Tuesday, July 21, 2009

AMWA Annual Conference Registration Now Open

I just received this notice from AMWA:

AMWA Annual Conference October 22-24, 2009

 

The registration brochure has been posted and registration is now open!

 

Remember, workshops fill quickly, and you’ll need 2 alternatives in case your first choice is not available when your registration form is processed. All registration forms are processed by AMWA headquarters in the order received, whether online, mailed, or faxed. Headquarters typically receives 400 registrations in the first day. Be prepared and give staff time to process!

 

Available breakfast roundtables agendas have been linked in the registration brochure.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Become a CME Specialist

This past week I heard good news from Johanna Lackner-Marx about her CME course for medical writers.

Some of her graduates are now placed at MECCs and CME departments completing two-month fellowships. The fellowships are a success and she anticipates that they will be hired by their placements to complete work they started during the fellowship.

This is a unique training program that not only gives you the tools to become a Continuing Medical Education specialist (that is, develop CME courses for physicians), but gives you the chance of participating in a fellowship conducting to a job.

The course was launched late 2008 but Johanna has reworked the content with the feedback and needs of her first graduates. Click here to see the new outline. If you want more information or to enroll in the course, go to MedicalWritingTraining.com/CME.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Importance of Networking When Job Hunting

Reading a NYT article over the weekend, I was reminded of the importance of networking when looking for a job or simply more freelance work. One phrase from the article stuck with me: "I tapped into a network of colleagues and friends and told everyone I was job hunting."

It occurred to me that sometimes we can be too proud or even ashamed to tell people we are looking for work, but that we shouldn't be--otherwise we'll miss some good job leads. This is specially true in freelance medical writing, where clients ask their networks for referrals to hire new medical writers. 

A few months ago, I began transitioning from a full time job to telecommuting, then to part time and now into freelancing. I started looking for gigs in the usual places (Internet job postings, etc.) but nothing came out of it. 

Then, a former colleague emailed asking how things were going and I mentioned that work was slow and that if she knew of something to please let me know. A few days later, she came back to me with a great freelance project from her organization which I was happy to take on.  I hadn't even began working on this when a recruiter call me about another job. It turned out my colleague had mentioned my name to someone else in her company and they in turn mentioned my name to this recruiter.

So, don't limit yourself to sending out resumes to every company in the phone book. Network and let your colleagues and friends about your medical writing skills. Even in the midst of a recession, medical writers can still find jobs. 

If you have had similar experiences about the importance of networking, please share them.

Thanks for reading! 

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

AMWA Annual Conference Registration

Registration will open at 11 AM Eastern Time on July 20 for the 2009 Annual Conference in Dallas, TX, October 22–24. Check out the registration brochure here.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Back Online & Medical Writing Jobs

I was out of town all this past week and didn't have a chance to post to the blog. 

There are only two days left to enroll in the Clinical Trial Reporting course at the introductory price.

Here are some new job postings: