This document provides helpful tips for getting a job as a clinical research associate (CRA). It discusses two common interview scenarios - when the interviewer already knows the candidate's work, making it easier, and when there is significant competition, requiring the candidate to strongly promote their qualifications. The document recommends preparing for situational questions, learning about the medical areas relevant to the position, starting in an internship or entry-level role to gain experience, and obtaining CRA training or certification to become qualified for a CRA role.

1. Helpful Information on
Getting a Clinical Research Job as
a CRA

2. Introduction
Clinical research is nowadays considered to be a fast-growing business,
so many people are trying to look for ways to enter. There are many
work positions in a clinical research facility, all depending on your
experience and qualifications.
If you’re reading this, then probably you’re also interested in getting a
clinical-research-related job position. And that’s great because this
article is exactly for you!
Next, we’ll help you prepare for a job interview in clinical research, no
matter which position you’re applying for! People who are interested in
this field, are usually trying to get a job as a study coordinator, a CRA, or
a research assistant. However, the strategies and tips we’ll give you can
be applied to any research-related job!
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3. Interview Scenario #1: They know you and want you!
If you’re already an established person in the
clinical research world and you enjoy a good
reputation, then this scenario would be perfect for
you! Basically, these are the easiest types of
interviews because the company already knows
your work and wants you to work for them. This
interview will only occur so that they confirm that
you know what you’re doing and talking about. All
in all, if you’re lucky, this will be the type of
interview you encounter!
In this type of interviews, the interviewer will
even sell themselves to you to convince you to
join them, because they will be aware that you
also have other options.
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4. Interview Scenario #2: They don’t know you and there’s a big competition!
Unfortunately, this is the most common type of
interview that you might find yourself in if you’re
new to this field. In this case, the company will have
one or two job positions open, but there will be a
lot of candidates for those positions.
They probably wouldn’t have heard of you or done
any research on you, so now - you have to sell
yourself! For such interviews, you always have to
anticipate and be well-prepared for anything they
might ask you!
The questions that they will usually ask in
these interviews are all situational - in the
sense of ‘’what would you do if…’’.
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5. Interview Scenario #2: They don’t know you and there’s a big competition!
The interviewers will tell you a specific
situation, ask you what action would you take,
and what was the result of your action.
Even if they don’t ask you something like this,
but you still feel like you need to convince
them of your capabilities, you can initiate this
and show them your reaction in a specific
scenario. If you decide to do this, try to be as
specific as possible! Don’t talk in general, but
go in-depth! This will show them that you
have experience and that you do know what
you’re talking about!
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SITUATION
ACTION
RESULT
GREAT INTERVIEW!

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Know Your Weaknesses
Every person has their own strengths and
weaknesses. Being able to admit this and then
identify and find out which are yours is a crucial
step that will give you a much better chance to
prepare yourself properly.
For example, if the site you’re applying at
conducts diabetes studies, and you are aware
that you don’t have experience in diabetes,
make sure that you learn as much as possible
on this topic before doing the interview.
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Good things to learn would be the
criteria for diabetes studies, common
therapies, common side effects from
therapies, as well as a general
knowledge of what the specific
condition means and entails.
By learning all of this in advance and
being well-prepared, you can be the one
who starts talking about these things. In
this way, you might avoid being caught
off-guard and being asked questions
you don’t know the answers to.

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Know Your Weaknesses
Basically, try to transform your weaknesses
into your strengths during an interview. If you
don’t do this, then they will want to make sure
that you actually know something about
diabetes, so they might ask you a question that
you don’t know the answer to.
That’s why it’s best to always initiate these
conversations in order to give them a glimpse
of your knowledge!
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Transform your weaknesses into
strengths by being well-prepared!

8. Moving Up the Ladder
Every successful person that you know had to start somewhere small! This is especially true in clinical
research. You cannot work a job for which you don’t have any experience. However, you have to start
somewhere! Moving up the ladder in clinical research usually goes as following:
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For study coordinator For CRA
Your best bet is to first intern
as a patient recruiter, because
usually, every site has
problems with patient
recruitment or retention. As
an intern that will help them
get more patients, you will be
welcome at any research site!
Another route to becoming a
study coordinator is to first
intern as a research assistant.
If you want to be a
CRA, but you still don’t
have enough
experience, start by
being a study
coordinator or a
research assistant and
learn everything you
possibly can in that
time!

9. Moving Up the Ladder
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I II III IV
PATIENT
RECRUITER
RESEARCH
ASSISTANT
STUDY
COORDINATOR
CRA

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Training for a CRA
The demand for CRAs is constantly increasing, which is
why many people choose to enter clinical research as
CRAs. Taking into consideration that a CRA doesn’t need
to possess a medical license, things are even easier.
However, you will still need some past experience
working as a coordinator and the proper training.
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11. There are special institutions that provide training and CRA certificates. If you
can not find a more appropriate option and this is the career you want to
pursue, then it is a good idea to be part of an institution of this type and get
formal training. However, be careful when choosing the right institution or
academy for your CRA training, as some may be much more expensive than
others!
This is definitely the best choice! If you already have experience in clinical trials (such
as coordinator, for example), you may feel free to apply as a CRA. Usually, after you
have been accepted, sites will offer you a CRA training. This is usually enough to get
you started. Many CROs are looking to hire CRAs that they’ll train to work afterwards.
When filing a job application for a CRA position, mention any previous relevant
experience in clinical trials. This means that you must indicate that you have worked
in the field of clinical trials in the past, no matter if it’s as a coordinator or not.
Furthermore, if you don’t have any past experience in research, then find out if your
government offers financing of CRA training. There have been many cases when
governments or other institutions were interested in providing funds for future CRAs.
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PAID
TRAINING
UNPAID
TRAINING
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CONCLUSION
As a final note, you always have to anticipate and be well-prepared for an interview! Even though you might be
lucky and encounter the first type of interview, you should always expect the latter! This will allow you to
understand the seriousness of what you’re about to do, thus opening your mind to all the different scenarios and
interview questions that might arise. If you see that an interview isn’t going well, be the first one to initiate a
conversation and show them what you know! Always remember to prepare for situational questions that require
you to answer what would your reaction be to something and what you would do to handle it! Next, make sure
that you’re familiar with the therapeutic area of study that the site you’re applying at is involved in! And finally, try
to make an internship at a site and go through a CRA training or find the appropriate academy and get a paid
training. Doing this will increase your chances of getting a CRA job incredibly!
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