Many biotech professionals are unfamiliar with how biotechnology recruiters operate. To better understand how these individuals work and the challenges they face, we will explore the daily responsibilities of biotechnology recruiters and their significance in the industry.
Demystifying Biotech Recruiting
What exactly do biotechnology recruiters do? What is their function within the greater realm of talent acquisition?
Biotechnology recruiters help biotech companies find suitable candidates for roles within their organizations. They function as middlemen between employers and job seekers, helping the former find the talent they need to accelerate their operations. But, as any experienced biotechnology recruiter or headhunter will tell you, this process is easier said than done.
You may wonder why that’s the case. The answer is that, generally speaking, biotechnology recruiters need to follow a standardized process to find the right person to fill an open position for their client.
For starters, biotech headhunters need to assess the client’s specific needs. Before launching a search, they must learn about the client’s business model, company culture, and operational gaps. Once they understand the client’s objectives and needs from a talent perspective, they can start sourcing qualified candidates.
After identifying and engaging with potential fits and conducting all pre-screening calls, biotech recruiters must then present their top candidates to the client and coordinate the interviewing stages with the hiring manager.
Throughout each interviewing round, the biotech headhunters serve as the liaison between both parties. From start to finish, they are the point people for everything from scheduling to contract negotiations.
Read More: What is Life Science Recruitment?
What Makes Biotech Recruiters Special?
While many recruiters opt to source talent within one or a select few of these specialized areas, some tend to hire candidates for organizations with operations that span most or all specialties. Biotech pharmaceutical recruiters, for example, often operate within the pharmaceutical research and development space. Other headhunters may source candidates within biomedical sciences, molecular biology, regulatory affairs and compliance, bioinformatics, or the clinical trial and drug development sectors.
The positions within these areas are less specialized, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wide variety of roles. Some biotech recruiting firms source candidates for most opportunities, but as with specialized practice areas, this isn’t the case for all biotech headhunters. Certain firms specialize in hiring for specific roles or levels of seniority, hence the popularity of C-Suite and executive search services in the industry.
The demands of biotech companies vary greatly. Some require clinical research scientists and associates to conduct trials first-hand, while others need medical writers to document findings and produce marketing materials for promotional purposes. Certain organizations may seek bioprocess engineers for product development, yet others may have openings for quality assurance managers and regulatory affairs specialists to ensure that their products meet industry standards and comply with government regulations.
Read More: What Does a Technical Recruiter Do?
What Does it Take To Be a Biotech Recruiter?
If this sounds like a career you would be interested in pursuing, you should check to see if you have the necessary qualifications.
Most biotech headhunters have strong academic qualifications in biology, chemistry, or related fields. Others have years of recruitment experience across verticals, and some have worked in scientific fields for substantial portions of their careers.
In terms of the professional qualities needed to succeed in this type of role, there are distinct soft and hard skills that most firms look for when hiring recruiters.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are must-haves, without question. You can’t succeed in a role that requires such a high level of client and candidate engagement without being able to communicate effectively. Since recruiters serve as the middleman or woman between clients and candidates, they will constantly relay important information between the two parties. Application status updates, candidate interview performance reviews, candidate preparation sessions, and final candidate evaluations are just a few examples of the communication-heavy initiatives these individuals are assigned to lead.
The same goes for the ability to maintain professional relationships. Biotechnology recruiters need this critical skill for networking and sourcing opportunities. This can be especially challenging in a competitive market like biotechnology. While not every candidate can be a great fit for a specific role, many show promise in different capacities. It’s recommended that recruiters stay in touch with past candidates and former colleagues to maintain a pool of warm leads for future opportunities.
Recruiters will also be expected to accurately analyze and assess professional relationships, make judgment calls on candidate progressions throughout interview processes, and possess the sales and negotiation skills necessary to close deals and place candidates while remaining within the confines of the client’s budget.
These requirements may seem excessive, but the culmination of a strong academic background, refined soft skills, and battle-tested hard skills makes high-performing biotech recruiters such valuable assets to major organizations.
Read More: An Experts Tips on How to Become a Recruiter
A Common Challenge Within the Biotech Recruiting Industry
The number one hurdle for biotech recruiters in the modern era is the scarcity of desired talent.
Many biotech positions across medical affairs, regulatory affairs, and the research science disciplines (among others) require extremely niche skills and knowledge. The demand for these roles far outpaces the available supply of talent on the market, made evident by extended position vacancies and elongated time-to-hire periods.
From a sourcing perspective, this talent drought forces recruiters to seek leads from passive candidates or candidates who are not actively searching for new employment opportunities. In some cases, recruiters have to persuade the hiring manager to amend the job listing or consider new locations and/or working environments (such as remote/hybrid setups) to generate more interest. Qualified candidates have the upper hand in the biotech market, hence the need for skilled biotech recruiters who can secure top talent within their clients’ budgets.
How Black Diamond Networks Can Help
At Black Diamond Networks, our dedicated team of industry experts leverages years of biotech industry experience to drive efficient recruitment campaigns. As experts in technical staffing, our recruitment services have been leveraged by biotech leaders to connect them with highly skilled consultants and contractors.
We’re actively combating the talent scarcity dilemma plaguing the biotech industry. Our team has diligently assembled a national network of on-demand contractors, including specific talent groups for those hard-to-fill positions. Our partners have directly sourced our network through proactive recruiting campaigns and vetted referrals. We use a strict vetting protocol to determine experience, skill level, assignment preferences, and logistical requirements to ensure the candidates we surface for our clients are the absolute best the market has to offer.
In addition to thorough interviewing and seeking additional endorsements for client consideration, our recruiters maintain regular contact with our contractors through our Contractor Care program. A dedicated, in-house manager addresses any contractor concerns with a project or employer as soon as they surface. This proactive and attentive mode prevents operational issues or frustrations from evolving into severe challenges for both the contractor and the client.
We aim to provide success at scale. Whereas some firms insist on using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, we prefer to collaborate with our clients to develop and implement strategies that meet their specific needs. By supplying our clients and contractors with the tools, resources, and dedicated support they need to thrive today, our goal is to build a foundation for future success. As we continue to expand our reach and partner with some of the best brands in the biotech space, we strive to become the most recognized provider of specialized opportunities for exceptional talent.
Does your firm need contractors or biotechnical professionals with niche skill sets?
Do you lack the personnel to quickly hire and onboard new talent in time to meet project deadlines?
Are you searching for an expert who can coordinate a project outside your area of expertise?
If so, let us take this work off your shoulders so you can reduce disruptions and refocus your efforts on the most mission-critical parts of your day. Contact us today to learn more about how Black Diamond Networks can lead your next recruitment initiative!