Survive or Perish: Learning to Thrive | 初入英国咨询业，要么生存要么毁灭
Written by: Zimin | 子皿
Translated by: Yan Jun
Editor’s Note:
This article is excerpted from Haha! Britain — a charitable bilingual publication co-produced by The Mothers’ Bridge of Love (MBL) and River Cam Breeze. The book is a lively collaboration between 42 Chinese authors living in the UK and 36 university-based volunteer translators. With wit and warmth, the stories capture the everyday realities of Chinese communities in Britain, offering an honest look at the cultural clashes, humour, and adaptation that arise in the space between Chinese and British ways of life. Haha! Britain has been warmly endorsed by several well-known figures in UK-China relations, including Stephen Perry (former Chairman of the 48 Group Club), Luise Schäfer OBE (former British diplomat and Chamber of Commerce chair), Professor Hugo De Burgh (former BBC editor and academic), and British scholar Martin Jacques. The book’s title was handwritten by celebrated British-Chinese artist Qu Leilei, its cover illustrated by bestselling Chinese author and poet Feng Tang, and the postscript contributed by Xue Mo, a prominent voice in contemporary Chinese literature.
Illustrated by Tian Tian
The last time I attended a company training with colleagues, I shared how I managed to arrive on time despite facing numerous challenges. They were concerned about my lack of work-life balance, and kindly arranged a taxi for me to go home after the training was complete. I’ve always been hesitant to trouble others, so their kindness deeply moved me. “You deserve it,” they said. “We’ll get you here in a limo from now on. You’re wonderful and deserve to be looked after!” Their words warmed my heart like a fire in winter. I was reminded of the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had over the years. Suddenly, I realised that being a good person is indeed rewarding, and facing life’s challenges with unwavering kindness is the best approach.
1. At the edge
Before and after the pandemic, we endured several years of hardship. The competition in scientific research was fierce and countless CVs were sent out with no response. Oxford, though small, is a place teeming with hidden talent. Many PhDs and postdocs vie for even the most obscure jobs, with positions at Oxford University being the most competitive, often already decided or requiring funding to join a group.
For someone like me – middle-aged, introverted and somewhat socially anxious – the job hunt was disheartening. I doubted my choices in the first half of my life, feeling like I was walking a tightrope only to find I was heading in the wrong direction. At the brink of despair, a classmate in the US suggested I switch professions and explore a career in medical device registration and access. So, I bought a thick professional book and painstakingly worked through it bit by bit. Eventually, I finished it. From that moment, the gears of fate began to turn, and my life embarked on a new journey.
I first joined a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) company in Oxford, where I was responsible for registering access to SaMD products. This was a significant challenge for me, given my lack of a computing background, and I worried about how I would get along with my younger colleagues, who were ten or twenty years younger than me. I didn’t know much about their interests and wasn’t particularly interested in the topics they discussed. Fortunately, my boss had organised a cake day every Thursday, where the access, quality and clinical teams took turns bringing cakes to the office, allowing us to eat and chat. I love baking, and I conquered their “stomachs” with just two cakes, gradually becoming more acquainted with my colleagues through “cake diplomacy”.
Over the course of a year, I started developing and registering new software medical device products, as well as modifications to existing products. I often took on the most challenging tasks in the group. As the days and months passed, I gradually became a go-to consultant within the group and across departments in the company. When I was about to leave, my colleagues gave me a small owl accessory, jokingly calling me the “wise one”. On my last day at the office, my boss made a cake for me, and his sincerity touched my heart. Exchanging sincerity for sincerity and earning the respect of others through hard work is the true joy on life’s journey.
2. Mind the gap
I have a particularly capable classmate named Lu. Years ago, when he saw that I had been working at the same company for four or five years, he said, “You should regularly put yourself on the job market to test the waters.” At first, I didn’t take his advice to heart. It wasn’t until 2021 that I realised the wisdom in his words – I should have been applying for more jobs, building a network in my field, and staying in touch with headhunters.
In the summer of 2022, I did six or seven interviews and received two job offers: one from an in-vitro testing company and another from a pharmaceutical registration access consulting firm, both offering similar salaries and benefits. I was torn because I had heard many complaints about the high stress levels at consulting firms. The headhunters from both sides tried hard to persuade me to join their respective companies. When I talked to Lu, he said, “You’re such a strong learner; what are you afraid of? It’s no fun to always play it safe, and you’ll be working for many years to come.” I replied, “I’m too gentle, somewhat socially anxious, and a foreigner.” Lu responded confidently, “I’m also an introvert. Life forces everyone to step up when needed!”
