I never thought that sending my CV to Wallace Health would lead to a response. And yet a few interviews and a writing assignment later, there I was – a medical copywriter intern for the next six weeks.
Stumbling headfirst
From day one, I got stuck in. I was immediately brought on to work on a live client and I must admit – I was terrified. But there was an unmistakable buzz of excitement.
The workload was heavy and the deadlines seemed to come hot and fast. And it seemed like my vocabulary had ballooned with industry terms, acronyms, and medical jargon. But the team was incredibly supportive and understood that this was my first experience in healthcare communications. They provided the necessary training packs, regular one-to-ones, and conducive, actionable feedback on my progress.
With each day, I felt my confidence growing not just in my work, but in my place in the team too.
Finding my footing
Soon enough, I felt settled. I was comfortable with my work, and I felt like I was learning something new every day. Then, I was given the opportunity to participate on another project – a pitch.
Through this experience, I was able to witness and contribute towards building a project from scratch. I saw true collaboration through a warm and inclusive team with open lines of communication across the board.
The relaxed atmosphere encouraged input from everybody. It really gave me a deeper appreciation of the various cogs that need to work together to create a compelling piece. From designers to writers to account managers, everyone’s voice matters, is heard, and is important to the project – even mine!
Crossing the finish line?
It was daunting being dropped straight into a project without any prior experience. But, I learnt a lot about the healthcare communications industry as a whole, and the behind-the-scenes processes and people that make it possible.
It was an exciting challenge learning to write in a health literate way as I’d never done it before. I’m still getting to grips with it now. But I benefited greatly from being in a place that’s genuinely patient-first despite never interacting with patients.
Being able to translate healthcare information into digestible chunks for the wider public has been a more rewarding experience than I thought it’d be. I’ve even rediscovered my love for science!
An offer to stay on in a full-time role was the fairytale ending in my head. Then it became reality and I couldn’t be happier. This internship has definitely made me realise that this is what I want to do – create meaningful work that resonates and has the potential to make real, observable positive changes to our society. And I’m glad Wallace Health is where I can continue to do that.
Are you a recent graduate with a life science degree or a professional looking for a career change? Get in touch with your CV to discuss an internship with us.
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