Clinical Research Assistant

[Soon to be Dr E]

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I've got an interview for a clinical research assistant position Monday morning. I'm just doing some last minute prep for the interview now.

has anyone else worked as a CRA? What kind of skills did you think were most important for the job?

 

[go lakers]

organization (lots of paperwork)

 

[smcin001]

second on the organization, also double and triple check everything you do, any mistake can lead to a significant problem

 

[MChitty]

I'm currently working as a CRA. The main issue that comes up with this job is that it's too boring for the level of education that you have, but usually PIs want to hire people that have ambition and are moving onto other things. I guess in my interviews, it was good to emphasize that you are detail oriented and are fine with doing the tedious paperwork.

 

[HailMary]

Depending on your PIs and your study coordinators, you may be able to attend the study visits for the trials that you assist on. If you don't take initiative it's a lot of paperwork, but I showed a lot of interest in patient contact so they let me coordinate one of the studies. Now I get to see my own patients and it has been a really valuable experience to prepare me for med school.

 

[Depakote]

I'm currently working as a CRA. The main issue that comes up with this job is that it's too boring for the level of education that you have, but usually PIs want to hire people that have ambition and are moving onto other things. I guess in my interviews, it was good to emphasize that you are detail oriented and are fine with doing the tedious paperwork.

👍

I'll also echo showing ambition. I asked my PI about helping out with extra projects b/c I wanted something to help me with my med school apps. I wound up getting listed as a co-investigator on two studies.

 

[LikeClockWork]

I work as a CRA now, and though I didn't know it at the time, my emphasis that I work well without constant supervision probably was a big plus. The PI works on grant proposals all day and doesn't really have the time or desire to keep up with every little thing that goes on. It may be beneficial to give the impression that you're a person who can take care of things and can double check yourself without having to get the PI involved in the minutia.