It’s been almost a year since I joined the consulting firm as a novice. Reflecting on this year’s journey, filled with ups and downs, I sometimes wonder how I managed to get through it. Unlike the relatively homogeneous cultural background of the software company, my colleagues and clients at the consulting firm come from all over the world, with vastly different educational backgrounds and work experiences. Most of my colleagues are experts with ten or twenty years of experience, having been “poached” from major pharmaceutical companies or government drug approval departments. During client meetings, they often humorously highlight their extensive experience in the self-introduction sessions. In comparison, my qualifications seem insignificant, so I focus on relevant experience to meet clients’ needs. Sometimes I joke with colleagues that I am the “junior” senior consultant. When I have to handle various questions from six or seven senior executives of a client company, an hour of straightforward Q&A feels like a battle.
Consulting companies differ from industrial companies in that, besides reporting to your boss, you need to communicate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders both internally and externally. The hardest part is working remotely from home, where you must proactively communicate and plan for many issues. The most important lesson I learned during my year in the consulting firm is that my approach to problems and perspectives has evolved. I learned how to ask the right questions, how to ask good questions, and how to guide clients step-by-step in solving their difficulties. Another crucial aspect of my growth is learning how to manage expectations:
What can I accomplish on my own?
What requires help from the team?
What needs to be negotiated with the client?
When consulting internally with colleagues, you need to consider their time, and if their time cannot be billed to the current project, you need to promptly discuss any potential issues upfront.
3. Dare to say no
As the only Chinese person in the company and a newcomer, my first priority was to survive the new challenges before considering long-term development. Over the past year, no matter how daunting the tasks assigned by my boss were, I never said “no”. I understood that as a newcomer, I needed to gain as much practical experience as possible, and dealing with clients’ issues has helped me grasp the complexities of regulations in practice. The downside is that I had to endure a war of attrition, grappling with the ever-evolving regulations from the US, Europe, the UK and other countries. One colleague jokingly remarked, “Go home, have a baby, and come back to find you’ve lost track of the new regulations.” The regulatory access industry truly requires constant learning and improvement; it’s a never-ending journey of growth.
Mid-year, when I travelled to Belgium with the company’s senior consultant to provide training to clients, I was captivated by her mannerisms and professionalism. When clients asked questions, she sometimes responded, “I don’t know the answer to that question; no one knows the answer.” While this is sometimes true, I never had the courage to answer a question that way, thinking that clients expect definitive answers when they pay for a consultation. Answering these types of questions with the right attitude and tone of voice is a technical skill that requires experience. Over time, I noticed that many of my older and more experienced colleagues also had questions they didn’t know the answers to and sometimes sought help in our group chat. It became clear that not knowing everything is normal. Additionally, my colleagues encouraged me to practise the art of negotiation to my advantage. Even if you don’t say “no”, you can still strive to secure as many resources as possible to make your work easier and more efficient.
4. A tale of two cities
This year, many consulting firms are merging, blending traditional registration and approval consultancies with capital to chase quick, substantial profits. Our company was merged two months ago, and integrating two completely different styles has been challenging. The company we merged with operates freely and in an improvisational way, while we prefer a systematic approach. They frequently hold brainstorming meetings, whereas we nearly complete our reports on the first draft.
Our two companies barely overlap in consulting areas. They are more up- to-date, using flashy PowerPoint presentations, mind maps, and various types of assistive software. Initially, we thought Teams and Zoom were sufficient for daily communication, but now we are asked to use Slack, Jira, and other tools, which has sparked many complaints. Our veteran consultants wonder why something that could be explained in a few sentences has to be made so complicated. Tools should support the work; if not used properly, they become a hindrance. As the saying goes, “It’s like putting socks on a rooster”.
Despite these challenges, the merger offers significant benefits, especially for individuals. It provides greater exposure to the entire business life cycle– from product development to market launch and subsequent marketing and sales. Understanding and implementing strategies across these stages is invaluable. The same insights would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars at a business school. Life isn’t static; we must constantly seek our optimal “hit” point, re-enter the turbulence and find a new balance.
