Client testimonials | The Agency Advantage

Case Study: Sami’s Pivot into Pharma

About Sami*

Sami* had all the hallmarks of an exceptional colleague: a PhD, line management experience, deep subject knowledge, emotional intelligence, and an incredible work ethic. She was already a standout: the kind of person you’d want as a mentor, collaborator, and leader.

But despite all her achievements, she was struggling to break into pharma. Applications went out, rejections came back, and interviews just weren’t landing.

That’s when Sami reached out.

*Name changed to protect anonymity.

The Challenge

High calibre candidate, but invisible on paper: Her CV wasn’t showcasing her wins in a way that resonated with pharma hiring managers.
Confidence dip: After months of silence from applications, Sami was running low on hope.
The transition gap: Moving from agency into pharma can feel like hitting an invisible wall, she needed the right strategy and narrative to break through.

The Approach

When Sami and I started working together, we focused on three core areas:

1. Optimising her CV: We took the raw brilliance already there and reframed her achievements in pharma’s language, spotlighting impact, outcomes, and leadership.

2. Interview Coaching: From decoding job descriptions to navigating tough questions and curveball tasks, we built her confidence and sharpened her storytelling.

3. First 90 Days Success Plan: Because Sami is so diligent, we didn’t stop at “getting the job.” We worked on how to hit the ground running in a large, matrixed pharma environment and avoid common early pitfalls.