improvements required for future interviews.

B: Asking around! It may seem awkward at first to ask for insight, but it is the best way to find out more about a job or field you are not familiar with yet. Getting perspective and insight from people who have experience in the field will tell you a lot more than a Google search or YouTube video. Ultimately, finding out more about the opportunities will help you be more confident with the career choices you will have to make.

C: I prepared for interviews by watching Youtube videos (I find Linda Raynier’s videos particularly helpful!) and attended interview and resume workshops by Patrick Tan. Although the additional paid workshops are not necessary with tons of resources online, I found them helpful to condense actionable tips in a single workshop session.

Besides that, I started to spend more time on LinkedIn updating my profile and networking with others on the platform. I learnt a lot from the wealth of advice and also gained interdisciplinary friends along the way. LinkedIn was also where I first connected with the recruiter of my current organization.

Additionally, it was on LinkedIn that I managed to seek the perspective of a senior in the role I am interested in pursuing, which was one of the key events affirming my interest and strength in that area. I also set job alerts on LinkedIn and Google for the particular roles that I was considering, so that I can apply as soon as a new opportunity emerged.

3. What did you learn transitioning from government to private sector?

A: I believe the biggest difference is the work culture. In the government hospital, I didn’t feel alone as there are colleagues who share the same job scope and we’re all in this together. There’s also more work-life balance as I rarely need to bring work home. Thus, my experience in the government setting has been mostly carefree.

Meanwhile, in the private sector, one is required to deliver and meet expectations regardless of experience or status. It requires one to be more independent in managing tasks and workload, and the work style is more administrative.

Most of my communications are now exchanged via emails or chats versus face-to-face interactions when I was serving in KKM. Working hours have been slightly longer than when I was with KKM, but I believe it varies for everyone depending on the job scope and work requirements.

Since I transitioned from one field to another, I’m also aware that it’s a steep learning curve ahead, but the challenges that I’ve encountered so far have enabled me to learn and develop myself both personally and professionally.

B: There are more enforced expectations from superiors in the private sector compared to the government sector. With that said, greater efforts are also accompanied by greater rewards and recognition.

C: The main difference is the work culture. In the government sector, the vibe is generally more laid back, whereas the private sector is driven by productivity that contributes to company profitability. Work-life balance is easier to achieve with the government sector as work cannot be brought home, while it is not as easy to maintain a clear separation in the private sector.

In the private sector, efficiency is a must and not a nice-to-have. As a result, everyone strives for the same level of efficiency to get work done. Besides that, there are ample opportunities for professional growth in the private sector as self-learning is actively encouraged. Additionally, I have frequent meetings with my manager to discuss issues as they arise, which is also an avenue to discuss and plan career advancement.

As I had no prior experience in this field, it was humbling to start from scratch again. It was a steep learning curve, however, I am grateful for supportive seniors and colleagues who enabled me to grow to be where I am today.

4. What is your advice for contract pharmacists who wish to transition to this field?

A: My advice is to not limit your choices and always be open to exploring other roles. Opportunities for career advancement should definitely be an important criterion to consider when making a decision.

Whenever in doubt, ask for advice and opinions from those with experience. Career transition is a huge step, but always believe greater things await and never give up.

B: Don’t be afraid of the change. It may seem daunting at first to step into an entirely new field but you’ll learn to love the experiences and growth that come with it. Rest assured that even though the private sector may appear to be very different from public healthcare, you will still be able to find opportunities to serve the community.

C: If you are afraid to venture into the industry because it’s different from government clinical settings, rest assured that it’s okay to start over from scratch, as long as you have assessed the opportunity and are willing to put in the effort to learn.

Although most of these openings state prior industry experience is required, there are employers who are willing to take a chance on you if you show potential to shine, even if you do not have the required experience. Focus on highlighting what you can offer and the transferable skills in your cover letter and during the interview.

Be open and research the opportunities available out there, even if you have dismissed them previously. At the end of the day, your career path is entirely up to you, and you’re free to define success on your own terms.

The opinions expressed in the article are the writers’ own and do not reflect the view of MPS YPC.

Cover photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash