r/PharmaEire

Hi! I’m about a year and a half into a Postdoc following on from my PhD in the same lab. I enjoy the project I’m working on, but I feel like I’ve stagnated professionally and my supervisor is increasingly micromanaging everyone in the lab group.

My background is in vaccine formulation and biochemistry, and I’d like to work a more corporate, less lab-based job. I really enjoy writing, data analysis, and presenting findings through posters and talks. I’m passionate about advocating for public health and getting the research from the lab bench to the general public. I’m currently based in Cork and would ideally like a hybrid position but am happy to commute if needed.

Does anyone have any advice for key words or positions to search for on Indeed/Glassdoor and the likes? What’s the job market like currently? What is a reasonable starting salary, given I technically have no industry experience? Thanks!

Have an interview here in manufacturing. What’s the sterile
Manufacturing like here? Is it isolators/RABS/vials/ syringes? What’s the pay/shift structure like and what team structure? Hard to find too much info. Thanks

I have an interview with the HPRA next week for an assessor role in National licensing and product authorisation / registration. It’s a job I really really want and I think it would be interesting.
Wondering if anyone has any experience from interviewing for a similiar role and what kinda qs to expect?

I left a company before serving a PIP some years ago, I’m not sure if it was even finalised. I was never told the goals or had a specific meeting, just that they were putting me on one.

There’s a senior role up in a different department of the same company that I’m interested in but the application process wants the details from when I worked there (employee ID, manager). The turnover was high where I worked before and anyone I knew has left the business including my manager, but there is still a supervisor who was apart of the PIP process - do I disclose what info I do have or just tick the no never worked there button?

For info the PIP was unfair, I’m fairly sure I was put on it for flagging issues. I’ve received an exceptional review in every company I’ve worked in since so I’m not concerned about my performance.

Coming back to pharma after a 2 year career break in another industry. I've been applying for jobs over the summer but no luck so far. I've been using linkedin, applying directly on company websites, and using recruitment sites like Hays and CPL. Just wondering if they have found other agencies useful

What is the hiring timeline for cook medical

I have progressed past the interview stage and have submitted 2 references -( they have contacted both my references)and completed the online medical assessment

Is there much of a wait ,what can I expect next

Genuine question because I’m struggling to understand how titles are determined in pharma/life sciences.
I keep seeing people with only ~1.5–2 years of experience being given the title Senior Analyst, and sometimes it seems like they barely know the fundamentals of the role yet.
Is “Senior Analyst” just a much more junior title in this industry compared with others? Is it mainly based on time in the job rather than actual technical knowledge/independence? Or does it vary massively between companies?
I’m not trying to gatekeep the title,I’m genuinely curious because the lack of consistency seems strange. At some companies, someone with 2 years’ experience is “Senior Analyst,” while at others they’d still be considered an Analyst/junior.
For those working in pharma/life sciences, what actually qualifies someone as “senior” at your company?

Recently started contract work in big pharma, QA. Going through an agency and as a Class S PRSI umbrella contractor.

In my contract it says:

‘I cannot during the assignment and for 6 months afterwards, directly or indirectly enter into a contract with the client or certain connected parties for the same/similar services without (agency) prior written consent.

Does this mean I can’t go for permanent roles in the company I’m in? I was told I could during the hiring process.

I was made redundant from my lab based R&D role of 9 years at a medical device company after a restructuring and I have been actively looking for roles within the Galway, Clare, Limerick, North Cork line of the country.

It’s been nothing but rejection after rejection email, spending 1-2 hours per application tailoring the CV and application on workday with the buzzwords from job specs.

As you can imagine the confidence is low. Essentially 10 years experience, masters and other certs behind me.

The only interview I got so far for was from an infamous pharma company within this subreddit and have an offer for an entry level role within manufacturing.

It’s a massive step back in the career wise, it’s entry level and would be considered career suicide had I been in a job and switched over.

There’s 12 hour nights involved. I’ve been down the night shift route prior to the company that ultimately made me redundant (at another company) and it almost killed me. Body clock was destroyed, eating shite, returning home at 7am in the morning and unsure was it appropriate to have dinner or breakfast, I was the heaviest I ever been, sleeping 7-8 hours and not feeling rested and this was in my 20s, I’m 10 years older now.

What would you do?

I'm 28 years old currently working in food manufacturing as a production Operative for close to the last 2 years. I like the work but hours are inconsistent 25 hours one week then 45 hours the next week. Kinda feel stuck there's no budget for advancement or promotion.

I have a bachelor's degree in software development that I got 6 years ago. I enjoy doing maintenance etc ideally I would like a maintenance technician role or something in the future or maybe study automation. I feel pharma might offer better chances for advancement and learning then where I currently am. I used to work 4 on 4 off 12 hour shifts so that's no problem for me.

Just looking for some guidance on the best steps to get my foot in the door. I'm looking at maybe doing this course: Introduction to Good Manufacturing Practice at TUS, it's 12 weeks online, level 6. Costs 700 but I don't mind paying to increase my chances since I don't have experience working in a GMP enviroment. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Hi guys, I've an interview for a Senior Quality Engineer role with Stryker at one of their Carrigtwohill sites and I'm just wondering if anyone has advice in terms of questions to expect, culture, and the Gallup test? Thanks a mil!

Considering moving jobs in pursuit of that cheddar. Is it a bad move to jump ship a year in to the grad role?

What does the workday status "Application Reviewed" mean in Regeneron? I have applied to multiple roles all got rejected except one. Does this mean that I have a hope?

Hi all,

I have a job interview within QC at GE healthcare in Cork, and although it looks appealing, I don’t know anyone working there.

What is the culture like there? Do people mainly have good experience?

TIA!

Does anyone know the salary for QC Analyst at J&J cork ? (Someone with 1.5yr experience as QC analyst )

Anyone made the change form QC for QA ?
How do you find it ? And do you enjoy it / is the money worth it etc

QC analyst on 35k with 1 year experience + 20% shift premium. Stay or leave ?

I have applied for a role at Stryker as a manufacturing operator. I have Rheumatoid arthritis but it is fully controlled. Im on meds and i never have issues.

Im worried they will reject me just because of the arthritis? Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I was talking to someone and they said theyre really strict and to just lie about any health conditions 🫠🫠🫠

Just wanted to share my experience to help anyone else who might be in a similar situation. This may be an isolated case but felt it was worth flagging.

I applied for a Technical Writer contract role at J&J Limerick in early July. Within 24 hours I was screened and told my application had been forwarded to the hiring manager. The recruiter was extremely enthusiastic, emphasising how perfect I would be for the role and how strongly they felt I matched the requirements (I genuinely did match every single requirement listed as well as previous experience with j&j).

Shortly after I was informed they would like to interview me and was asked to keep my availability open.

What followed was nearly four weeks of chasing with no interview date ever confirmed. During this time the hiring manager was on annual leave, the recruiter went on annual leave, and I was passed between multiple contacts. I was repeatedly told they would follow up and that the role was urgent.

I had a competing job offer during this period which I stupidly made decisions around based on the understanding that this process was progressing.

After nearly four weeks I was finally told the position had been closed and they had decided not to proceed with interviews. The reason given for the delay was a concern about my commute despite the role being hybrid and my home being less than 50 minutes from the site.

No interview ever took place. No clear explanation was given.

If you are applying for roles through this process just be aware that timelines can be extremely unclear and I would caution against making any major decisions based on the progress of your application.