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Building ResilienceResilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. So, what can we do that promotes resilience? AcceptanceWe must accept that stress, mistakes, and failure are an inevitable part of our everyday, in our professional work and in our personal lives. Adversity does not discriminate, we all have to handle situations in life of challenging pressures at work, grieving for a loved one, conflict in relationships or mental illness. The list goes on…The saying ‘failure is not an option’ is redundant in today’s emotionally intelligent world. Resilient people know that sh*t happens.In case you were thinking about boxing up all that stress, worry and, pressure - suppression is not an effective strategy. Try not to think about something, and guess where your mind goes… The ability to make mistakes, learn from them, and rebound is resilience building and from this we can branch out into new directions, boost our immune system and lead happier lives. Run Towards Resilience By taking opportunities for change and personal/professional development, we learn how to handle failure, rejection, mistakes; how to rebound and recover from extraordinary circumstances.Build your resilience by making pursuits meaningful. Meditation, photography, learning a new language, taking that course, asking for more responsibility at work…Be kind to yourself by discovering enjoyment in the challenges you face and be optimistic, even on the tough days. By finding your inner drive to take on new projects and also keeping in mind your future focus, you’ll be more autonomous, pragmatic and nurtured as a person.  Stronger and more prepared for whatever comes next in life. Mindset Matters Slow and gradual behaviour change is more likely to last. Commit to a manageable behaviour change and we are more likely to follow-through. Balance this with self-compassion.Exercise is so good for us, not only physically but for our mental health and to build cognition. Aim to do a walk for 10 minutes a day over lunch but always show compassion to yourself. If you are too self-critical when you miss one day, you are less likely to bounce back the next day.Be careful of when you place your attention.  As humans, our survival instinct makes us excellent at noticing weaknesses and threats. Take a step back, is the way you are thinking going to help you, or just have a detrimental impact you?Resilient people make a conscious effort to not be swallowed up by the negative and instead focus on benefit finding, all those things in your life that you can be grateful for.Don’t do it aloneMake a deliberate effort to find what’s good in your life. This should include a strong social connection with colleagues, friends, and family who you can turn to in your times of need. Resilient people ask for help when they need this and see this as a sign of inner-strength, not weakness. What changes do you need to make in your life or your mindset to become resilient? 

The medical device landscape is continuing to evolve as we see an increase in AI, surgical robotics, molecular diagnostics, and digital health. Even for the most traditional medical device manufacturers, the ongoing challenges of regulatory compliance, entry into new markets and keeping a harmonious balance between internal departments is prevalent.So, for the professionals working in the highly demanding role within a Regulatory Affairs team, what sets you apart from the rest in this constantly ever-changing professional landscape? What will allow you to develop ahead of schedule and continue professional development? I imagine if you are reading this and we are connected, you already have the technical competence with product registrations for medical devices, relevant academic study experience in Life Sciences or Engineering. Let’s call this the technical and core competencies.What I would like to share with you is the soft, professional skills companies are looking for. The things that start-up, mid-sized and global medical device companies are talking to me about… Every Single Day.Stakeholder management and challenging the status quo Being able to challenge the status quo, having a ‘seat at the table’ internally and being the logical, clear voice of regulatory. Clearly communicating the department wants, needs, challenges, limitations, and hard limits with regards to compliance. Replicating this externally, perhaps with suppliers or the Notified Body. Confidence is key and having the ability to be a change driver in an organisation – companies need these skills to stay innovative and agile in an increasingly competitive and challenging market. Organisational and Project Management In regulatory, unless you are in a large organisation with a clearly divided RA function, normally you will be wearing many hats and working across several areas in the business from R&D, QM, RA and auditing. Companies always have projects on-going and systematic organisation skills are key. Especially with entry into new markets and the transition to MDR and IVDR, perhaps working towards MDSAP or a first ISO13485 certification. Be sure to work on your PM skills and pick up those project leading/contributing skills. Communication skills – The ability to speak the language of engineering and regulatory This links back to point one but essentially, being able to navigate the internal structure and competing demands within the business is key. From R&D who are pushing innovation, to sales whose focus is to get the products out the door, you need to show how you handle these potential roadblocks and come to a conclusion that still meets compliance. Also, translating the data and documentation from engineering into the regulatory framework and QMS is such a valuable skill – showing that you are not only comfortable with the paperwork, but also getting a bit technical. Showcasing your listening skills and ability to negotiate with commercial acumen will gain the respect of senior business leaders who perhaps, have limited knowledge of regulatory and are in genuine need of your expert opinion and guidance. It’s not always going to be easy, but we all love a challenge, right? Working independently and as part of the team Autonomous working, especially in the post-COVID-19 remote working world is going to be so important. It was even before! Whether the company is 10 people or 10,000, medical companies need professionals who can stand on their own two feet, plan their days, have awareness of the priorities and pressures but most importantly, still ask for support when it is needed. I spend 50% of my time with my clients understanding their role requirements but the other 50% is dedicated to understanding the team, culture, environment, and people. It’s important to show you are able to build relationships with a multi-disciplinary department and be a team player towards the common goal. Resilience I will never forget the time a candidate messaged me two minutes before a call and typed “Rebecca, I have to reschedule. I’m stuck on the other line with the Russian MoH dealing with chaos!” There are going to be challenges in every day, but also variety, working with like-minded people and making a difference in the world. In interviews, competency-based assessment will be a topic. Questions like “R&D owe you a document to be able to submit a time critical submission, but they are dragging their feet and don’t see the urgency. How would you handle this situation?” This is the type of question we see come up a lot, particularly from multi-nationals and start-ups.  Dealing with organisational change, resource management, increasing regulatory pressures and interrelationship demands internally are all challenges that will bring you personal and professional growth, extremely valuable in the industry as you progress your career into a more strategic/influencing role. Your job is vitally important. You keep the medical world spinning, patients living longer and leading happier lives. There is a shortage of supply in regulatory affairs and increasing demand, but do not forget the soft skills mentioned above to set you apart from the rest!What competencies do you think are necessary for a successful career in Regulatory Affairs?

