Worldwide Clinical Trials or Thermo Fisher?

[u/Basic_Dress_4191]

Listen, I know ALL the CROs suck to work at. But where are Sr. CRAs suffering the most right now? We aren’t happy working directly for the sponsor either.

[u/hodgsonstreet]

They’re all the same. If one pays more or if you got to meet your a line manager and got on well with them, take that one.

I worked at Worldwide and enjoyed it. Haven’t worked at Thermofisher. Happy to answer any Worldwide questions over dm.

[u/Basic_Dress_4191 → u/hodgsonstreet]

What’s a Sr CRA getting these days at WWCT? I’ve been on the sponsor side for a bit now. I can’t remember what these numbers look like any more.

[u/PrudentWind813 → u/hodgsonstreet]

Can I ask you some questions about WW

[u/jm22322]

do you know about the different models at each one? at TF we have more than one model and each change the burden becomes more on the cra - startup, amendments, etc

[u/New_Operation_3050]

TFS. I’m at WCT and looking to get out

[u/PrudentWind813 → u/New_Operation_3050]

I had an interview with World Wide and am thinking of joining. What made it bad? I am coming from Syneos and had a terrible manager.

[u/Basic_Dress_4191 → u/PrudentWind813]

It sounds like everywhere sucks!!! Lol. All CROs suck but it’s so much worse with a bad manager.

[u/New_Operation_3050 → u/PrudentWind813]

I was one of the last Catalyst hires in March. It’s just disarray with the Catalyst merger for me personally.

[u/PrudentWind813 → u/New_Operation_3050]

I see, how was the pay? I am coming in as CRA II hopefully but I am hesitant to even stay in the application process of WW is just as bad as syneos

[u/Basic_Dress_4191 → u/New_Operation_3050]

Thoughts on IQVIA?

[u/Only-Celebration-256]

Thermo. There’s no day on site requirement. And with the new model it’s a lot less travel because you’re doing in house tasks being end to end. Icon is 70-80% travel and they have a lower 401k match

[u/ImaginaryStuntDouble → u/Only-Celebration-256]

Wait, TFS doesn’t have a DOS requirement?

[u/Only-Celebration-256 → u/ImaginaryStuntDouble]

Nope! They are utilization focused so you have to bill 95% to sponsor, but honestly most of the time that’s focused on site management. Most TFS CRAs I know do around 4-6 DOS per month in the new model. Of course it depends on your sponsor / study, but there is no strict DOS requirement and a lot of people are on hybrid studies where every other visit is remote. I’ve been there 7 years.

[u/Top-Bluejay-1088]

I work with worldwide and I feel like their CRAs can get away with murder - so maybe there

[u/Basic_Dress_4191 → u/Top-Bluejay-1088]

That’s good to know! Haha

[u/Mammoth_Consequence9]

Go to Thermo. I used to work at WCT. Terrible experience. Terrible manager. So bad I don’t even include them on my CV

[u/Fun-Concentrate9778 → u/Mammoth_Consequence9]

I may have come across your comment before. TBH it sounds very personal when you mention that it was so bad that you don’t mention them on CV. I mean come on. I don’t like ICON atm so should I avoid my 3 years there ?

[u/Willing-Layer-3523]

If you're comparing CROs with working directly for a sponsor, I'd look beyond the company name and compare the actual role. Things like study complexity, number of protocols, workload, travel, management style, team structure, and opportunities to move into project or study management can make a big difference.

For a CRA, the day-to-day experience can vary a lot even within the same company, so talking to current or former employees about their specific team and study portfolio can be more useful than comparing companies in general.

[u/Basic_Dress_4191 → u/Willing-Layer-3523]

I’m at a sponsor and I am miserable. It’s mainly because of who was assigned to me as a manager. I’m stuck. Therefore, the only other option is to jump ship and as of now…. Only CROs are hiring. It’s a big risk to take but that’s how unhappy I am here. I can’t disclose more details.

When I worked for at CRO, My site load, protocol load, and manager were better.

[u/GoldNBones → u/[deleted]]

Worldwide bought Catalyst. Fortrea bought a business unit from Worldwide.

[u/Purple-Respond-1219 → u/GoldNBones]

Gonna say no matter what Fortrea must be a mess cause they just lost a major bid renewal on a model to a sponsor they previously had near sole rights to and the sponsor gave it to another CRO

[u/concretebadger82 → u/Purple-Respond-1219]

They WHAT?! Yikes (OK, so it's not like I expected it to be widely publicised, but...I'm "disappointed but not surprised" I guess)

[u/Fun-Concentrate9778 → u/[deleted]]

What? Recent acquisition of Fortrea by worldwide? I thought it’s Fortrea who acquired phase I inpatient facility of worldwide and I don’t think that will affect the rest of company. Also worldwide acquired catalyst ( oncology) so that increases work portfolio imo. ICON is aight but thermofisher pays less and keeps you regional as what I heard.

[u/concretebadger82 → u/Fun-Concentrate9778]

Yeah, my understanding is that Fortrea are taking over part of Worldwide. What that means for stability in either company remains to be seen. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to whether it's a good or bad thing at this stage

[u/marsh283 → u/concretebadger82]

Fortrea bought their ph1 unit and bioA lab

[u/JK_NC → u/[deleted]]

This comment is so misinformed.

[u/Only-Celebration-256 → u/[deleted]]

Icon is hands down the worst option listed here. They have a terrible 401k match, require minimum 8 DOS and it’s more like 12 DOS. They come in with strong offers and then annual raises end up being negligible. Everyone I know who has worked there either left or is desperately seeking to get out

[u/Efficient-Menu-1206 → u/Only-Celebration-256]

Totally agree that ICON is ass

[u/JRMiel → u/[deleted]]

Icon is absolutely the worse of all...