How HR and hiring managers can improve interview outcomes to find objectively good scientific talent. It’s Tuesday morning. As the hiring manager for your biopharma company, you’re expecting a scientist to show up to an 8:30am interview. You get a call from the front...
An examination of the evolving state of interviewing within the biotech industry of 2024. Like so many other aspects of the biotech industry, talent acquisition within the field has undergone a transformation in the last few years. With the pandemic-driven rise in...
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Biopharma Employment After a decade at Pfizer, immunologist Mary Sutton was laid off in February. Sutton (not her real name) has been looking for another mid-level executive position in new drug development since getting the WARN...
Job interviews can be intensely nerve-wracking experiences. With a potential job offer on the line and nerves running high, it can be difficult for candidates to toe the line between professional and memorable… and occasionally, a candidate takes their desire to be...
When the interview process becomes an opportunity for intellectual property theft. We had found the perfect candidate for a principal scientist job that we had been having a difficult time filling—on paper, a well-qualified molecular biologist with degrees from top...
Structured interviews and setting aside first impressions can help biotech hiring managers uncover talented but reserved candidates, ensuring strong scientists aren't overlooked due to interview style or first impressions. Shifting focus to “screening in” candidates promotes a more accurate assessment of both technical and soft skills.
Backdoor references can offer valuable insights into a candidate's skills and work ethic beyond their formal references, but hiring managers must handle them with care to ensure credibility and confidentiality. These informal checks should complement structured interviews rather than serve as the primary assessment tool.
Clinical drug development is costly and has a failure rate over 90%, necessitating significant external funding for small companies. As mergers and acquisitions increase amid fierce competition and patent expirations, ongoing layoffs create opportunities for organizations to acquire talent.
Biotech talent acquisition has increasingly embraced virtual interviews, yet many professionals stress the importance of in-person assessments for cultural fit. A blended approach of virtual and face-to-face interviews, along with behavioral evaluations, is crucial for identifying the best candidates.