Medical writer/managing director

Luke Molloy

Name: Luke Molloy
Age: 24
Role: Medical writer/managing editor, Adis International
Working hours: 40 hours
Average pay: Start $40,000, move up to $70,000
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology, Auckland University

Describe how you got this job?

I had the degree, which is the basic requirement, and I had a background in teaching. I had done some teaching at Auckland University then I did teaching English as a second language in Korea. My grammar has always been good and I have always written as a hobby.

The job is the perfect mix of elements for me. When you apply for a job they get you to do a sample writing project as a test. If they like what they see, they give you an interview. I had known about the job since my second year at university when I saw the company at a career fair and I was targeting myself toward getting employment there.

Describe what you do?

I produce two journals each month on drug research. Health is divided into 28 therapeutic areas for our company and I have two of those areas - antibacterials and upper gastro-intestinal disorders. Each month we look at all the clinical trials that happened around the world and the best ones we write shorter assessments of. We summarise them into a nice compact page or two of information, and add in market news and information on company acquisitions. All of this information is pooled together on a giant database. Our customers either subscribe to one or two of the journals or the whole database.

What have you had to do to succeed at this job?

You have to be versatile and motivated, to be able to work independently and as par of a team. You have to keep yourself directed, but also interact with the other people and be flexible, to be able to adapt and help out where and when you are needed.

What sort of training or experience do you need? A. All you need technically is a bachelor's degree in a health-related science. You can come straight from university as the test project shows if you have got the skills. I had worked in the communications industry and teaching before I had got the job. It comes down to if you have the knack or the right style of writing.

What skills and qualities do you need?

You have to be analytical, to be able to write effectively and clearly and to be versatile. You have to be able to quickly become an expert in a new field. You have to be able to research quickly and efficiently many aspects of health: diseases, drugs, what's going on in these studies.

Best part of the job?

The variety is amazing and the flexibility of the company is outstanding. At the moment I work full-time but in four days with 10-hour days. You can work any time from 7am to 10pm. It is a relaxed place to work and the work/life balance is really good. You get to go overseas and attend major conferences. The people are great.

Most challenging part?

Probably the variety again. You quickly have to learn a new area that you may not know much about.

How do you define success in this job?

I think success is if you are always learning. I set myself goals every three months and try to achieve them as there are so many things you can do in the job.

What are your career hopes for future?

I want to be able to write for any therapeutic area and one day write for Drugs, one of our best journals.

If I wanted a job like yours how would I go about it, and what qualifications would I need?

You need a bachelors degree in medical science. You would contact Adis and they will send you a test.

What advice would you have for someone contemplating a career like yours?

Just apply. If you don't succeed in the test writing project at first, there are ways to enhance your skills to get the job. Focus on grammar and practice your analytical skills. I would recommend reading the Journal of Medicine, the Lancet or Nature or an Adis product like Drugs. Reading that kind of material gives you exposure to the type of writing we do and you get familiar with the style.