I Got Hired: Health Technology Assessment Analyst

Posted on: 7 July 2023 by Samantha Riella in Graduate stories

Sophie Harrison is a Mathematical Physics graduate who is now working as a Health Technology Assessment Analyst at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.

How did you get to where you are now?

When I came across health economics and evidence-based medicine, I knew it was an area my Mathematical Physics degree had not directly equipped me for. I saw the position at NICE and knew this was the perfect role for me. I used the job description for the role to instigate research on unfamiliar areas, so that I understood more about the industry for when it came to interview. By setting some time aside each week leading up to the interview to research and "revise", I was able to conduct myself well in the technical questions in the interview, so the extra work definitely paid off.

What has been your best experience as part of your role?

In my role I get to see the impact that novel medical technologies can have on people and the NHS. I speak to clinical experts and patient experts to understand more about their experiences, which feeds back into an assessment of the technology which results in a piece of NICE guidance on whether the technology is recommended for use or not.

What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey?   

In any graduate role there will be so much to learn, even if you are going into a role directly related to your degree. Given my degree was unrelated to the role of a health technology assessment analyst, I found that it took me longer than anticipated to fully understand the area. As part of my role I am completing a part-time masters in Health Economics and Decision Modelling, which really helps me to understand the theory behind my role and complements the practical application.

What are your top tips for other students and graduates?   

1. Just because your current degree isn't directly relevant to the role you are interested in, doesn't mean you can't be a strong candidate for the role. Soft skills such as communicating with people from a range of backgrounds, working efficiently as part of a team and critical thinking are crucial for success in any role, and these can be developed during any degree.

2. Don't undersell yourself. It can be hard to talk about yourself in a way that really showcases your skills and potential because you don't want to come across as big-headed. However you have to remember that these employers know nothing about you apart from what is in your application and interview, so you need to tell them about your relevant skills and experience in enough detail for them to also see your potential. You know that you want the role, so make the role want you too!

3. If you are interested in a specific role, try to find people on LinkedIn who are/have previously been in that role and reach out to them. Obviously you are not guaranteed a response as people may be extremely busy, but from experience I had a number of really helpful responses and tips when I reached out, which helped me to better prepare for the interview. Since starting my role I have had multiple people reach out to me in the same way, so I always try to give useful tips.