Medical Writer Mock Interview
Master 29 Medical Writer interview questions covering regulatory documents, clinical research, and scientific communication.
Question 16 of 29
How do you manage your time when under pressure?
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Clara is a career coaching expert and has supported individuals landing positions in education, non-profit, corporate, and beyond.
As a medical writer, you might have more than one large project on your plate at once, which can get stressful. Since this is a common reality in the profession, your interviewer is looking to make sure you are prepared and equipped to navigate that pressure while keeping things moving. Think about time management, organization, and prioritization techniques you employ when you are stressed. If you can explain with an example, then use one!
Clara is a career coaching expert and has supported individuals landing positions in education, non-profit, corporate, and beyond.
"As a preventative measure, I always try to build out my time management and organization techniques in anticipation of being under pressure. Things like writer's fatigue and writer's block can make it even harder to power through big projects, so I have a few simple solutions to help me work through them quickly and efficiently. When I'm really feeling the stress build up, I'll briefly step away from my desk, whether to take a walk around the block or even simply go get water or make tea. When I'm back, I'll set a short timer - 5 to 10 minutes - and do a brain dump. Usually, that means that I'm either writing down all of the things I'm thinking of and aware need to happen, or I might be doodling a visual of what needs to get done or what I need to write. I don't stop to process during this time, I just get it all out on paper. When the timer is up, I take a moment to look over what I've jotted down. Seeing it all on paper helps me to visually organize, prioritize, and strategize in a way that I can't do all in my head. This helps me to see which elements I'm missing as well as where I can consolidate my wor to save time. Sometimes, it feels like stopping for 5 to 10 minutes is impossible, but it always helps me manage my time and tasks significantly better overall!"
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Anonymous Answer
The delivery of quality work requires an infusion of inspiration. If a block is hit, the best way to overcome it in my opinion is to briefly move on to another subject altogether. The mind works in the background and will bring new thoughts to the surface. Forcing a subject can only increase stress as a function of time. Putting a stop releases this pressure and it might actually work wonders.
Amanda's Feedback
While this answer speaks to how you handle writer's block, it doesn't necessarily speak to how you manage your time when under pressure, which may not be related to a lack of inspiration. Pressure on your time can come from many areas such as managing multiple projects, a deadline that is shortened, or when additional research is needed to understand a new topic. Consider improving this answer by providing a specific example of how you've managed your time well in the past when under pressure or telling about a time when increased pressure actually helped you work more productively. You can also discuss tools or strategies you use to make sure you stay on track such as calendar or reminder apps, time blocking, etc..
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