Many people think that career development requires a lot of planning and time outside of our regular jobs. Indeed, that's the case for some activities - like earning a certificate or degree. However, most career development could be done as on-the-job responsibilities. This is a good perspective to stress because many of us have incredibly busy schedules working in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Career development when you’re just too busy
A few months ago, I attended a virtual Working Mom’s Lunch and Learn at work. What many of us working moms had in common was that career advancement during this pandemic felt unattainable. How are we supposed to do career development when we’re just too busy and beyond burned out?
At the Working Mom’s Lunch and Learn, my coworker moms shared tips with each other. These included how to talk with our managers about our workloads and how to occupy the kids during the weekends. At the end of the Working Mom’s Lunch and Learn, one coworker mom shared an observation that stuck with me.
She said, “You might not have the bandwidth to plan big career moves or take on high-commitment, time-consuming activities right now. But you’re likely doing career development activities already as part of your work that you don’t even realize.” Some of the activities she cited included attending or presenting at department seminars and mentoring junior people in your group.
She went on to advise us, “At the end of each week, review your calendar. Take note of anything that is beyond the basic ‘just getting your work done’ because those activities likely count as career development.”
I really liked her advice. Making a list of these activities helps us recognize that we’re actually continuing to grow our careers in different ways. In fact, career advancement is not always about climbing the ladder. These small incremental steps are often just as important as making big leaps.
Career development activities you might already be doing
Here are 7 ideas for the type of career development activities you might already be doing. Some might be commitments that you already have. Others might take a little bit of tweaking to get the most impact for your efforts.
1. Training
Is your employer requiring that you complete seemingly endless hours of training on various regulations like GCP and GVP? Excellent. You can now consider yourself knowledgeable on some of the important regulations that govern how the pharmaceutical industry works.
2. Presentations
Are you on the rotating agenda for presenting at your department or group seminar? Have you been “voluntold” to share a project update at the quarterly site meeting? Great! This is an opportunity to work on your public speaking skills. Plus, you'll hone your acumen for thinking on your feet when people ask you questions after your presentation.
3. Webinars
Are there company or professional association webinars that you regularly attend to learn the cutting edge information in your field? Maybe virtual journal clubs? Is your company getting on the bandwagon and providing Diversity & Inclusion training? Perfect. Firstly, if you’re attending these sessions, count yourself as someone who loves learning and staying current in your area of expertise. Secondly, you're working on becoming a more culturally sensitive employee.
4. Mentoring
Has the newbie or junior scientist in your group asked to meet with you? Maybe s/he wants to pick your brain on best practices and how to succeed at your company. No doubt, you have a few useful tidbits to share with this person. While this might just be a short-term, one-time mentoring situation, it could very well turn into a longer-term relationship that is beneficial for both of you.
5. Ask for feedback
Maybe getting feedback from your teammates or stakeholders is already part of your annual performance review. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to ask them informally for regular feedback on how you’re doing. Subsequently, there are no surprises at the end of the year. Of course, be sure to document the positive feedback and share with your manager!
6. Networking
Is influencing without authority part of your job because you work on cross-functional teams? Each team member is part of your professional network, so connect with them on LinkedIn. It might even make sense to meet with them regularly as part of your job. Therefore, use those opportunities to build strong professional relationships. They may also be your window into how different parts of your organization works.
7. Strengthen strategic prioritization by saying “No, but…”
Many of us have more on our plates than humanly possible to accomplish. Even if you have a manageable task list, it’s still important to prioritize. Therefore, sometimes, we have to say “No” to requests. These are opportunities to strengthen your strategic thinking. It's always good practice to link every request with your company’s goals or your team's targets. Use the “No, but…” when you’re able to creatively suggest alternative solutions or revisit the prioritization later.
Last words
Earlier in the year, I wrote a career strategy checklist for 2021. Have I gone through the checklist yet myself? Hah, no. Somehow, getting over the hurdle of updating my resume just seems too much right now, let alone thinking about whether to get an MBA!
What are my excuses? Well, I started a new position at work. That meant taking on the responsibilities of two predecessors and learning a different therapeutic area. Plus, taking care of my family and house has been all-consuming. This is in addition to feeling depleted from the pandemic.
Therefore, my coworker mom’s advice about taking an account each week of my current activities at work is the most practical thing I can do right now. I realized that I increased my professional network at work when I joined the teams in my new therapeutic area. Plus, my manager suggested and expressed enthusiasm that I could coach and mentor the junior scientists in the group. My increased workload may require that I practice project management skills and learn how to say "no" and to delegate tasks. All of this is on-the-job career development!
What are you doing as your on-the-job career development?