5. Stay true
Unlike my last company, where I used cake as an icebreaker, it’s been challenging to have in-depth conversations with my colleagues since I work 100 percent remotely. The company organises face-to-face dinners and training events once or twice a year, providing rare opportunities to get to know each other better. Around the dinner table and at the bar, we share gossip and personal stories, and a few glasses of wine later, the conversation flows freely. One colleague’s catchphrase is “long story short”; you think his story is ending, but it leads into a sequel, only for him to say “long story short” again. The drinking culture in the UK is a bit different from that in China, but the effect is the same – working together and then socializing definitely accelerates the process of becoming close-knit, like a gang.
Because I love taking photos, I often capture funny moments when everyone is together. When I went to Sweden for my company’s 25th anniversary, my colleagues dragged me onto the dance floor and we danced while recording a short video. I shared the photos I took and the video I edited, which helped my colleagues get to know me better. Many of them even sent emails to commemorate the good times we had together. A few days ago when I returned to the company for training, I recorded a video of the happy moments when we celebrated a colleague’s birthday, set to the tune of We Will Rock You. When I played it for everyone, it unexpectedly became the highlight of the training session. My colleagues said, “From now on, every time we get together, you have to film a segment for us as a keepsake!” Who would have thought that with such a lovely group of colleagues, even someone with a bit of social anxiety like me could be “trained” to become half a social butterfly?
Last month, the vice president of the company’s European headquarters left. In her farewell email, she wrote, “You are very nice and kind, and also a very competent person!” These words gave me great encouragement and affirmation. Looking back on the past few years, I feel deeply grateful for the mentors and friends I have met along the way, as I have been lucky enough to find something that I like and am good at. It turns out that being introverted is not a problem, and it’s okay to be a “nice person”; seeking authenticity and simplicity is always rewarding. When you use yourself as a guide, you will always find new joy.
