Experience

"At graduate level, if applicants fail interview on skills grounds these usually fall into a couple of technical categories - a lack of knowledge and understanding of the basics of their discipline or a lack of practical experience and application. For this reason most recruits at graduate level have done an Industrial Trainee year or a practical research based masters or at least a summer placement" (Pfizer, April 2007)

Undergraduates, particularly those considering working in industrial research and development, should be encouraged to do an industrial placement (if offered) or to use other opportunities to gain sustantial experience of practical science.

Applications for industrial placements are sometimes invited through company websites. Closing dates for applications may be as early as mid October for a placement commencing the following summer. Information on companies that offer placements can be found in the Pharmaceutical recruiters section of this site.