Katie Goulbourn makes up part of the Healthcare Communications team at Carrot Recruitment, working across Editorial and Medical Writer positions at the mid-senior level. We caught up with her to find out what she loves most about her job and how she'd go about supporting a candidate in finding their next Med Comms job:
How did you start recruiting in Medical Communications?
I joined Carrot in 2015 as a Regulatory Affairs specialist consultant, recruiting on behalf of top Pharma and Biotech companies in the UK. After returning from maternity leave in 2018, I moved into the Medical Communications team and have since become an Editorial specialist working specifically on Senior Medical Writer jobs, Principal Medical Writer jobs and Scientific Team Leader jobs across the UK and internationally.
What do you love the most about your job?
Seeing candidates genuinely happy in their new job – it’s why I do what I do!
What do you think is the future of Medical Communications for professionals working in the sector?
We were very fortunate that our industry wasn’t negatively affected by the pandemic; if anything we are busier now than we were before. Across the sector, there are more Senior Medical Writer jobs than there are candidates. This has made the industry incredibly competitive, which has led to better opportunities (promotions and salary increases) for Medical Writers when moving jobs.
Why should Senior Medical Writers and Scientific Team Leaders use you to find their next role?
I often hear how daunting starting a job search process can be for a Senior Medical Writer/Scientific Team Lead. With so many options (especially in the current market), it can be difficult to not only choose which vacancies to apply for but also to manage the process of communicating with numerous points of contact.
By working together, I relieve this element of stress by identifying the most suitable Medical Communications agencies who match your experience, preferences and values, and manage all communication on your behalf.
I am available over the phone, email or WhatsApp seven days a week for the candidates I am representing, for any help or advice you may need in finding your next Medical Writer job.
Can you give a brief overview of how you’d support a candidate through the job process?
Throughout the process, you will be guided and supported continuously so that you can make the most informed decisions and perform at your best through each stage of interviews and assessments. The support I can offer ranges from comprehensive PDFs when shortlisting which companies you wish to apply to, to in-depth interview guidance and tips relating to the specific Medical Writer/Editorial opportunity.
When it comes to the offer stage, and in the current market it is common for experienced Medical Writers and Managers to receive more than one offer, I also take care of salary, benefits and working pattern negotiation to achieve the most competitive remuneration package possible.
Can you share some recent feedback you’ve received from a candidate you’ve helped?
“I've been working with Katie Goulbourn over the past few weeks and she has been an absolute pleasure to work with. She really listened and keyed into what was important for me in a new role. She quickly set up interviews at multiple companies and has advised me where needed. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking at new opportunities.” Senior Medical Writer
