I have always been fascinated by drug and chemistry since young. At an early age, I found out that drugs could drastically improve or impair a person’s life. For instance, a prescribed medicine could cure a patient suffering from the most unforgiving diseases; on the flip side, a street drug could ruin the promising future of youth by addiction. It made me wonder how a minuscule tablet could cause such a drastic effect on the human body. As I was deciding on my tertiary education, I found out about the Pharmaceutical Chemistry (PC) programme at IMU. I chose to study this programme because I wanted to explore more into this area of my interest. Furthermore, I found it appealing that the programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and that it can be completed in 3 years.
I found the PC programme to be an enjoyable and exciting course. The programme provides sufficient hands-on practical sessions and report-writing which helped me to crystalise the knowledge I learned from lectures. Furthermore, the many group projects and project-based learning (PBL) sessions trained me to be a better communicator, leader and contributor in a group. As an individual who embrace lifelong learning, I found that the many online learning resources provided by the programme to be extremely beneficial. Lastly, the University lecturers are competent and always ready to help.
I graduated with a Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree in Sept 2020 and managed to secure a job in Pfizer (M) Sdn Bhd, four months after my graduation, during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am currently based in the Penang branch. I decided to venture into the pharmaceutical business because I like going out to meet different kinds of people. Moreover, helping patients by bringing quality medicine to healthcare providers is something I can see myself being passionate about.
I started my employment at Pfizer on 1 March 2021 as a Product Specialist. As a product specialist, we are well-versed in the pharmaceutical drugs that we oversee. We assist healthcare providers by bringing our products to their attention, keeping them up to date with the latest research on our products. We work with healthcare providers to bring the most suitable drugs to patients.
Recalling my university days, IMU is not just a dull place for study, but a place for a wholesome university experience and development. There are many clubs in IMU, ranging from sports, religious, social and academic. Furthermore, there is the yearly campus sporting event (IMU CUP) which is undeniably the biggest annual event that many students looked forward to.
I was very involved in extracurricular activities and the most unforgettable experience I had was the time I spent in the IMU Christian Fellowship Club. It was there that I met a very friendly and supportive community of students, made up of students from different courses and semesters. Moreover, the club held so many fun and exciting activities which I will never forget!
| Just some words to my juniors of PC |
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| This is likely to be the period of your time when you have the most amount of time and the greatest amount of energy to spent (Yes, even with the study workload). Thus, I think it is a great time to explore. Visit a club you never expect to visit, or a sport you don’t know, make new relationships, and enjoy the moment. Shout out to IMU Christian Fellowship Club (if you are a Christian) for the amazing time I had experienced. Do check it out if you decide to enrol into IMU! With regards to the job application, aside from the many good bits of advice regarding job application that you have already received, I want to encourage you to put in the effort to sharpen your skills when you are at an interview. An interview is perhaps skin-deep, but it is certainly crucial. Just as how a good packaging of a product could lure purchase, a good interview could land you a job. Fundamentally, the principle of nailing an interview is simple: be intentional in answering EVERY question (which includes the mundane “Please introduce yourself” in the beginning and “Do you have any questions?” at the end of every interview). Every question is an opportunity to showcase how you are fit for the job. Do not sell yourself short! Yet just be honest at the same time. |
Written by IMU Pharmaceutical Chemistry Alumnus, Clement Chow PC217
