How I landed my first MSL role... what works, what doesn't, and what you need to know

In this episode, Julie Chen shares her journey and insights into the MSL role, emphasizing the importance of confidence, preparation, and overcoming challenges in the job search. She discusses strategies for tailoring CVs, leveraging mentorship, and building essential skills for aspiring MSLs. Julie highlights the significance of networking and managing job search frustrations while offering advice on interview preparation and the necessity of attention to detail. The episode concludes with Julie's reflections and gratitude, followed by a call to action for listeners to engage with the content.

My guest today is Julie Chen, Medical Science Liaison at Janssen Cardiology. We discuss how she landed her first MSL role and what advice she has for aspiring MSLs looking to break into the role.

In this episode we discuss:

• Julie’s background


• Why she wanted to be an MSL


• The story of her job search


• Steps she took to initiate her search and what worked well


• The challenges she faced


• Her mentors/coaches


• Absolute MUSTs for anyone seeking to land an MSL role


• Overcoming frustrations


• The advice she can offer and what else aspiring MSLs should keep in mind

(0:00) Introduction and Background of Julie Chen
(3:08) Julie's Motivation and Understanding of the MSL Role
(7:09) Job Search: Confidence, Preparation, and Challenges
(15:01) Tailoring CVs and Leveraging Mentors
(21:52) Advice and Skill Building for Aspiring MSLs
(24:29) Networking and Handling Job Search Frustration
(29:31) Interview Preparation: Thinking Like an MSL
(32:09) The Importance of Attention to Detail
(34:19) Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude
(36:09) Closing Remarks and Call to Action