About the author
Zimin is currently living in Oxford, UK. She has lived and worked in the UK for 15 years and is now a senior consultant in a pharmaceutical consultancy. She loves life and work, reading, cats, plants and photography.
今天是中秋节，也是哥哥学校的长周末。我一大早就赶着把重要紧急的工作先处理完，再出发去接哥哥回家。等我们俩人原路返回，到家已经晚上七点半了。坐在伦敦回牛津的大巴上，车子走走停停，哥哥坐在我旁边睡得东倒西歪。我一边心疼哥哥得跟着我受苦，一边回想着过去三十多年来自己一个人在外求学工作的诸多往事和劳碌奔波。
上次去公司培训跟同事说起自己怎么一路周转才按时赶到公司，他们都觉得我太辛苦，培训结束时竟已给我安排好出租车，把我一路送回家。我自来怕麻烦别人，公司的好意感动之余也觉得诚惶诚恐，同事回复说：“亲爱的，像你这么好的人，值得被好好地照顾！以后你来办公室咱们豪华轿车安排着！”良言一句三冬暖，同事这句话让我想起过去几年里工作中认识的人、经历的事，忽然觉得做一个“好人”也很好，以不变应万变行走江湖。
1. 转折点
疫情前后我们过了几年苦日子，科研岗内卷得厉害，投出去好多简历却都没有回音。牛津虽是弹丸之地，却是卧虎藏龙。一个不起眼的工作岗位都有好多博士和博士后竞争。我了解的牛津大学的职位竞争就更激烈了，常常是已经内定，或者带经费进组。对我这种性格偏内向又有些社恐的中年人，求职是一种煎熬，让我心灰意冷，几度怀疑前半生的所有选择，好像是走在一条钢索上，好不容易走到尽头却发现去错了地方。正在绝望的边缘时，在美国的同学建议我转行，试试医疗器械注册和准入这条职业发展之路。于是我买了厚厚的专业书籍，一点一点地啃，竟然也读完了。命运的齿轮从此开始转动，我的人生进入了一段全新的旅程。
我先是加入了牛津一家软件医疗器械（Software as Medical Device, SaMD）公司，负责 SaMD 产品的注册准入。这对没有软件基础的我来说是个很大的挑战，我也担心怎样才能跟那些比我小十几、二十岁的年轻同事打成一片。我对他们喜欢的事物、谈论的话题要么不太了解，要么不感兴趣。恰巧老板组织了每个周四为蛋糕日，我们准入组、质量组、临床组轮流带蛋糕来公司，大家可以边吃边聊。我喜欢烘焙，仅用了两个蛋糕就征服了他们的“胃”，靠着“蛋糕外交”和同事们慢慢地熟络起来。
一年下来，我接触了软件医疗器械新产品的开发和注册、已有产品的变更等等业务，常常要承担组里最难的工作。日积月累，慢慢地我变成了组内和公司跨部门的小顾问。等到我要离职的时候，同事送给我一个小小的猫头鹰配饰，戏称我是大家心目中的 “智者”。最后一天去办公室，老板亲自做了蛋糕，我的心被他的诚意感动。以真心换真心，用努力换来他人的尊重，这才是人生旅途上的快意之事。
2. 初入咨询
我有一个特别能干的同学小卢。多年前，他看我在同一家公司干了四五年的时候就建议我，“你可以经常把自己放到人才市 场上试试水。”一开始我并没有听到心里去。直到 2021 年，我才悟出职场的这些道理，早应该多去申请工作，建立自己专业领域的人脉，有事没事和猎头多联系。2022 年夏天，我参加了六七个面试，拿到两个录用通知：一个是体外检测公司，另一个是医药注册准入咨询公司，两边提供的工资和待遇都差不多。我心里很纠结，因为听很多人抱怨咨询公司压力特别大，两边的猎头都极力劝说我“从”了他们。我跟小卢聊，他说：“你学习能力这么强，你怕啥？工作总是中规中矩多没意思，你还要工作那么多年呢。”我说：“我太温和，轻度社恐，还是个外国人。”小卢很笃定地说： “我还不是个内向的人，生活所迫谁都能行！”
转眼作为菜鸟进入咨询公司快一年了。这一年的心路历程起起伏伏，有时候自己都不知道是怎么熬过来的。和之前在软件公司相对单一的文化背景不同，咨询公司的同事和客户来自于世界各地，教育背景和工作经历又相去千里。咨询公司的同事们大都是有十几、二十年经验的专家，不是从各大制药公司、就是从政府药物审批部门“挖”过来的。每次见客户时，他们常常在自我介绍环节拿自己在这一领域深耕的年头打趣。我的资历和他们比起来“小巫见大巫”，只能避重就轻，以简为上策，挑跟客户需求有关的工作经历“对症下药”。有的时候，我跟同事开玩笑，说自己是高级顾问里的小布丁（“junior”senior consultant）。当我需要一个人去应付客户公司六七个高层的各种问题时，我感觉一个小时的直问直答就像打了一场硬仗一般。
咨询公司和以往的工业界公司不同，除了要跟老板汇报工作，还需要和对内对外多个利益相关者沟通与合作。最难的是在家远程工作，有很多问题都需要自己主动沟通和提前计划。在咨询公司一年，学到最重要的一课是看问题的方式和角度变了。如何正确地问问题，如何问好的问题，如何引导客户一步一步去解决他们的困难。另外一个很重要的成长就是如何管理期望值：哪些是自己能完成的；哪些是需要团队帮助的；哪些是需要和客户协商的。和同事之间内部咨询也需要考虑对方花费的时间，如果不能报销到目前的项目，需要及时把“丑话”说在前头。
