Kelly McKay
When someone tells me they are thinking of applying for a job in Almac, I tell them it is the right thing to do.
What was it that made you choose Almac over other companies that interested you or with which you interviewed?
Almac’s reputation had always interested me more than any other company I have applied for. It is a company that looks after their employees and people always spend their whole careers at Almac. I know a number of people that work in Almac before I started and there was never a bad review from anyone. Almac have so many amazing career opportunities which can create new challenges and ensure career progression in the company. While studying in Queens University I made the decision then that Almac is the company I want to work for.
What makes you want to stay?
Over the last few years I have met and learned so much from all of the amazing people I have worked with. I want to stay at Almac because it is true about the company’s reputation and that they do care and look after their employees and invest in them and their future. I have experienced so much already working in Almac that I never thought was possible. I want to stay because I love my job and the people I work with. There are so many rewarding career possibilities and opportunities to allow you to progress your career.
What would you tell an applicant who is applying to Almac?
When someone tells me they are thinking of applying for a job in Almac, I tell them it is the right thing to do. It is an amazing and rewarding company to work for and you really are looked after with so many benefits that no other company offers. I have told applicants before that if they apply and they are successful, they will work in Almac the rest of their career because that I how I feel about my own career. The company is always growing and new jobs are advertised every day so there is a job to suit everyone, even if you are not from a pharmaceutical background. With so many other businesses in the surrounding area, I feel with Almac that my job will always be secure as the company continues to grow and prosper so successfully. It can be hard finding the right job for you but if you are studying at University, Almac have so many amazing undergraduate positions to give you a taste of what it would be like to work there. It is also hard to find a job when you just leave university and have no experience yet, but Almac offer Graduate jobs to give people the opportunity to apply for the job they want to be in.
What great opportunities have you had in your role?
I have experienced 2 amazing jobs in Pharma to date, both completely different and the opportunities Almac has provided me are the reason that I am where I am today. Upon seeing the advertisement of new job roles, I had the opportunity to apply for a new position which has allowed me to progress my career where I am now a supervisor. I have the opportunity to work with and gain so much experience from people who have already worked at Almac for years. I get to learn and focus on my training and development everyday so I can continue to improve in my supervisor position. I have also had the opportunity to train others which is very rewarding when taking part in their training and helping them be the best they can be in their position. I have met so many new people and customers and constantly improve in my own qualities and skills.
Can you outline your career to date?
I started in Almac as a QC Technician, not long out of University where I studied Biomedical Science, so I knew I had a lot to learn. With the help of my team members and team leaders I gained so much experience within the Quality department of Pharma services. I always thought I wanted to work in a Laboratory, especially after my degree however, Almac gave me the opportunity to learn about other job roles and I realised I would like to try something new and challenge myself. I applied for a new job role and that is where I am today as Production Supervisor in Pharma Services.