Microlearning can boost your chances of getting an interview when changing careers. Find out how 1-day intensive GMP training / education courses & GMP eLearning courses can help you (and other job seekers) gain interviews in an unfamiliar industry.

2023 Careers: Job Seeker GMP Training Options

As the new year begins, you may be contemplating your post-graduation career path options or career change options.
You may even start to explore new industries or new education qualifications, but stall on taking action.

How is anyone supposed to figure out which career path or job opening is best?

Sadly, there is no ‘one best answer’ to that question.

That noted, gathering genuine industry knowledge is generally the best place to start your career path or career change journey. And what may surprise you is how easily and quickly you can gain that knowledge via online education options and Zoom-based induction training sessions.

Pharmaceutical Industry Career Paths

Have you considered the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries?

In an unpredictable world where our population is both expanding rapidly and aging, the life sciences industries (including pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory sciences) are great areas for job seekers to explore.

But what if you have no experience in the highly regulated world of medicinal product manufacturing?
What if risk management concepts are unfamiliar to you?
How can you get into a different industry (or your first ever serious job role) with limited, or no, experience in that sector?

The answer to ‘breaking into’ a new industry is research and education.

If you graduated with a life sciences degree OR have transferable skills that would suit a variety of industries, you don’t have to embark on a whole new field of study. But it does help to understand the language (lingo) of the industry and crucial requirements. In this regard, short courses – a few hours or a day or two long – are perfect ways to prepare yourself for an interview or job role.

Microlearning for job seekers is one of the best ways to:

Step into a new industry
Become familiar with its lingo
Gain valuable insights into regulatory requirements
Help hiring teams recognise your dedication to the role

When you take the time to study the language, industry regulations & standards, and what quality assurance really means in terms of practical activities and personnel policies, you gain valuable insight into what working in that industry will be like.

FAQs about entering a new industry when changing careers

Is taking a short GMP course helpful to job-seekers wanting to gain an interview in the Pharmaceutical or Medical Device manufacturing sectors?

The short answer is YES.

GMP eLearning courses and 1-day intensive GMP sessions are some of the best job seeker education options available when a person is wanting to gain an interview in a life sciences sector.
This is true whether the employment market is soft or desperately seeking pre-trained employees.
Having industry knowledge goes a long way towards your career path in the Pharmaceutical/life sciences sectors.

You will also gain a number of ‘insider’ insights in relation to regulatory compliance activities simply by taking these short courses.

Insights that might otherwise take you several years to gain.
Insights that will help you ‘speak the language’ during your interview.
Industry insights (and terminology) that can prevent you from adopting a blank stare during your interview when a new term or regulatory compliance concept is discussed.

**In fact, of the different job seeker education options you’ll explore:**

Online training courses offer the most rapid and lowest-cost education options for gaining Pharmaceutical Industry Training Certificates
Live-streamed “virtual” training courses led by Pharmaceutical industry experts can also provide you with advanced industry knowledge you’d otherwise gain only by working directly in the sector for an extensive period of time

FAQ: How much time does it take to gain GMP training course credentials (certificates)?

It really depends on what type of qualification you’re searching for, and where the company you’re applying to is located. In general, industry-led training is more highly-respected than new courses offered by non-industry RTOs offering the course only because it’s subject to potential cost offsets.

With courses designed by life science experts, you can gain a GMP Course Completion certificate:

ONLINE: In as little as 2 to 4 hours per eLearning course and completing the assessment. Successful completion of the online Final Assessment or each course provides you with a GMP Course Completion Certificate to attach to your CV
IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM: In as little as 7 to 9 hours per 1 day-long facilitated training session (often via ZOOM) including reviewing the learning materials and successfully completing the Final Assessment (online) to gain your GMP Course Certificate of Completion (to attach to your CV)
BUNDLES OR BLENDED LEARNING: 15 to 25 hours for an industry-orientation training bundle

FAQ: What’s the best way to show interest in a job opening in the life sciences sector?

The best way to show a recruiting team you’re interested in a job role is, as noted above, through research and education. These activities can be performed online and/or by taking short courses/workshops and eLearning courses.