3. 敢于说“不”
作为公司里唯一的中国人，又是一个新人，最先想到的是如何在新的挑战中生存下来，然后才能顾及将来的长远发展。过去的一年中，无论心里多畏难，我也没有对老板分配的各个项目说 “不”。我知道，我作为新人需要多实践才能成长，客户的问题有助于我去理解法规在现实运用中的难点。这样做的问题就是自己不得不打疲劳战，美国、欧洲、英国、和其它国家的各种法规层出不穷。一个同行开玩笑说：“回家生个孩子，再回来发现自己已经跟不上新法规的更新步伐了。”法规准入行业真的是需要“苟日新，日日新，又日新”，学无止境呀。
年中随公司的资深咨询顾问一起去比利时给客户做培训，被她的言行举止和专业素养折服。她有时会在客户问问题的时候回答：“这个问题我也不知道答案，没有人知道答案。”虽然有的时候事实是这样，可是我总没有胆量这么回答，觉得客户付我们咨询费才不是想要听到这样的答案。如何用适当的态度和语气语调回答这类问题是个技术活儿，也需要经验的积累。时间长了，发现公司里很多年长且有经验的同事也会有很多不知道的问题，有时会在群里求救，看来什么都知道才是不正常的呢。另外同事也鼓励我多练习谈判的艺术，为自己争取利益。在即使不说“不”的情况下，依然可以尽量争取更多资源，让工作更容易顺利执行。
除了对外的咨询，我们也需要不断地适应公司的各种改革。英国人通常说话比较含蓄，但是很多同事之前都在政府部门工作，说话态度明确、干脆利落。遇到看不惯的事情，总是能“该出手时就出手”，直截了当地表明态度：我今天不是来提问题的，我就是想告诉你这件事这么做不对。比如最近的绩效管理体系和时间管理体系的推行就遇到了很大的阻力。几个新同事有个小群，私下里聊的时候他们会说，今天谁谁问的那个问题暴露了他真正担心的事情（她用了一个词 showing）。我觉得有意见、有问题应该及时提出以便沟通解决，憋着只会把小问题闷成大问题。
4. 双城记
今年各家咨询公司都在合并，传统的注册审批咨询公司和资本相结合，把一盘棋下大，想办法赚快钱赚大钱。我们公司也在前两个月被合并了，两家完全不同风格的公司要整合非常痛苦。他们做事风格自由即兴，我们喜欢按照计划有板有眼；他们喜欢动不动就开会集思广益，我们基本报告第一稿就完成得七七八八了；他们没有工作生活的界限，我们欧洲的同事下班就“躺平”了。最近公司合并后第一次阶段性反馈，同事们纷纷表示：请注意咱们有五个小时的时差！一起合作同一个项目的同事总是临时安排会议，我们给他起了个绰号：小李“迟”刀（Li.last-minute. com）。
我们两家公司咨询的领域几乎没有交叉，他们跟我们比起来更新潮一些，更喜欢用一些酷炫的 PPT 和思维导图，喜欢用各种辅助软件。本来觉得 Teams、Zoom 日常沟通就足够用了，现在又要大家使用 Slack、Jira，等等，招来很多怨言。我们的老顾问们都纳闷，三两句就能讲明白的事儿，为什么搞这么复杂？所有的工具应该都是用来辅助工作的，如果使用不当反而为之所役。老话儿说：这就是脱了裤子放屁！
除了上面列举的这些不适，其实合并还是有很多的好处，特别是对个人来说，能接触到更多商业层面，从产品研发到上市以及之后的市场销售整个生命周期的各种策略的整合以及实施过程。同样的内容，去商学院学习还得花几十万块钱呢，而且还得自掏腰包。换个角度看，与其被动适应，不如主动融入。人生没有一劳永逸，我们得不断寻找自己的最佳“击球点”，重新进入动荡，寻找新的平衡。
5. 存真
与在上一家公司用蛋糕做敲门砖不同，现在的公司因为百分之百在家远程工作，很难和所有的同事都有深入的交流。公司每 年会组织一两次面对面的聚餐和培训活动，这是加深了解同事们难得的好机会。大家见了面，饭桌上、酒吧里聊八卦和自己的故事，几杯酒下肚，大家的话匣子就都收不住了。有个同事的口头语是 “长话短说”，你以为他的故事要收尾了，结果又进入续篇，等一会儿却又来一句“长话短说，……”。英国的酒桌文化和中国稍有不同，但是效果是一样的——一起做过项目又一起喝过酒、疯玩过，绝对会是加速大家变成一伙的（Gangs）进程。
我喜欢拍照，常常抓拍到大家在一起的搞笑瞬间。去瑞典参加公司 25 周年庆，被同事拉入舞池，我们一边跳一边录小视频。我分享了自己拍的照片和剪辑的小视频，因此也被同事们认识了，好多同事还专门发邮件感念大家共度的美好时光。前几天回公司培训的时候，我又拍了一段大家给同事过生日的开心时刻，配上那首颤颤巍巍的《We will rock you》，播放给大家看的时候，竟意外成为这次培训的高光时刻。同事说：“以后每次聚会，你都得给咱们拍一段作为保留节目啊！”有谁想到，和这样一群可爱的同事们在一起，小小社恐的我竟然有一天也被“培养”成了半个社牛。
上个月，公司欧洲总部的副总离职。在她给我的告别邮件里，她说：“你是一个很善良，很有能力的人！”这句话给了我莫大的鼓舞和肯定。回想过去几年的人生经历，深感自己能够幸运地找到喜欢并擅长做的事情，不免感激一路以来遇到的那些志趣相投的导师和朋友们。原来性格内向不是问题，做个“好人”也没有关系，求拙、存真总有回报。把自己作为方法，终会找到新的欢喜。
作者介绍
子皿，现居英国牛津。在英生活工作 15 年，现为医药咨询公司高级咨询顾问。她热爱生活和工作，喜欢读书、猫、植物和摄影。
Both the Chinese and English editions of Haha! Britain can be purchased at the following platforms:
· BOOK FAN