However, onboarding was not going ideally, from a technical point of view and from the practical kind of view. I won´t go into details, but the situation was not very satisfying. During a Study Meeting from the other client, who I was and am still working for, I learned that timelines for that project had shifted and the expectation was now, that the study will be completed by August, what meant, that the visits I would still need to do, would have to be done in a much shorter period than previously anticipated. The project was initially planned to last until November. So much more work would have to fit into much less time than expected. 

In addition, I have a health issue, that requires some attention and potentially a surgery in the near future, which I learned about around the same time. So I called my contact person at the newly acquired client and explained my situation with the other client (I did not say anything about the health issue, as it is not yet clear how this will be handled) and we mutually decided to part ways, as they would need support mostly in June and July. We parted on good terms. I was not knowing at the time of signing up with them, that these changes were coming, and they require someone who can focus on their needs. 

After speaking with the client, I called the recruiter, who had organized this match and explained the situation to them as well. I was upfront and honest and got a dry reply which sticks with me still.

Recruiter:“And you definetely could not see this coming?“

Me: „No, I am sorry, I didn´t“

Recruiter: „So, you are preferring the other client over us?“

Me: „It´s not about preference, but I am working with this client for over a year, and I won´t let them down on the last stretch of the study“ 

Recruiter: „But you gave us a commitment as well“

Me: „I know, but circumstances were different then“

We ended the call. I don´t think this recruiter will ever come back to me again. It left me with the feeling they took my decision personally, while it was the best thing to do I could think of, knowing I would not be able to accomodate the needs of both clients. While I know, that the recruiter will also not get the assignment fee they would have gotten if I had gone on with the client, plus the time and effort they invested into presenting me and setting me up, I think it would have been unfair and unsatisfying, as I had already known I would not have been able to cater to both clients, if I had continued. 

So, what I am asking myself is, is it better to be honest, tell your limitations and let everyone involved know what is going on or should you bite your teeth, pull through despite knowing, `this will be impossible` and potentially disappoint everyone, including yourself? And: especially recruiters know how quickly things can change and how quickly needs in a project may change, and yet, you get the answer „but you gave us a commitment, too“, when you are being transparent. Of course, I did, and I am very sorry I can´t keep it, but I rather be honest upfront instead of letting the client feel that I cannot deliver what they need and expect from their new hire. 

What do you think about this? Especially from a recruiting point of view? Have you experienced things like this? How did you handle this kind of situation?

The post Adapting to changes in commitment… a one way street in recruitment? first appeared on BO.Medical | Bettina Otte.

I had enjoyed working for this client a lot, which was the main, if not the only, reason for me, to go ahead with this CRO, as I had a previous, very unpleasant experience with them before. Unfortunately, working for them the second time proved me right having left that company in the first place. I mean, in personal relationships, we are talking about red flags, and I feel they are valid for working relationships just as much. First of all, the company forgot the start date of the other colleague and me. We were starting on Monday, Dec 2nd, and the week before, about midweek, I had to send an email to the hiring manager, asking about our equipment. Because no one had reached out by then to schedule anything. It arrived the Friday before the start. On our first day, we had a call with a local European manager, who let us know, that the manager who was supposed to be ours in the future, was sick (that’s probably why they forgot about us in the first place). Another manager was supposed to be responsible for me and took this over from the sick colleague, as I was already added to his reporting line in all systems.

However, I know both companies, the Sponsor I would be working for and the CRO which was my Line Management and Employer. Therefore, everyone in the CRO seemed to expect me to know everything already and take care of everything myself. The CRO forgot to enter me in all their working systems and every time I encountered a system that I needed to use, I had to take care of getting access myself. And the question, I got asked all the time: „How about your colleague? Does she have the same problem?“ This brought me to the conclusion, that they didn´t onboard her properly either, though she was new to the client and the company. Instead, they once asked me to support her onboarding. It´s not that I don´t want to help, but how about companies doing their job onboarding two newbies? Is the new standard „newbie onboard newbie“? The experience of these first two working weeks, made me want to leave again immediately. And this was only on top of what I had gone through during the hiring process! Let me tell you about that as well. 

When the recruiter first reached out to me, a certain annual compensation where car allowance and bonus would be added upon, was promised, which, in the end, wasn´t met at all in the contract draft. Speaking about that, the recruiter told me, that the initial offer was the total (annual compensation, plus car allowance plus bonus included) and that I „must have gotten this wrong“. Yes, surely. 😉 But it would still come close to that annual total. in the end, I was so desperate, because there was still no new offer on the horizon and I really wanted to work for that former client, that I agreed with the contract. I asked, if I was allowed to keep my last rather small client for a sidekick, but even that was declined without gathering any further information on what I was doing. 