This concept is known as ‘microlearning’ (micro-learning).
Microlearning involves short bursts of topic-specific training & ‘just in time’ learning.

Microlearning is the ‘go-to’ learning experience for the job seekers

If you’re searching for a pharmaceutical-industry job role — or want to shift your salary rate:

For as little as $35 to $70 USD per course or $550 AUD) plus GST for live-streamed courses, you will gain important GMP compliance knowledge.

Valuable knowledge you can list on your job applications in the Pharmaceutical industry and other life science sectors.
Direct knowledge about the pharmaceutical sector to help you explore your career path and career change options.

But there are many other factors that can impact your ability to gain employment in the Pharmaceutical industry; so there are never any guarantees. However, if you’re wanting to change careers and are exploring current job openings in the pharmaceutical or medical device sectors, you’d benefit by completing regulatory compliance training courses and learning industry-specific terms and concepts.

FAQ: How much is online training used in pharmaceutical roles?

GMP eLearning has long been used by many top pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing companies. It generally forms a key part of their new employee induction training and ongoing compliance training programs, a requirement for GMP.

If you’re wanting more information about how industry-specific training courses can improve your job applications, keep reading.

FAQ: What types of courses are best for job seekers changing careers to life sciences?

There are many different job seeker education options for this sector.

Digitally delivered training options for job seekers offer industry-specific education & Certificates of Completion (GMP training certificates) for a number of GMP education topics.
Options for courses vary tremendously and can suit a variety of topics, from good laboratory practices (for researchers & scientists), to logistics and distribution topics for warehouse & transportation personnel, to Quality Management and Auditing.
There are also courses covering regulatory requirements for cleanroom HVAC systems, Cleaning Validation procedures, and Pharmaceutical Water Quality systems.

Whether you’re an experienced quality manager, systems engineer/architect, data integrity expert — or even a new engineering graduate, these courses help you gain an edge over other job applicants. They can gain you that ever-important interview opportunity, also.

Online courses and 1-day virtual training sessions can offer you rapid upskilling – which may just gain you an interview in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and/or medical product development sectors. No promises, of course. Yet it makes sense to gain industry-specific knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), imperative for individuals working in these sectors.

FAQ: Is online, self-directed training as good as classroom training?

They’re both good options, and they offer different things. It also depends on your pre-existing knowledge. Ideally, you’d start with an eLearning course and then move into a 1-day intensive course, but you could also do this the other way around.

If you have your eye on a career in the pharmaceutical sector, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) terminology and regulatory compliance requirements (including PIC/S Annexes and Validation processes).

“Without this knowledge, you’ll be missing out on interviews. You might also find it hard to change careers and enter the world of Pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug development.

FAQ: What are the pitfalls of having no GMP experience?

As you may have already discovered, not understanding pharmaceutical industry terminology & TGA or FDA regulations means you’ll be unlikely to get an interview (or be hired) in the Pharmaceutical, drug development or medical device manufacturing sectors.

Training can close that gap and give you an edge over the competition for a job role. Also, it pays to be flexible on where you start in the industry. Once you have a job in this sector, you’ll get a far better sense of the sector’s requirements and can explore other career path options over time.

Self-directed training is increasingly being used to gain employment interviews in a tough job market.

Summary: Potential benefits of getting training in the pharmaceutical sector before you apply for that job opening

Being considered above other applicants with no knowledge and no training certificates in regulatory compliance matters.
The convenience of learning options – online learning available 24/7, for a low cost, or 1-day GMP presentations/intensives via ZOOM.
GMP eLearning along with live-streamed, 1-day training courses, delivered by industry experts, is highly regarded by many hiring teams.
GMP Course Certificates (Certificates of Completion) upon completion of the online Assessment process are yours to keep (forever) including when you apply for other job roles

Example: When you successfully complete an online GMP training course from https://www.onlinegmptraining.com/ you’ll gain a Certificate of Completion that you can attach to your CV when you apply for a job in these sectors.

