This blog series by the Resident and New Practitioner Committee is targeted to psychiatric pharmacists seeking their first or a new position. Throughout the spring of 2026, this series will feature interviews with hiring managers in various types of settings.
The Role of Psychiatric Pharmacists
Brittany Finocchio, PharmD, BCPP
National Executive Medical Science Liaison
Psychiatric pharmacists are key players within the pharmaceutical industry. Their experience and expertise can be leveraged in medical affairs, field medical, health economics and outcomes research, pharmacovigilance, and other areas. This article focuses on medical science liaison (MSL) roles within field medical, though principles may apply broadly.
An MSL is an individual with advanced scientific or clinical training, such as a PharmD, who works within the medical affairs department of a pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology, or similar company. The MSL role is “field-based,” meaning that MSLs work remotely within an assigned geographical area. The MSL serves as a liaison between the medical community and the science/industry, developing and maintaining strategic, mutually beneficial relationships with external stakeholders in their territory on behalf of their company, in support of the company’s medical business objectives.
Advice for Breaking into the Field
Network, network, network. Use social media to message, connect, and request to meet with recruiters and MSLs via mutual connections garnered through your professional associations (e.g., AAPP)you’re your residency and/or university alma mater.
- Gain a strong understanding of the role and learn of potential job opportunities from current MSLs.
- Identify recruiters through secondary connections on LinkedIn. They can provide guidance to aspiring MSLs, may know of openings before they are posted, and know which hiring managers may consider a candidate without MSL experience (note: while past MSL experience is often listed as a job requirement, if it’s not in bold/caps, hiring managers may flex for the ideal candidate).
- View LinkedIn connections before applying for an industry position to see if there is anyone you are comfortable asking for an internal referral.
Highlight transferable skills within your resume. Serving on an interdisciplinary team or providing consultation throughout a healthcare network can be great examples of relationship building and thought leader capital. Presentation delivery and response to medical information questions are core to the MSL role in addition to clinical practice. P&T experience can showcase your understanding of formulary management.
Be intentional with where you apply. Focus on therapeutic areas where you have experience/expertise (e.g., neuroscience) and apply for positions in your geographical area. A role may be listed in one city, but the job description may reveal a larger territory where candidates could be located. Some companies are open to hiring based on fit if a candidate lives near but not within a particular geography though this is less common.
Go the extra mile. Consider writing a cover letter to emphasize your passion for the role and disease state, and your transferable skills.
Learning About Job Openings
- LinkedIn is an excellent place to identify and set alerts for a particular position or company of interest.
- Consider viewing career pages of companies in which you are interested, where you may be able to set job alerts or join their talent pool.
Priority Qualifications and Skills
- Hiring managers often look for either MSL experience or therapeutic area expertise.
- Managers with psychiatric pharmacy backgrounds may value residency training and BCPP designation.
How to Prepare for the Interview
The interview process typically involves multiple stages and interviews.
HR Screen with Talent Acquisition. The process typically begins with an email or call from talent acquisition to schedule a phone or video screen (~30 min). You may be asked:
- Why are you interested in the role/company?
- Why are you leaving your current position?
- What makes you a strong fit for this role?
- What are your salary expectations?
- How is your search going and where are you in the application process?
Hiring Manager Interview. Following a successful screen, you may have a phone or video interview with the hiring manager (~45 minutes). Questions could be behavioral or conversational. They may assess your understanding of the role and your ability to handle it via questions such as these:
- How would you describe the MSL role?
- Outline your 30-60-90 day plan.
- How would you handle stakeholder identification and territory planning?
- What challenges do you anticipate in this role (and how will you handle them)?
Panel Interviews. Interview panels may include the hiring manager’s boss, MSLs, medical directors, or other leadership. These interviews may be behavioral or conversational. Consider how you would be collaborating with each interviewer in this role as you prepare.
Presentation with Q&A. The process typically ends with a presentation to internal stakeholders. Candidates are often assigned an article on the company’s product; however, they may be asked to present a company deck or topic of choice.
The Offer. Talent acquisition may follow up to gauge interest and determine what you are leaving behind before preparing an offer. They often ask for 3 references, including 1-2 past supervisors. The hiring manager may do a reference check while the offer is being prepared. Offers may include base salary, short-term incentive/annual bonus %, inducement grant or long-term incentives (i.e., stock), and fleet benefit (company car or stipend).
Final Advice
Some applicants secure the first role to which they apply, but as a competitive career path, it is not uncommon for it to take much longer. Persistence and patience are key.