Pharmaceutical industry has myriad career options for those who love to work in the health care and drug manufacturing sector. Being a great combination of health science, chemical science and patient care, the career options give the individuals the leverage to practice on their own with a license, or to work under the various pharmaceutical companies, hospitals or drug stores. Like every other job, the career options in the pharmaceutical industry also require excellence in the field and the proper mindset to undertake the roles. Some roles are challenging whereas others are easy to handle. The careers offer lucrative pay packages and with thorough research, you can also choose the one that suits your likes.
Below listed are the 6 most favorable of the pharmaceutical career options.
Pharmacist
This is one of the most common of the pharmaceutical jobs. The prime role of a pharmacist is to dispense the prescribed medicines to the patients and to help them understand the doctor’s prescribed dose and the aftereffects of the medicine. A pharmacist can be employed in hospitals, drug stores, pharmaceutical industries, and could also involve in the development of new medicines. Those working as regulatory pharmacists in government organizations ensure that the medicines submitted by the pharmaceutical companies are safe to consume or use. The profession is ideal for those who are looking for a career in rendering health care to patients. To qualify yourself to become a pharmacist, you must hold a degree in pharmacy and a license to practice the profession. With experience and excellent record-keeping, you could become a pharmacist in one of the leading pharmaceutical companies. The average annual salary for a pharmacist is $104, 000.
Pharmacy technician
They are usually employed in hospitals, drug stores, etc. The duties of a pharmacy technician include pricing, filling, receiving and verifying prescriptions, preparing the prescribed medicines once the approval from the pharmacist is obtained, undertaking paperwork such as insurance claims, and supervising inventory and medical stocks. To be a pharmacy technician, you must possess a high school diploma along with pharmacy technician certifications from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Institute of Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT). Candidates possessing excellent communication and customer service skills are found to get jobs easily. The average annual salary of a pharmacy technician is $43,000.
Pharmaceutical sales representative
Though the job involves a lot of traveling, the profile of a pharmaceutical sales representative is an impressive one. The prime responsibilities of pharmaceutical sales representatives include coordinating with doctors, pharmacists and administrators in the health industry, and introduce and leave samples of the new medicines developed at the company they represent. The job has a sales perspective and only the ones with the best negotiation skills can excel and grow in the career. Apart from the negotiation skills, excellent social and communication skills are a plus. A successful pharmaceutical sales representative will be always updated on the frequent developments in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. To be a pharmaceutical sales representative, one must possess a bachelor’s degree in any of the science disciplines, along with relevant work experience. Once you have your degree you may want to work with a medical sales recruiting company to help you get a job faster. The average annual salary of a pharmaceutical sales representative is $82,000.
Cosmetic chemist
Another one of the most impressive and interesting career options in the pharmaceutical industry is that of a cosmetic chemist. Though the responsibilities of a cosmetic chemist primarily revolve around body, skin and hair care. The job is very challenging. Cosmetic chemists are usually involved in projects involving clinical research, cosmetic development, ingredient testing and quality control of products. Due to this, cosmetic chemists are usually considered as scientists. To become a cosmetic chemist, you must possess a degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology or chemical engineering. The candidates must also possess good laboratory skills, and a prior exposure to the cosmetic industry is a plus. Those who are updated on the public trends and market influences could grab the best jobs in the industry. The average annual salary of a cosmetic chemist is $58,000.
Pharmaceutical research scientist
One more challenging and most ambitious job in the pharmaceutical industry is that of a pharmaceutical research scientist. The responsibilities of a pharmaceutical research scientist include researching how a drug undergoes absorption, metabolism, and excretion inside the body. The other major responsibilities of a pharmaceutical research scientist include developing groundbreaking techniques in preparing and dispensing drugs, and specification of drug dosage. To become a pharmaceutical research scientist, a graduate degree in pharmacy is a must. Apart from that, you must possess at least 4 years experience and license as a pharmacist. Additionally, you must also possess excellent analytical, laboratory and communication skills. The average annual salary of a pharmaceutical research scientist is $89,000. The figure changes with respect to the individual’s experience in the field, expertise, sub-industry working for, and the geographical area.
Pharmacy director
This is the most prestigious and the top most of all the pharmaceutical jobs. Being the head of all the pharmaceutical professionals and operations, the duties of a pharmacy director involve the planning, budgeting and supervision of pharmaceutical projects. The director must also motivate the staff working under him, and he must see to it that all the operations adhere to the industry’s regulatory requirements. The name itself suggests that the position is the top most of the pharmaceutical careers, and hence the position is achieved through experience and expertise. As a foundation to the role, one must possess a graduate degree in pharmacy and a license to practice pharmacy. Only those who possess five to ten years of experience in pharmacy management are eligible to be a pharmacy directors. The role also demands excellent communication skills, leadership skills, and expertise in computer operations. The average annual salary of a pharmacy director is $106,000.
