Absolutely not. We are all on a journey with rivers, valleys and mountains that largely obstruct the view on the horizon. The questions are rather: Where are you now? And where can you go from here?

Ultimately, my practical experience with the Tattooing Agents Regulation, the Cosmetics Regulation (EU) 1223/2009, the official notification and labelling requirements, and the preparation of safety data sheets enabled me to take the next path towards Regulatory Affairs for the chemical wholesale trade. A specialised area with particular requirements, in which I am very happy to contribute, but whose existence I was simply unaware of at an earlier point in my career.

Excellent intercultural communication skills and a very good command of English are essential requirements in international corporations. You are a highly motivated team player with a customer-, process- and goal-oriented approach.

The Regulatory Affairs profession in particular requires a detail-oriented and meticulous approach, together with strong analytical thinking skills, and its requirements are similar to those of legal departments and quality management. Experience in conducting scientific literature searches is very helpful for understanding constantly revised legislation and technical standards, which must be appropriately summarised and presented to different groups. Knowledge of project management and self-organisation is highly recommended.