Hi everyone, my name is Inshiya. I'm a medical affairs graduate. I work across oncology therapy areas and I'm currently in my first year of a 2-year rotational program. Hi, my name is Nina and I'm also a first-year graduate in medical affairs. However, I work within the governance and process assurance team. My role focuses on making sure our medical and commercial products are compliant, well-governed, and aligned with internal processes and external regulations.

On a daily basis, I work across teams to review processes, identify risks, and improve how we operate, which ultimately supports patient safety and trust in the products that we provide. As a graduate, I get involved in projects like stakeholder mapping, conference planning, and supporting the team to deliver on key initiatives.

I hold an MPharm, which means I'm a qualified pharmacist. I studied at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, which is where I grew up. Throughout university, I was lucky to gain experiences within all the sectors of pharmacy, whether that was a part-time job in community, my internship in the pharmaceutical industry or my pre-registration year in hospital. This has given me a well-rounded skill set and a good insight into all the different roles a pharmacist can play. The skills and experiences I've gained, especially developing empathy for patients and understanding their struggles, has shaped me into a better professional. I'm a GPHC pharmacist with an MPharm degree from the University of Portsmouth. Before my role in industry, I worked and trained in community pharmacy which helped me build a strong foundation in healthcare systems, medicines optimisation, and patient communication. Additionally, I've also had experience in medical writing and research, which has really helped my skills in critical appraisal and data interpretation, skills I use everyday in my current role.

I've always gravitated towards roles where science can have a direct and meaningful impact on patients lives. And I knew I wanted my contribution to go beyond the counter. To be honest, initially I was unsure about how I could achieve that. But as I researched, I realised that the pharmaceutical industry offers the perfect balance between clinical expertise and making real-world decisions. Here innovation truly drives improvements in public health. Another aspect that really attracted me was the collaborative nature of the industry and there's always a constant flow of ideas and learning. Whether you're working with data analysts, policy experts, or colleagues from another discipline, it's an environment where you can grow professionally while making a significant difference. The pharmaceutical industry appealed to me because it allows me to make a difference for patients in a way that's different from the traditional patient-facing role. I really enjoy collaborating with colleagues on projects and thinking creatively. And I first noticed this during my internship on a manufacturing site in Ireland. The experience gave me valuable insights and transferable skills that I use in my current role. I really like working with others to improve patient outcomes and so this role feels like a great fit for both my personality and my passions.

Our employer is really supportive in our roles. Being on a graduate program means I can upskill and learn about all the different areas within medical affairs. I'm encouraged to share my ideas and opinions and projects and team meetings and I've been able to take on new opportunities as they come up. It's a very open environment, not just with my manager, but with the wider team and department, too. Like Inshiya said, the culture is genuinely inclusive and open. I'm encouraged to take ownership of my work. My input is valued, and there's a real commitment to helping graduates build both technical and transferable skills. It feels like an environment where people are actually invested in your growth, not just during the graduate scheme, but um as you move forward in your career. One thing I've especially valued is the ability to work on projects with other functions which keeps the role interesting and gives you exposure to different parts of the business.

Honestly, my biggest piece of advice would be to stay curious and leave an open mind, but also remember the importance of resilience. The pharmaceutical industry covers a huge range of roles and functions, some of which you might not have heard of in university. So, it's important to explore to see what's available. For me, being curious was the key to landing my role. I found that by chatting to people who were already in the industry and building both technical and transferable skills um outside of my immediate role as a clinical pharmacist really helped me figure out where I might fit in. To echo Nina, the industry is really broad with so many different roles available. With the growing focus on AI and utilising digital tools, I think even more jobs will open up in the future. I'd also encourage anyone considering a career in the industry to research the different roles available out there and to network with people already working in the job to understand what it actually involves and to see whether that aligns with your interests. You don't need a perfectly linear career path. What matters is showing that you are interested, adaptable, and genuinely curious about how you want to make an impact. Will we after I say it, will we because we have to do the 5 seconds. Would you do 5 seconds and smile at the camera? Yeah. Okay. But not in like a weird way. Okay.

So, don't be afraid to take up space, ask questions, and show curiosity.

It's just so funny!

Hi, I'm Ava and I am a marketing and operations placement student at Bayer.

I've been with Bayer for the past 6 months, so since September [2025], and I only have a year on this scheme, so I'm trying to utilise all the opportunities and time that I have left, which is what I'd recommend to any placement student, graduate or apprentice.

So starting with my A levels, I did biology, maths and philosophy and then from there I chose to do a bachelor's degree in biology at the University of Bath, which I thoroughly enjoy. I'm currently in my third year doing my placement year and then next year I go back in September to my final year.

Outside of sort of education, I've worked in hospitality and retail since I was 16. I've had the privilege of working with the NHS in the genetics department for work experience, quite a number of times.

For someone seeking a role within the pharmaceutical industry and a career, I would say that the main thing to remember is that your first role might not necessarily be what you think. And that's okay because it will teach you what you don't like versus what you do like. And it's very easy to move around with in the industry once you're into it. So don't feel that you need to know exactly what you want to do. And also there's a stipulation sometimes that you have to have had a STEM degree or some sort of involvement in science, but there's so many roles within it that don't require scientific background.

Hi, my name is Savannah. I'm currently working as a part of the customer solutions team at Bayer, aiming to achieve a level three business administration apprenticeship.

As the customer solutions apprentice, my typical day will usually involve processing orders, responding to any customer queries through the phone or through email, and making sure to process any credits or returns.

As the regulations and the guidelines in the UK are really strict for pharmaceutical companies, I mostly work as a team to make sure we adhere to these guidelines. My team, the customer solutions team, fits into the bigger team called the one team, which is made up of all the teams as a part of the supply chain, making sure that we have good communication with each other and so that customer satisfaction needs are met. We also work really heavily with our 3PL, making sure that if there's any ever errors or discrepancies with any orders, we make sure to follow the strict guidelines and processes that are in place.

Being an apprentice means that I'm naturally allocated 20% of my working week to be put towards learning hours or college hours. My employer and my team really support this as they give me time to allocate for myself to make sure that those expectations are met. My employer also really encourages anyone to take part in any extra projects or workshops whether that be internal or external. For example, at the minute me and some of the other people from the early careers cohort are taking part in a STEM project that's internal. I also have regular meetings with any mentors and managers to make sure that I am up to date with all my work and to make sure that I'm supported in my role.

One piece of advice I'd give to someone seeking a career in the pharma industry is that you don't need to be really STEM oriented to take part in it. Many big pharmaceutical companies and even small ones will have their own team such as any other business like the sales team, marketing team, customer solutions team. For example, me in my role, I am not STEM oriented at all, but I'm still a key part of the pharmaceutical industry.