How To Search For An MSL Job While You Sleep

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Imagine waking up to a notification that a recruiter is interested in you for an MSL position. Sounds like a dream, right? It's not! This is the power of a highly optimized LinkedIn profile.

However, many aspiring MSLs fail to utilize this power. It's because their profiles haven't been optimized in a way that is attractive to hiring managers and recruiters. Here's why LinkedIn is so powerful for aspiring MSLs and how it helps you search for an MSL job while you sleep.

The Power of LinkedIn for MSL Jobs

1. Constant Visibility to Recruiters: Where do recruiters go to find MSL candidates? LinkedIn. It is the primary platform recruiters use to find potential candidates. A well-crafted profile increases your chances of being discovered by recruiters who are searching for MSL candidates with your specific skills and experiences. You want your LinkedIn profile to be a beacon for recruiters so they find you!
2. Professional Networking Opportunities: Networking is crucial (we talk about it non-stop on this blog 🙂), particularly for the MSL role. MSLs are professional networkers after all! LinkedIn allows you to connect with current Medical Affairs professionals for informational interviews and potential hiring managers. This not only increases your visibility and enables hiring managers to find you, it also helps you build relationships that can lead to job opportunities way down the road.
3. Showcasing How You Will Be a Great MSL: Your LinkedIn profile is an excellent platform to showcase how you will be an amazing MSL. By optimizing your profile for your MSL dream job, you show recruiters and hiring managers you are ready to make the transition.
4. Job Alerts: LinkedIn’s job search feature allows you to set up alerts for positions that match your criteria, ensuring you never miss an opportunity.

LinkedIn Profile Optimization Considerations

Despite its potential, many job seekers struggle to optimize their LinkedIn profiles effectively. There is a lot to optimize when it comes to your LinkedIn profile:

• Banner
• Photo
• Headline
• Summary
• Skills
• Endorsements
• Keywords
• The list goes on!

There are so many things to think about when it comes to optimizing your LinkedIn profile for an MSL job:

• Which keywords should you use?
• Should you use the direct apply on LinkedIn?
• What should you say to a hiring manager that posts that they are hiring?
• Should you connect with recruiters?
• Do you need to post?
• What about that # opentowork banner? Should you use that?
• What if you have a job and don't want your current employer to know?

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there. It's important to get advice from experts that know this space well. 

Success Stories: Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Advancement

The story of Simon, a PhD in Exercise Science, illustrates the power of an optimized LinkedIn profile. Simon had stellar communication skills and a strong academic background but was struggling to get noticed. His original LinkedIn profile was under-optimized and he wasn't getting interviews.

After revamping his profile using strategies taught in the Aspire MSL program, Simon’s situation changed dramatically. His profile started showcasing his transferable skills effectively. This overhaul led to increased recruiter interest and, eventually, multiple interview invitations. Within weeks, Simon secured his first MSL role, highlighting the power of an optimized LinkedIn profile.

Another member of the Aspire MSL Program, Glenn Stamps, updated his profile as recommended by the program. Using the blueprint in the course and Sarah's recommendations for posting and engagement, he created a highly engaging post about his job search journey.

That post got over 187 likes, 67 comments, and 16k impressions. But beyond those vanity metrics, a hiring manager reached out to him about a position on her team. That LinkedIn post helped him secure an interview for an MSL position! Check out the post below and give it some love!

Conclusion: How To Search For An MSL Job While You Sleep

LinkedIn is more than just another social media platform. It’s a powerful job search tool, capable of working for you around the clock. When you have your LinkedIn profile optimized correctly, it can significantly enhance your visibility and get you found by recruiters and hiring managers. Invest in optimizing your LinkedIn profile and leverage its full potential to land your dream MSL role.

Need Help With Your LinkedIn Profile?

For those looking to maximize their LinkedIn potential, the Aspire MSL Program provides you with a step-by-step blueprint on how to optimize your profile so you get noticed. Tom and Sarah are MSL recruiters themselves and offer members an insider perspective. As part of the program, you get personalized recommendations for your LinkedIn profile.

In a recent group coaching call (held twice a month), everyone posted their LinkedIn headlines into the chat. Tom, Sarah, and I provided our input on how to make it pop! LinkedIn is so powerful and the lessons on this topic in the course are worth it alone.