Considering a Career Shift from IT to Pharma: Can My Skills Transfer to a Store Officer Role?

I have been working in the IT industry for the last 6 years as a team lead and tech support. Now, I want to change my job profile to an industry other than IT. As I'm from Goa, there are lots of pharmaceutical companies, major players such as Cipla, Pfizer, Tulip, Ranbaxy, Abbott, and many more. So, I am considering changing my career to the pharma side.

There are only 2-3 IT industries in Goa, and in the last 8-10 years, growth seems to be very negligible. The government is doing nothing to promote IT besides distributing laptops and tablets to school students.

Seeking Career Advice in the Pharmaceutical Industry

I would like to ask experts which field in a pharmaceutical company I will be able to utilize my experience in. I have received two offers for positions like EDP officer and store officer, both from the pharma side. While I have good knowledge about EDP, I am blank about the duties and roles of a store officer in the pharmaceutical industry.

Can anybody help me regarding details about the duties and roles of a store officer in the pharmaceutical industry, and provide some interview questions? Can I apply my 6 years of expertise in these fields?

It would be a great help. I am waiting for a reply from experienced professionals.

Regards,
Yashwant

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If you already have an offer in hand, then I would suggest you go for EDP/Officers as you have some experience. In terms of officer duties and roles, do your homework:

1. Study about the company, see if you know anyone from the company.
2. Go through detailed information about officer roles and duties in general on Google. If you come across any queries, research them or ask any experts.

I guess you would be good to go for that role. (It's a big decision to change the industry, but as you already have an offer in hand, you can proceed; it won't harm - just give your 100%).

All the best!

Before even addressing your query, I feel the need to ask you the following questions:

1. What's your qualifications background?
2. What is/are the reason(s) for your step - "now I want to change my job profile to some industry other than IT"? Everyone always has his/her own set of reasons for any decision - what's yours?
3. The two offers you have in hand (EDP officer and store officer) - don't you think both are TOTALLY unrelated? What were the reasons for you to consider the store officer position (I am referring to your attendance at the interviews)?
4. And the MOST IMPORTANT one: what is/are your career goal(s)/objective(s)?

While I do not wish to jump to conclusions with such insufficient info, prima facie, I think you are taking your career without any clarity of [1] where you want to go AND [2] an idea of your own set of capabilities - for which you would be the best judge. Your inputs, though, may change my stance.

All the Best.

Regards,
TS