Transition into the Clinical Trials Industry
If you struggle to break through the door and get your first job in clinical trials, this is your course. Six weeks of educational sessions combined with live coaching on your CV, your LinkedIn profile and your messaging.
About this course
This program is designed specifically for aspiring Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) or entry-level professionals who struggle to land that first job in the clinical trials industry. Getting that first job in the clinical research industry shouldn’t feel that hard.
For sure, you’ve spent months applying to jobs on LinkedIn without any success. That’s because you have to target the right people, apply to the right opportunities, with the right messaging. Otherwise, your application will fall into oblivion.
This 6-week program is a combination of educational sessions providing you the knowledge you need to succeed in getting that first job as a clinical research professional, combined with live coaching sessions assessing your CV, your LinkedIn profile and your messaging. Each week follows with action items that will encourage you to apply the lessons learnt.
What you will learn
In just 6 weeks you’ll understand why you’ve been struggling and you’ll know what steps to take next towards that first job in clinical research.
Week 1Understanding the clinical research industry and its different entry points6 lessons
- Hello, and welcome!
- What’s the secret to succeed in getting that job?
- The different parties involved and the roles you can access at a CRO
- The roles a Sponsor and a Clinical Site offer you
- The most direct, likely and best fit path
- Recap of options and Action Items for Week 1
Week 2Building the Required Skills & Competencies5 lessons
- Introduction: What makes a strong candidate?
- The skills and capabilities required: Technical Knowledge
- The skills and capabilities required: Soft Skills
- How can you build the required skills & capabilities?
- Recap and Action Items for Week 2
Week 3Crafting a CV & LinkedIn Profile that Work9 lessons
- Introduction: Why the CV & LinkedIn matter
- Understanding the Recruiter’s Perspective
- Should your CV & LinkedIn profile match?
- Best Practices to Apply to Your CV
- Take the CV Best Practices to Practical Applications
- LinkedIn Profile Best Practices
- How to Network on LinkedIn?
- Lessons Learnt, Summarised
- Week 3: Action Items
Week 4Job Searching, Application Process & Networking8 lessons
- Introduction
- Where to search for job opportunities in clinical trials
- How I would look for a job on LinkedIn
- When there’s scarcity in entry-level positions
- 4 tips when applying for that opportunity
- How do you network in this industry?
- Networking on LinkedIn
- Week 4: Action Items
Week 5Interviewing Process Preparation & Expectations6 lessons
- Introduction
- Interviewing Process: what to expect?
- Preparing for that interview
- Interview Part 1: Behavioural questions
- Interview Part 2: Technical questions
- Week 5: Wrap-up and Action Items
Week 6Next Steps3 lessons
- Introduction to Week 6
- Next Steps
- Your 1:1 coaching session
Who this course is for
Looking to understand the industry, strengthen foundational knowledge, and build the practical skills needed to land their first role in clinical research.
Ready to move into clinical trials and seeking a structured, practical pathway that teaches real-world monitoring, processes, and industry expectations.
Who want to develop stronger industry knowledge, improve communication and networking skills, and confidently grow into a full CRA role.
Maria is a clinical research expert, educator, and the founder of CRAConnect, a global hub empowering Clinical Research Associates through community, education, and networking. She began her career as a Clinical Trial Assistant after transitioning from a linguistics background, and progressed into the CRA role, monitoring studies across oncology, rare diseases, cardiology, CNS, and more. After 5+ years as a CRA, she grew increasingly driven to modernise the tools and processes that shape clinical trials. This led her into the technology side of the industry, where she supported the design, development, and go-to-market strategy of clinical trial software in roles such as Solution Consultant, Subject Matter Expert, and Marketing Director.
With experience across both operations and technology, she founded CRAConnect to address a major gap in the industry: practical, modern, community-driven training for CRAs. Through CRAConnect’s Academy, courses, and annual conference, Maria’s mission is to elevate the CRA profession and help clinical research professionals learn the real-world skills needed to deliver better trials, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients.
Alumni reviews
“I just got my first job as a Clinical Trial Assistant!”
Eleonora Brasca“6 months later, I made it! I’m a Pharmacovigilance Associate!”
Katarina Brankovic“I’ve just reached the end of week 5 of the 6-week accelerator program, and I want to take a moment to thank you for the huge impact this program has had on me. I’ve learned how to highlight key words on my CV without giving the wrong impression, and how to extract important job information through the learning pathways. This has helped me better understand what employers need and what is expected of me as an applicant.”
Nabi Nge“I found the accelerator program was super informative with a lot of guides on what to do to make yourself that top notch candidate for your very first clinical research role. It was a great program! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get their first clinical research role.”
Makafui Cobby Azah“This course was exactly what I needed! Super useful strategies, and tailored to the clinical trials industry. I now have the knowledge to plan, prepare, and go into this process with way more confidence.”
Irina GalvezYour route into clinical trials starts here.
Six weeks of structure, live coaching and action items, instead of guessing your way through applications.