With the availability of 24/7 online training (and live-streamed sessions offered for convenience and/or safety), you can now:

Increase your pharmaceutical industry knowledge without leaving your home office!
Familiarise yourself with GMP compliance requirements
- Including PIC/s Version 15 which the TGA adopted as of July 2022
- Including PIC/S Version 16 which most other regulatory authorities adopted upon its release in
Improve your job-seeking capacity in a cost-effective, efficient manner

If you don’t recognise the regulations above, consider taking a GMP induction training bundle.

Additional FAQS for Job Seekers (Industry specific Education Options)

Are there Government funding opportunities, education grants or training scholarships to help pay for online training courses?

There are some Government funds for completing training for certain types of accredited training programs offered by course-accredited Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
But these ASQA accredited training programs often take a minimum of 1 year to 3 years to complete (a Diploma, for example, can readily consume 2 or more years of full-time study) and are not necessarily offered by experts in the Industry.
In other words, these schools may also teach carpentry, plumbing, media communication, etc. and not focus entirely on the life sciences sector.
Plus, certain criteria apply in terms of eligibility for education funding.

Ask yourself these questions if considering longer education options/degrees

Can you really afford to study full-time for several years before gaining employment?
And do you really want thousands of dollars of education costs added to your current financial pressures?
Do you realise that the industry needs personnel NOW, but that could change in a few years if the industry employment market gets saturated with enough trained employees; so it pays to get your foot in the door before that happens?

Additionally, not every RTO is as respected by industry employers as are experts in the industry. One such expert and Pharmaceutical industry education providers is PharmOut. They are a highly-respected consultancy firm with global GMP compliance experts. Their personnel includes industry engineers, cleanroom architects, facility designers, validation experts, FDA and TGA audit response experts, SOP writers, and more. And they are home to the world’s greatest GMP trainer, who delivers most of the 1-day intensive training courses in GxP/GMP compliance.

An industry-respected GMP education/training organisation will offer you more direct industry knowledge than a fly-by-night RTO, many who have poor student satisfaction statistics and high rates of employee/lecturer turnover.

Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Industry Knowledge Assessments

The online Final Assessment for online and in-person/ZOOM courses, once passed, gives you an industry-respected GMP training Certificate of Completion for that education topic (e.g. Data Integrity, PIC/S Annex 1, Process Validation, HVAC engineering, etc..
It is recommended you attach this Certificate of Completion to your CV and job applications in the pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing sector (or Veterinarian medicine manufacturing sector).
Here’s the link to the most popular online training courses in GMP compliance (Certificate Courses for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry).
Recommended introductory courses are listed below.
But if you’re not sure, start out with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP01) and read up on good recordkeeping/good documentation practices (GDocP or GRK).

Job seekers should also consider taking several of the 1-day live-streamed training sessions open to the public (Technical Writing, GMP Refresher course and more) led by industry experts.

Current industry trends: The demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccines and other medications has skyrocketed at the same time international supply chains were disrupted by a lack of travel.

This means many organisations are:

Still searching for high numbers of local and international personnel who understand GMP compliance (see our blog on pharmaceutical jobs in Australia)
Considering hiring new employees to fill the gaps
Aiming to overcome supply chain disruptions or create new production lines, including returning manufacturing processes & quality assurance checks to their original manufacturing sites (when possible) versus outsourcing intermediates/production processes etc.

FAQ: Will having a GMP Certificate Course really help my job-hunting prospects?

It really depends on a number of factors, including your background, prior education, interview skills, transferable talents, etc.
But in general, having GMP course certificates should be useful in the sector.
These industry-specific short courses may improve your chances of getting an interview for jobs listed in the pharmaceutical sector.

But be sure you download and attach the Certificate of Completion to your application and CV.

Also, note these courses in your job application (list them under the Education section on your resume, or under Industry Training).
If you think your resume isn’t presented properly – get professional CV writing help (or use Grammarly’s resume / CV writing advice).

No guarantees, of course – it is a tough market thanks to Covid. And factors other than GMP knowledge can deter your entry into the sector.

At the same time, many pharmaceutical businesses are hiring now as we stated above, with increased demand for production quantities of vaccines, respirators, masks, gloves, gowns, and other medical devices.

