Scientists and researchers who want high-level clinical research jobs need to take the right approach to jobs early in their careers. The pressures of clinical research along with international competition for these jobs make deliberate career planning necessary for any professional. There are a few steps that can help clinical research aspirants of all ages find their dream jobs in a timely manner.

A clinical researcher should not shy away from non-profit work early in her career to gain appreciation for private and government jobs. Advocacy groups who conduct clinical research offer jobs to young scientists with commitments to public service and sound science. The sacrifice of lucrative salaries in favour of assisting an independent research group find methods of fighting cancer will help you develop an ethical compass during your career.

Every researcher should work with an established scientist in the first few years of a career to learn the subtleties of clinical research jobs. The earnest and often frank advice of a veteran scientist who has worked multiple jobs in the past will inform your approach to clinical research jobs. It is important to select a senior scientist in your early career with a personality and teaching style that match your approach to clinical research. The value of a mentor/protégée relationship rests on sober expectations and ground rules that make both sides feel comfortable.

The time spent on journal articles should be considered an investment in career advancement as well as intellectual enlightenment. Some of the greatest feats in clinical research have arisen from obscure journal articles that build on years of hard work. You can collaborate with other scientists to promote a series of findings that extend beyond your clinical research experiences. Every clinical researcher needs to publish individual articles to break away from “group think” and develop a written voice that will impress experienced scientists.

One of the best ways to show off clinical research skills is attendance at national and international conferences. The presentation of your findings in front of an audience of your peers can bring life to raw data and dense pages of information. Your career as a clinical researcher can take off quickly in a few months by networking at national and international conferences. These conferences also give clinical researchers an opportunity to learn about government initiatives, college programmes and private investments in research that lead to new jobs.

An ideal option for people who wish to build a solid career in the medical field, the clinical research associate profession brings many financial benefits and also a set of personal satisfactions, allowing practitioners to sustain their professional activity for the benefits of the community. Apart from the main function of monitoring clinical trials, the clinical research associate profession involves a wide variety of roles, such as verifying clinical site activities, making regular on site visits, reviewing and checking the accuracy of case report forms, as well as permanently interacting with clinical research investigators, all activities having to respect the imposed clinical protocols and good clinical practice guidelines.

It is important to note that the clinical research associate profession involves a lot of responsibility and dedication, rendering a long-term career in the branch quite demanding. However, clinical research associates have the opportunity to work in a clean and structured environment, to permanently interact with people and to ensure the protection of the rights, safety, health and well-being of human study subjects that participate in clinical trials.

The basic role of a clinical research associate, also referred to as a monitor, is to supervise the entire progress of clinical trials, initiated and conducted by physicians at hospitals, clinics, physician's offices and other medical establishments. Apart from being responsible for the health and well-being of clinical study participants, clinical research associates have to ensure the accuracy, quality and integrity of the scientific data collected during trials. The extensive set of roles and duties characteristic to practicing clinical research associates include ensuring that the physicians respect good clinical practices and study protocols, checking the required documentation for each study participant, ensuring that all side-effects and adverse physical responses are appropriately reported and filed and ensuring the proper filing of various regulatory documents.

Clinical research associates are generally employed by pharmaceutical companies, medical research organizations and other institutions in the medical field. The profession involves a lot of field work, practitioners having to visit various sites and to maintain permanent connection with clinical study coordinators and investigators.

Persons who wish to follow the career of clinical research associate attend rigorous training programs to show good practical, decisional and communicational skills in the process. All persons who possess the skills and abilities required by the clinical research associate profession can easily obtain the proper training by attending clinical research associate training programs, regardless of their previous level of experience in the medical field.

Official clinical research training programs allow attending trainees to rapidly familiarize with the theoretical curriculum, and polish their practical skills and abilities required in their future profession. Instructor-led clinical research associate training programs are well-structured in a comprehensive manner, facilitating the process of learning and allowing graduates to leave with a complete baggage of knowledge and practical experience. A set of course examinations, self study and evaluations further prepare students for their final exams. The keys to becoming a well-trained, clinical research associate are attending to a proper clinical research training program and rigorously preparing for the final exams.