I spend 90% of my day getting to know professional candidates across Germany in the field of Medical Devices, especially in roles focussed on Regulatory Affairs and Quality. My primary goal is to get to know you better, and dive-deeper into, well, everything! I am inquisitive about your studies, curious about your thesis topic, why you chose a particular location, your family life, how you have been coping after the numerous lockdowns this year and of course, your career and professional experience. I do not expect to know this all in 30 minutes, which is why I focus much more on the longer-term connection and genuine engagement.We all know that recruiter contact in this highly competitive field is regular, persistent, and sometimes, I imagine, annoying. I’m sure you are getting at least several recruiter messages a week, right? How many of these messages actually fit your expectations or aspirations? I assume not too many…What differentiates our approach at Adaptive Life Science is that we are first and foremost focussed on ‘people relationships’ and ‘result relationships’ second. My aim is to understand you as your friends and colleagues might, so that I can be relevant to your career development and that I always make meaningful contact or at the very least, a nice conversation.How do I do this? It’s all about building a strong relationship from day one, understanding the expectations you have from me as your recruitment partner (long or short term) and asking the question that most candidates dread…“What is your dream job?”Common answers I hear for this are:1) More development opportunities2) A good company culture3) To continue work in RA/QM for medical devices4) Better package5) Rebecca, I have no idea!!If we have spoken before, you’ll know this type of answer won’t make the cut with me.I want to understand the deeper wants and wishes that you need in order for your career to excel. Development means something different to everyone, and as I mentioned we are ‘people first’ so we need to understand YOU. Here are my Top 10 questions to think about to ensure you can easily communicate what you are looking for and ensure you get professional fulfilment from your next job offers…1) Would you like to be more hands-on or strategic in your role, perhaps leading people, or projects?2) Are you more interested in being a specialist in one topic (ie MDR/IVDR transition) or covering worldwide registrations?3) Do you like working broadly across RA/QM or prefer to be more focused on one area of the device lifecycle?4) Are you currently in a large company, or start-up to mid-sized? What are you used to, have you seen the other side and the challenges/possibilities it presents?5) Within RA/QM for Medical Devices is a great start, but please, tell us more! Do you prefer to work in a dual department? Do you have a background in Clinical Research and want to pick up those skills again within RA? These are all viable options so don’t hold back on your ‘wish list.’6) Long term location – have you just built a house or planning to move in the future? How much working flexibility to you need? Is this an absolutely ‘must’ or a nice to have? If this is negotiable, please tell us. Otherwise, we might miss out on sending you an opportunity that ticks 90% of your boxes, that actually meets an even higher standard for you.7) What company culture are you used to, and what do you like about it or not so much? Do you prefer to be structured or free to plan your day? How much support do you really need?8) What products really catch your interest. If you have spent many years in ophthalmic, are you comfortable staying here or do you want a complete change? Would you like to reconnect back with your PhD topic? Tell us things like this and we will always listen.9) Financially, of course the more the better, always! What do you need though? If it is the ‘dream job’ would you consider a more flexible package? Are there any ‘must haves’ like childcare on site, bonus potential, days of vacation? I once had a perfect fit between a client and candidate fall apart right at the end, because she required a certain pension contribution – it was devastating for everyone involved because we did not know it was such an important factor.10) If you are struggling to think of what you do want, tell us what you don’t want! Are there parts of your role that you really don’t enjoy or want less of? This could help to point us in the right direction.It could be that you really are completely open-minded to what is available, and perhaps you are not even looking actively for something new. Either way, in a candidate driven market, you can choose to be selective and make the right choice for you, so it’s important to spend some time reflecting and think about what that is for you personally and professionally so that you can secure your future happiness. It does not mean we will only get in touch if we hit 10/10 on an opportunity, but there is more chance of us getting it right. Life and work are only getting busier, so our aim is to ensure any contact is entirely relevant, interesting and makes it a serious and exciting consideration for you.Thanks for reading and I hope it helps you to reflect over this quieter period about what your ‘dream job’ may, or may not look like.rebecca.stevens@adaptivelifescience.com

A message from our Head of Medical Devices, Rebecca Stevens,Our team are specialist consultants in the fields of Regulatory Affairs, Clinical and Quality Management for medical device manufacturers. At Adaptive Life Science, I am responsible for the Medical Device industry, specifically in the regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Working from our HQ in Berlin and London, I am connecting World Class Talent With The Most Innovative Medical Companies. Are you looking to move on to new professional challenges? Rely on my specialized consulting experience, market knowledge and strong network: all completely free for candidates. We support you every step of the way in finding your dream job, including CV application advice, consultation on salaries, personalised interview preparation, introduction to positions, and negotiating the optimum package. The key element is consultation, and being a secure partner and source of advice during the recruitment process, taking the stress out of the process for you, and working to your time-frame and around your schedule. Why I should be chosen as your recruitment consultant? My unique offer, is that I understand