Having a Certificate of Completion for several GMP courses – and understanding the concepts and terminology of GMP – will certainly set your job application apart from other candidates who have ZERO knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and regulatory compliance requirements.

Again, having industry-recognised training will also set you apart from other applicants who lack information on personnel hygiene, good recordkeeping/good documentation practices (ALCOA), and cross-contamination risks.

These are several “knowledge” skill sets you’ll need to have to gain work in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
So it’s best to take these courses as soon as possible, so you don’t miss out on a job opening in the sector – and are ready and prepared to add your training course Certificates to your application.

FAQ: Is there Government funding for GMP-related courses?

Many job seekers are confused about potential Government funding that is available for education for the currently unemployed.

If you were assigned to an employment assistance agency, do your research about what they may be able to give you in terms of course funding assistance.

Did you know that most Government-hired job-seeker agencies have a training budget?
Many of these agencies DO have funds available to help you upskill your knowledge.

They often fail to mention it, and you must apply for it and meet certain criteria.

But it’s certainly worth exploring and pressing your representative a bit about what’s available (they can be ‘tight’ with funds).

If you’re receiving job seeker funding in Australia, for example, you may be able to get your Employment Agency to chip in for your training courses.
Again, they often have a special training budget for their job seekers, with strict criteria; many agencies try to conserve these funds to the detriment of the people they’re trying to help.
It might be helpful to do your research first; then present an education funding request to your agency for these training courses using related data.

If financial help for education courses is not available to you, the good news is that you can learn about the Pharmaceutical sector – and GMP compliance requirements – for very little money.

FAQ: What are the Education Costs for GMP Training / GMP Induction Programs?

Online courses – costs

For only $35 USD to $70 USD per course (or discounted online course bundles in specific manufacturing sectors), you can start learning immediately upon your purchase completion and gain your GMP education topic Course Completion Certificate in a few hours!
- These are Certificate GMP Courses, designed by PharmOut’s expert consultants.
- They are highly respected by industry employers, who often contract with PharmOut for their personnel training needs.
One popular bundle, for example, is the 4-part Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Fundamentals online training package for only $200 USD.
- This series is ideal for engineers, architects, maintenance experts, and Quality Personnel/Quality role applicants
- It is also applicable to contractors and industry suppliers who work for (or want to supply or service) pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.
- It takes approximately 16 to 20 hours to complete all 4 modules; and assumes you have at least completed GMP01 and GMP02 courses (or possess similar experience in the sector).

Jobs in the life sciences sector also require good communication skills. So you’d also be wise to take a few live-streamed training courses, such as Technical Writing / SOP writing (pharmaceutical industry-focused, but open to the public).

In-person GMP training sessions (classroom style/facilitated) – 1-day course costs

What is the average cost of a 1-day GMP training course, and are these open to the public?

There are many 1-day courses that are open to the public.
Click here for the public training course dates and register easily online.
These are live-streamed over the internet, presented by industry experts.
The average cost of a 1-day GMP training session in a small group format very affordable.
Some companies hire our trainers for in-house sessions and they have minimum numbers of participants plus travel and accommodation costs depending on the location (subject to availability/scheduling).

Register quickly if you need to get upskilled in a hurry in order to apply for jobs in the pharmaceutical sector.

FAQ: In what order/sequence should I take the GMP courses?

This depends on both your areas of employment interest – quality, engineering, administration, etc – and your previous education and career experience.
Your first stop will typically be the GMP01 and GMP02 courses (online).
Those will cost you $35 USD each – or choose up to 4 courses (or more) in one of the discounted bundles (one licence/one user per bundle).
Read more about GMP01.
Read more about GMP02.
See all our available online courses here

You’ll also need to understand good recordkeeping practice (GRK)

If you want to work in a production line role, warehouse/logistics or another quality management role, you will want to explore the following job seeker GMP education options:

Need to train your new pharmaceutical employees?

Contact PharmOut for custom training quotes for:

Live-streamed custom GMP training courses for groups of 15 or more employees
Discounted online GMP training bundles for large numbers of personnel
Custom training development

Published originally in 2021 & 2022.

Page last updated June 13, 2023.