From Zero to Data Hero: Kickstarting Your Career in Clinical Data Management

Lucy Tatum
Pfizer

Stepping into my first full-time role in the industry has been an exciting challenge, and having the chance to write this article for the ACDM feels like another proud moment. During my placement as a Junior Clinical Data Manager at Pfizer, I’ve learned so much in a short time and gained a real appreciation for the role data management plays in clinical research. I’m looking forward to sharing parts of my journey and offering a few reflections that I hope will support others who are just starting out, or those helping them along the way.

This journey began as part of my degree in Biological Sciences at Loughborough University, where I chose to take a placement year to gain hands-on experience in the industry.  Initially, my goal was simply to get a foot in the door of the pharmaceutical industry, as I’ve always been passionate about human health and knew I wanted to contribute to clinical research in some way. I applied to a range of placement roles and, after a few setbacks, came across an opportunity in Clinical Data Management that immediately stood out. With my logical mindset and attention to detail, I felt it could be a great fit. I put everything into the application process, refining my CV and practicing interview technique, and was thrilled to be offered the role. Eight months in, I can confidently say I’m grateful things turned out the way they did, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of the team at Pfizer.

My First Few Months at Pfizer

Starting your first “big” job can be daunting for anyone, and even more so when it’s at a global organisation like Pfizer. I definitely felt like a small fish in a very, very big pond. But walking into the UK headquarters and joining a large cohort of undergraduates helped ease that initial pressure. There was comfort in knowing I wasn’t the only one navigating this transition, and that sense of shared experience helped me feel grounded quite quickly.

From the very beginning, it was clear that I was stepping into a world with its own language, systems, and expectations. My first few team meetings were a whirlwind of acronyms and unfamiliar processes—DRP, PPC, DTS, SDV. Each one seemed to open the door to a new area of learning. I was reading through protocol documents that stretched for pages and pages, and I was supposed to understand them well enough to spot when something wasn’t being followed? It felt a bit surreal.

But rather than letting the scale of it overwhelm me, I knew that I wasn’t expected to know everything right away. I started chipping away at the required training and gradually began making sense of the frameworks and terminology. While the online learning and onboarding modules provided a basic foundation, the turning point came through mentoring sessions with experienced data managers. These informal walkthroughs of core concepts and practical workflows helped me connect the dots in a way that the self-led learning couldn’t.

I also leaned into the support systems around me. Whether it was bouncing questions off fellow undergraduates, chatting with senior colleagues over lunch, or joining employee resource groups, those interactions created a strong sense of community. Spending time in the office gave me the opportunity to connect beyond my immediate team, which has played a big role in building my confidence and sense of belonging.

Main Learnings So Far

These first months at Pfizer have been a crash course not just in Clinical Data Management, but in how to learn and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment. A big part of that learning has come from the people around me: colleagues who were willing to take the time to explain a process, walk through a spreadsheet, or share how they’d approached something similar. But just as important has been the learning I’ve done independently.

Tasks that seem simple to an experienced data manager—writing clean, logical query texts, applying Excel formulas correctly, spotting protocol deviations—were all things I was encountering for the first time. I’ve spent hours digging through CRF completion guidelines, reviewing protocol schedules, and watching YouTube tutorials on Excel formulas to build my understanding of the basics. In doing so, I’ve built not just knowledge, but confidence in my ability to figure things out when the path isn’t immediately clear.

I’ve also made a conscious effort to explore beyond my day-job. Attending job information sessions with colleagues from areas like statistics, regulatory, and study management has really broadened my understanding of how all the pieces of a trial fit together. It’s helped me appreciate how data management is woven into every stage of clinical research, and why our work matters. It’s also sparked curiosity about different career paths and opportunities I may want to explore in the future.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay not to know everything right away. In the beginning, I worried that asking too many questions would make me look inexperienced, but I soon realised that being curious, asking for clarification, and taking ownership of my learning actually earns respect. Everyone starts somewhere, and the people I admire most are often the ones who are still asking good questions and seeking new knowledge, no matter how long they’ve been in the industry.

Now, I try to make the most of every opportunity to keep learning. Whether it’s attending internal disease education talks, joining cross-functional forums, or taking part in external conferences, I see each session as a chance to build a stronger foundation. Over time, I’ve learned that you don’t need to know everything, you just need to know how to learn, how to ask, and how to keep growing.

Advice for Newcomers

If I could give myself advice 8 months ago, or offer tips to anyone just starting out, it would be this: Clinical Data Management can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s an exciting journey full of opportunities to grow. The key is to embrace the challenges, learn from them, and stay curious. Here are a few tips that would have helped me when I first started:

1. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The learning curve can be steep, and that’s completely normal. Don’t expect to understand everything straight away, just keep showing up with curiosity and persistence.
2. Build a glossary. Seriously. There are a lotof acronyms and technical terms in CDM. Keeping a personal glossary helped me feel less lost in meetings and sped up my learning.
3. Use your network. Connect with other new starters, colleagues in your team, or even people outside your function. Everyone has different experiences and insights to share, and most people are happy to help if you ask.
4. Don’t underestimate the basics. Spend time understanding core documents like protocols and CRFs. They might seem dry at first, but they’re the foundation of everything you’ll do.
5. Be proactive, but patient. Show initiative, ask questions, volunteer for tasks, but also recognise that confidence and clarity come with time and experience.

Advice for Managers of New Starters

As someone who’s just started out in Clinical Data Management, I’ve experienced firsthand how important effective management is during the early stages of a career. Newcomers are eager to learn, but they often need direction and reassurance to thrive. My main advice to managers would be to focus on creating a space where new team members feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to grow. Here are a few strategies that can make a real difference in helping newcomers succeed:

1. Don’t assume prior knowledge.For many of us, this is our first real exposure to the world of clinical research. Breaking down acronyms, explaining context, or even giving a quick overview of a process can go a long way in helping us feel included and confident.
2. Create space for questions without judgement.Encouraging open dialogue and normalising “basic” questions helps remove the fear of looking inexperienced. It creates a safer environment for learning, and in the long run, builds stronger contributors.
3. Share the ‘why’ behind tasks.Understanding how our work connects to the bigger picture gives it meaning and helps us learn faster. Even a quick explanation of how a task connects to the wider process or project goals can make the work feel more meaningful and engaging.
4. Encourage autonomy but provide a safety net.Giving junior team members space to figure things out is valuable, but knowing there’s someone there to check work or talk things through can boost both learning and confidence.
5. Invest in mentorship and cross-functional exposure.Structured mentoring or even informal check-ins with colleagues in other roles helped me build context and expand my network. It also made the company feel more connected, and I knew where I fit into the team.

Looking back, stepping into the world of Clinical Data Management has been a steep but incredibly fulfilling journey. From adjusting to the pace and complexity of the role to finding my feet within a global company like Pfizer, the experience has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve learned the value of persistence, curiosity, and leaning on the people around you. For those just starting out: be patient with yourself! Progress comes with time, and every challenge is a chance to grow. And to managers: creating a welcoming, supportive environment can make all the difference in helping new talent flourish. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey, building on what I’ve learned, and exploring all the opportunities this field has to offer for my last 4 months at Pfizer.

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