my clients from a 360 perspective and offer full visibility of a company and the offering to my candidate partners. I have close contact not only with the HR department to understand the benefits, working culture and development, but also with the senior decision makers and hiring managers to appreciate the position, team structure and tasks that await you. My client base is extremely broad in the Medical Device industry and I offer a diverse range of possibilities. Some positions are actively available online, but many confidential and handled by me privately. If you have an interest in working with high risk medical devices from Class IIa to Class III, active and non-active, in digital health or with SaMD, focused on Europe and the MDR or with the FDA, then I have an exciting portfolio to share with you from start-ups to global leaders in most therapeutic verticals, i.e. – cardiovascular, ophthalmology, diagnostics, hematology, oncology, respiratory, gastroenterology, dermatology and neurosciences. If you are looking for a new position in Quality Assurance/ Quality Management and/ or Regulatory Affairs and/or Clinical Affairs in the medical device market, we are looking forward to your contact.  Rebecca Stevens Global Life Science Recruitment Manager Tel: +44 208 638 5376Adaptivelifescience.com Video: Adaptive Life Science     

Just accepted an offer for your dream job and wondering how best to approach handing in your resignation? Please read on…If you are reading this my guess is that you have just secured a brand-new role, so a huge congratulations are in order – exciting times ahead! Obviously securing a job offer for your dream position is incredibly exciting but, understandably, sometimes that excitement can be overshadowed by the looming prospect of having to break the news to your current employer that you are leaving them.It’s almost never the easiest of tasks to give the news of your departure to your manager but as it’s an unavoidable task on the road to the next step in your career, so here are some tips to make the process as smooth as possible for all parties. Time is of the essence.This is key to you, your current employer, and your future employer. Obviously, your new company will be keen to have you join them as soon as possible and get stuck into your on-boarding process and your current employer will appreciate you giving them the courtesy of as much time as possible to find your replacement. It would always be the “dream” situation if they had sufficient time to find a new colleague who could join whilst you are still there so there could be a hand-over process and whilst this is not always possible, ensuring you’ve given as much notice as possible will keep everyone happy!Counter-offers.This is a tricky one; sometimes when you let your company know that you’re leaving them they are all of a sudden and (often all too late) desperate to show how important you are as an employee and will present a counter-offer to you. This can be tempting as, after all, increased responsibilities or earnings are always exciting but accepting a counter-offer can actually be extremely damaging in the long-term and set you back further in your career. Realistically, you were looking for a new opportunity for a reason and though the immediate prospect of a salary increase or promotion can be attractive, the long-term reality is that you’re likely to be left with regret for not having taken the new opportunity that provided you with what you were missing. Statistically, 80% of candidates who accept a counter-offer from their current employer actually end up leaving within 6 months after realising that their original reasons for looking are still valid and haven’t truly been addressed. As unfair as it may be, as soon as your company know you were interviewing elsewhere, a level of trust is often lost and your employer may be suspicious that you are interviewing again whenever you are off work. Lastly, it can also damage your relationship with the other company if you accept an offer and then retract it, putting you in a disadvantaged position if you want to work with them in the future.Honesty is the best policy.It can be tempting, and may seem like the easiest option, when asked why you’re leaving to simply say something generic along the lines of “I loved it here but just wanted a fresh challenge” and in some cases this might be true, but often there is a bigger reason behind closed doors. In reality, you are doing your employer a disservice to not share your honest reasons behind your motivation to leave as it can actually help the company to realise areas where they’re potentially not doing so well and their short-comings and how they can better support and retain staff in future. Think about what made you look elsewhere, was it down to the renumeration, lack of training or perhaps there are a lack of opportunities to advance your career? Respectfully and constructively sharing these insights with employers can really help them to improve. That said, be sure to also share everything you have gained from your time there and thank them for the opportunity that they gave to you, which leads me onto my next point...Always be professional.Sometimes it can be tempting once you have already secured a new role to let your professionalism go slightly out of the window, particularly if your reason for leaving is down to a negative relationship or unfair treatment in the workplace. This is never a good idea, namely because you never truly know who knows another professional in the industry, negative information could be passed on and come back to bite you in your career down the line so do not burn bridges and always remain professional as it puts you in the best position.Get excited!Once the task of handing in your resignation is complete, make sure you give yourself some time to celebrate your imminent new chapter! When times are “normal”, it is always a great idea to attend any social functions that you may be invited to with your new employer so you can begin to integrate with the team and get to know your new colleagues. That way, the first day will not be so daunting and there will already be a few familiar faces!I hope these tips help in some way to make the process of moving onto the next step in your career as smooth as possible. Most of all, it’s important that you don’t feel anxious or guilty about resigning – always prioritize your happiness, job satisfaction and personal/professional development above all! 

