The presentation portion of the MSL interview is truly “make or break,” and more often than not, the most highly weighted category of the entire interview process. Countless Hiring Managers have passed on MSL candidates that do not perform well on their scientific presentation – regardless of their industry tenure or many years of Liaison experience. Why? You ace the one-on-ones, you have great rapport with the team, you enthusiastically express your connection to the company’s mission and science…

The answer is because the presentation exercise is a key representation of how you’d interact with KOLs and HCPs. It is essentially a trial run to SEE how you would present yourself and communicate key clinical data and information – at its core, the MSL role is communication-heavy and customer-facing, so it’s basically a mock run of how you’d represent the organization and their science out in the field.

To be an excellent MSL, you not only need to have scientific acumen – you also need to be a great communicator and relationship-builder and have the ability to shine in a customer-facing environment.

Here are some standard, simple tips to help nail your next presentation during an MSL interview:

1. If it is scientific topic of YOUR choice, choose wisely. Make sure your selection is relevant and thoughtfully chosen for your audience and the job you are trying to win.

• This is an amazing opportunity to present on a topic you feel very well-versed in and knowledgeable about. You WILL be asked questions, so it should be something that you feel very confident in speaking about – choose something that you feel you are truly a scientific expert on.
• For example, if you are interviewing for an Oncology MSL role, you shouldn’t choose an off-beat, irrelevant topic focused on Neurology or Cardiology – your audience will be left scratching their heads, and it will water down the strength or your candidacy for that Oncology job you are trying to land.

2. Check the dates on your research and/or scientific article of choice. Make sure the research you have built your presentation around is recent – NOT outdated. This is something that a Hiring team will definitely pick up on.

• If you choose to structure your presentation around a certain clinical trial, therapy, or scientific paper, be sure to check that your information is sufficiently recent and current. You do not want to present data or information that is severely outdated (i.e. from 2001, when significant advancements have been made since that time…)
• Also, it is a good idea to do supplemental research outside of your article, product, or trial – you will undoubtedly be asked questions at the end, and the more you come off as a scientific expert, the better.

3. Make sure that your presentation has enough clinical “meat” and scientific substance to speak to.

• To reiterate, the presentation is an exercise to showcase your ability to disseminate scientific information in a compelling, accurate, and engaging way.
• You want to make sure that your presentation is data-rich and scientifically rigorous enough – we have seen Hiring Managers pass when the presentation is not “deep” enough.

4. Check to ensure that the information you present is in the public domain. Double- and triple-check that your slides DO NOT have any proprietary information on them.

• This error can be a non-starter for many of our clients and Hiring Managers. Your slides should not have any company logos or markers on them. Hiring Managers will check to make sure your slides are edited and stripped down, so don’t lose out on this technicality!

5. Make sure you are dressed professionally and present in a place that is quiet and professional.

• Zoom and Microsoft Teams have obviously changed the interview game (maybe forever). With this shift to the virtual medium, many people are also shifting to either the wrong interview outfit or the wrong environment to present in.
• Choose an outfit that you’d wear to a LIVE interview – you should not cut corners and opt for too casual an outfit, (even though you’re giving the presentation virtually and likely from the comfort of your home).
• Choose an environment that is not distracting to you – or to your interviewers. MSLs are remote employees, so you will want to present in a quiet and polished home office, if possible. If you present in your kitchen with your cat or dog running around, I guarantee it will not be perceived well.

6. Don’t fudge an answer during the Q&A portion.

• After you give your presentation, you should always expect questions from the audience. This is where enough preparation, research, and homework around your topic really shines through and works to your benefit.
• Expect the Hiring Managers to ask granular, in-depth questions, and do your best to answer them with ample detail – they want to test how you’d respond to a KOL and react under some pressure.
• However, it is really important not to fudge it or try to make up an answer on the fly that you genuinely don’t know. It is far better to treat the questioner as a KOL who asked the question – thank them for their insightful question, explain that you do not currently have the answer and would like to do your due diligence and do more research to get them an accurate answer – you will then get back to them in a timely manner with your research.

7. Do your best to showcase your interpersonal skills.

• Although the science is incredibly important, you will also need to showcase strong communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent MSLs have a combination of both, since the role is all about relationship-building and relationship maintenance.
• It is no doubt harder to do this virtually, but you will want to convey good, positive energy to the presentation and make eye contact throughout. Eye contact, even via Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams, reinforces engagement and your ability to connect well.