Novartis Pharma, Switzerland
Oncology Clinical Trial Internship
Paid non-credit internship (3 months). Non-research in industry.
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Would you recommend your internship to a friend?
Kavita S Subramaniam
Connect with Kavita on LinkedIn if you have any questions:
Lessons Learnt - UM Group Meeting Presentation
Yes. It is good to know what is out there, how you will be appreciated and how much you can achieve.
What were you looking to gain from your experience?
Insight to how pharmaceutical companies outside Malaysia works.
What attracted you to the company you interned with?
I won the internship place, as I was chosen from 520 applicants worldwide. It attracted me because I know they have an excellent work-life balance. I wanted to learn more on how clinical trial lifecycle is done in a pharma company.
What was a typical working day like?
You would have a few update meeting scheduled with CROs that handles your trials, you would check on the data entered into the capture system, respond to emails accordingly, plan for the week and allocate time based on priorities.
What did you enjoy about your internship?
Work-life balance, non-hierarchical system where your opinion is valued (unlike in the Asian working environment), feeling rewarded when a job is accomplished, not being micromanaged and given the freedom to do your job.
What was the most challenging part?
Learning how to use a few computer software that I have not used before and coming out of my shy shell to approach people to ask for help. If you don't ask the answer is always going to be no.
How did the experience benefit your career?
I became more confident in approaching people, making meaningful conversation career wise, talking to people from various background, networking and keeping the connection.
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What is one advice that you would give to others who are planning to do an internship?
Be bold, suggest what you can offer to them that will benefit both parties. Send out many applications, to various parts of the world.
Rate your overall internship experience
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How much guidance / support did you receive?
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General atmosphere during the internship?
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How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
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How much did the internship help you to decide on your future career path?
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Did the insight help you to understand the company / academia culture?
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To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
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Which job sector will go into?
Industry