As businesses across the globe are forced to transition to a remote and digital workforce, so are interviews.  Zoom, Skype, Teams and other video conferencing tools are becoming today’s interviewing norm.The truth is, whether you’re an interview guru or just jumping back into the job market, technical issues and unexpected trip-ups are now more possible than ever before.  So be prepared. Put yourself in the best situation to ensure you crush your video interview.Below are a handful of tips and tricks gathered from recruiters, hiring managers, candidates and industry professionals to put you in the best position possible:PREPARE YOUR TECHNOLOGY In an ideal, even typical situation, you would be sitting across the table from your recruiter or hiring manager.  However, with today’s circumstances, video conferencing is the next best thing.  With this, comes different video platforms; you should check to see if you need to create an account, download an app, or insert a password.  Additionally, be sure to test your connection prior to the interview.  You don’t want your first impression to be that you were late because you couldn’t figure out the platform.Test your camera and mic – nothing else can start an interview on the wrong foot, than a webcam or mic malfunction.  You don’t want to be the “Can you hear me? Can you hear me now?” interviewee.This one seems simple, but is commonly one that is forgotten…charge your device!  Whether you are taking the interview on your phone or computer, be sure you are sufficiently charged or if possible, plug into a power source.DRESS THE PART You should still dress to impress!  This helps to not only boost confidence, but will also leave a strong first impression.  Plan to wear the same clothes you’d wear if you were meeting in-person…yes this includes pants.  We have all heard the jokes about taking video calls in your underwear, but don’t let that be you.  Most likely, the interviewer(s) will only see your face and shoulders, but you should be prepared.BODY LANGUAGE AND SPEECH Video interviews can be uncomfortable and seem unnatural, but do your best to be yourself and get your personality across.  Be mindful of your posture, remember to nod and be engaged, try not to fidget, and don’t forget to smile!  Gesture with your hands as you normally would and don’t feel restricted or stiff just because you are talking to a computer screen.Do your best to speak clearly and deliberately.  Issues with internet and connection can occur and this can cause delays or sound quality issues.  So be adaptable and do your best to ensure your audience is understanding you.  Try pausing momentarily before responding, as there can be a delay and cause you to talk over one another.Eye contact.  This one can be a bit more challenging depending on your computer/webcam set up, how many interviewers are on the call or how the platform displays the video.  Your impulse is typically to look at the face on the screen or be distracted by yourself.A few helpful tips:Look at the camera as much as you can (this will give the appearance of making eye contact)Place a sticky note over yourself on your screen as to not be distractedPosition your camera at eye-level for the most flattering and straight forward anglePractice! (remember it doesn’t come natural to look at the camera rather than the people on the screen)BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT Beware of any potential distractions such as family, friends or pets.  Try to ensure you have privacy and won’t be interrupted or distracted.Turn your camera on before your interview and evaluate your background and lighting.  Have a professional, clean and clutter-free background within the frame. And don’t forget to check your lighting, no one wants to join an interview and realize you are so backlit, it looks like you’re taking the call from a dungeon.If the lighting isn’t favorable:Try facing a window to get natural lightSet up a light or two behind the screen to brighten yourself and backgroundIncrease the brightness on your screen to add some illumination to your faceBE ADAPTABLE It’s important to remember that technical issues or distractions can and do happen, even if you prepare.  Things can take place on your end or the interviewers, they are in the same situation as you and working to do what they can to give you the best interview experience.  Be patient and be understanding.DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW UP This will always be a best practice for any type of interview.  Remember to leave a strong impression and send a thank you note to the interviewer(s).