During the hiring process, after the contract was signed, a background check was performed by a third party. I remembered it from the last time I was working for respective CRO, but not, how badly this really was conducted. The agreement I had to sign, stated, that I allowed respective third party to reach out to previous employers and clients to confirm my details on working duration and experiences /tasks. The past year, when I was a freelancer, it was quite complicated to prove, as I was never given a resignation letter. So for all my clients AND previous employers, the company asked me to provide the contracts I had. I was allowed to reduce personal data and everything that falls under confidentiality. Surely, I declined this and told them, that I signed for them to reach out to the companies and clients but I would not provide contracts, not even first and last pages, as requested. When providing these, the 3rd party stated they would not be able to locate the start dates and in general didn´t understand the document (it was in German, while the company was US-based). After several weeks of discussion, I got in touch with a data protection guard and asked for advice. I was told to never send any page of the contract to such a company (unless I would be working for the government) to prove my employment. If I would have to do so, I needed to get written confirmation of agreement from the other party. After I forwarded this information to the 3rd party, I was threatened that if I did not adhere to their process, my start date would have to be postponed. So basically, they asked me to disregard German law. Of course, I didn´t and escalated this to the CRO. In the end, they let me start on the agreed date. 

After these experiences, two weeks were sufficient for me to decide, that this was not how I wanted to work. Even though I loved the client (Sponsor), and they hated to let me go, as they knew I was experienced with their ways of working and systems and all, after two weeks, I handed in my resignation. that was when for the first time, my manager called me and asked why I wanted to leave again. I was being straight and honest and told him everything I had written down here as well, and he apologized for not having been around more. I told him, that I totally understood, that he had so much on his plate, that it wasn´t possible for him, and really, I do understand that. But that doesn´t make it better at all, since I know it is a systemic error within the CRO. That is what I told him as well. Along with the fact that this shows me, that employees are only numbers for them and how they are seen and valued – not at all. 

During the last weeks of 2024, the market became more vivid again in regards to clinical research and a few offers came in, so I decided to take a leap back (or better: forward) and decided to stay a freelancer. Having taken this decision, I felt much lighter and happier immediately and even though freelancing has its downsides, like insecurities, for me, it is, at the moment, the best way to work.

What do I take with me out of this experience to the year 2025? Don´t give up. When you realize something is good for you and helps you shine and thrive, stick with it, even it the road gets bumpy. Plus: Creating some financial reserves in order to stay calm when the air is getting thin is crucial. 

So, let´s make 2025 a happy, healthy, funny, loving, peaceful, successful and enjoyable year! I am looking forward to meet and work with new people and companies with strong values, seeing lots of concerts and travelling a bit!

Happy New Year to all of you!

PS: If you find yourself looking for a reliable clinical research professional with a strong work ethic, don´t hesitate to get in touch! 🙂

The post Resuming 2024 first appeared on BO.Medical | Bettina Otte.

The time was just about right when the opportunity arose in spring 2023, I grabbed it and jumped right into freelancing again. Taking this huge step was a bit scary, because it sometimes feels uncertain, but would I change it back? Not at all! I can only recommend doing what you desire, follow your heart and work in a way that is healthy for you and where the passion for what you are doing is not getting lost on the way. Would I go back into a permanent position you may ask. My answer would be: only under the right conditions, with the right people. But for now, I am happy the way things are working out for me!

The post Taking the step and become a freelance clinical research expert first appeared on BO.Medical | Bettina Otte.

During discussions on the challenges linked to current US vascular catheters, I had the privilege of presenting our ongoing development, the Ebnüle® for venous access. Witnessing specialized nurses‘ genuine excitement as I unveiled the Ebnüle®’s advantages – promisingly intuitive, stable, and secure handling for successful first punctures and enhanced safety for patients and users – was truly gratifying. The innovative “decontamination box” ensures impeccable infection control, eliminating the need to touch the catheter during injection. Additionally, the specialized “insertion mechanism” guarantees precise catheter placement and needle insertion, preventing vein piercing or tissue damage. Addressing the overlooked issue of catheter kinking due to patient movement, the non-kinking catheter material signifies a breakthrough feature.

The overwhelming positive response and feedback from the nurse community affirmed the significance of need-driven product features, positioning the Ebnüle® as a genuine game-changer.

I extend my deepest appreciation to Jan Elliott BS, RN, CRNI, VA-BC, the president of #AVACNY, for graciously inviting me to showcase our product developments. Your invaluable insights will greatly contribute to refining our products before they hit the market. Personally, this visit provided profound insights into the daily challenges faced by nurses in the US. Thank you for this enlightening experience, and I eagerly look forward to reconnecting with you all next year!

The post Recap of my very first business trip to the US first appeared on BO.Medical | Bettina Otte.