Andrew L.
About me
| Andrew L. | |
| Psychology | |
| Psychology | |
| Research Postgraduate | |
| Wentworth | |
| 1997 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Director | |
| Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Science and research | |
| Small business (0-49 employees) | |
| 2016 |
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A day in the life of a Director in the United Kingdom
Try to think about what elements of a job you like, rather than what job you want to do. You may be surprised how your interests can be met in all sorts of different roles and not necessarily the role you set out to do.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd, which is a London based consultancy concerned with the measurement of patient reported outcomes in clinical trials.
What do you do?
I help to lead a small team of (mostly psychologists) who undertake qualitative work, psychometric analysis, questionnaire development and validation and patient preference research in health care. Most of our work is with the pharmaceutical industry.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I had a couple of university research jobs after leaving York which introduced me to clinical outcomes measurement. I really enjoyed the range of work, the interaction with patients and their families, and learning about different areas of health care. Its also very interesting to work with people with different skill sets - economists, statisticians, clinicians and qualitative researchers. I have worked in this field for nearly 25 years.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes, I think I thought I would follow an academic route. But I really enjoy working in a commercial setting.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I think this is a really difficult question to answer. Good days typically involve doing a good job for a client and that client expressing their thanks. A good day may involve seeing a new set of data analyses which shows a project has really worked or presenting our work at a prestigious event. Office away days and retreats can be really productive and good fun. A good day is a day where you feel that something has been achieved, which hopefully happens once a week?
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Lots of challenges all the time. We learn about new disease areas and new treatments every week. We have to meet commercial timelines and budgets and have to produce high quality work that meets the client's needs.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
We have an open plan office in London which we are starting to out grow. We do some travelling - but most of our time is usually spent in the office. We work in small teams and are quite heavily focussed on supporting the development of early career folks.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was a DPhil student at York so didn't really engage with university societies etc. I met a lot of friends at York and spent time hiking, socialising, and some travelling.
What would you like to do next with your career?
We are building a business and we are very focussed on that - and avoiding COVID-19!
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Try to think about what elements of a job you like, rather than what job you want to do. You may be surprised how your interests can be met in all sorts of different roles and not necessarily the role you set out to do.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Transitioning to industry. Life in the pharmaceutical industry. Setting up your own consultancy business.
Next steps...
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