Martha Navarro is one of Sci.bio’s wonderful Senior Recruiting Associates. She came to life sciences recruiting from a background in STEM education and has been a valuable part of the Sci.bio team for more than two years.
Read below to learn more about Martha, including her greatest strengths and challenges in recruiting, her work volunteering and fostering animals outside of work, and her advice for new recruiters.
How did you get into recruiting, and how did you end up at Sci.bio?
As someone with a STEM education background, the most tangible options were to work lab related roles or apply to med school. I took a chance and applied to one of Sci.bio’s job posts. Turns out it’s a great fit and compliments quite a few skills I’m still developing here at Sci.bio!
What do you enjoy most about being a recruiter?
There’s spontaneity! Something is always changing whether it’s supporting clients or managing candidate relationships. As you support others, there’s so much to learn with great potential to keep developing yourself.
What do you find most challenging about recruiting?
If I had to name one challenging aspect of recruiting, it would be not being able to connect everyone to opportunities. The biotech industry is everchanging, and we all know of someone who has been impacted by layoffs. Safe to say, there’s amazing talent out there and not enough roles.
What are your passions and interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend my time volunteering with a non-profit TNR group. I’d love to continue fostering, but there’s only so many foster fails that can be had! I enjoy having coffee with friends, reading a good mystery thriller series, and listening to podcasts.
What do you think your greatest strength is as a recruiter?
My ability to connect with people and persevere has been incredibly helpful. To me, being a recruiter isn’t just about being on the phone or behind a computer. These are real people looking for their next role or clients looking to build out their teams.
What advice would you give to someone entering the world of biotech recruiting, or recruiting in general?
Recruiting takes time and focus. You truly learn once you begin immersing yourself in the role. Find what works for you, there’s no perfect recruiting method but always ways to improve. The industry and people that come with it are always changing. Take the time to understand each. You’ll be a better recruiter for it and know how to navigate unknowns.
What are your goals that you hope to accomplish as a recruiter?
As a recruiter, I hope to always be a reliable resource for candidates and clients. My aim by the end of each interaction is to have answered any questions or concerns. I’d like to continue supporting clients for hiring needs and utilizing my ability to connect with others to bring in my own.
If you’re looking to fill a role with a highly qualified candidate, Sci.bio’s recruitment services can help. We know that no two clients are the same, so we provide customized recruiting support that adapts to a given client’s structure and needs and have placed successful candidates with a variety of companies. Please contact us to connect with a recruiter and discuss your needs, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Lauren Money is one of Sci.bio’s Recruiting Partners focusing on RPO and Contingency searches. She worked in the microbiology departments of pharmaceutical companies for six years before deciding to move beyond the lab and into the world of biotech recruiting, and now brings this knowledge gained in the lab to her work as a recruiter.
Read below about Lauren’s journey, her strengths and challenges as a recruiter, her goals for the future, and more:
How did you get into recruiting, and how did you end up at Sci.bio?
I was looking to get into a role where I could utilize my pharma background, but not necessarily work on the bench. My sister is in HR and mentioned recruiting, so I applied with Sci.bio and have loved it ever since!
What do you enjoy most about being a recruiter?
I love the flexibility and constantly having new roles to work on and learn more about.
What do you find most challenging about recruiting?
There are slow times during the year with holidays, so it can be hard sometimes when there is not much to work on, but then there are times where it is crazy busy and it all evens out in the end!
What are your passions and interests outside of work?
I love reading, hiking with my two German shepherds and spending time with my husband and daughter.
What do you think your greatest strength is as a recruiter?
I am very motivated and will jump on a role very quickly to find qualified candidates for clients as quickly as possible.
What advice would you give to someone entering the world of biotech recruiting, or recruiting in general?
Like any new role, it will take some time to figure out the ins and outs and what works best for you. Be patient with yourself and know you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes.
What are your goals that you hope to accomplish as a recruiter?
I want to be able to run my own full desk, helping to make placements and bring in new clients.
If you’re looking to fill a role with a highly qualified candidate, Sci.bio’s recruitment services can help. We know that no two clients are the same, so we provide customized recruiting support that adapts to a given client’s structure and needs and have placed successful candidates with a variety of companies. Please contact us to connect with a recruiter and discuss your needs, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Carter Lewis is one of Sci.bio Recruiting’s Senior Scientific Recruiting Associates. As his three-year anniversary at Sci.bio approaches, it’s a perfect time to reflect on his journey as a recruiter, and what he’s learned during his time in the world of life sciences recruiting so far.
How did you get into recruiting, and how did you end up at Sci.bio?
I found my way into the recruiting world shortly after graduating from college. At a heavily project-based school, I enjoyed immersing myself in the science of biotechnology during my short academic tenure, but I did not envision myself sitting on the bench and running experiments all day. I started looking into alternative biotech careers where I could be involved in this innovative industry and connect with leaders in the space without following the traditional scientist route. I stumbled across a posting for a biotech recruiting position and wanted to learn more about it. I talked with Eric along with other Sci.bio recruiters and enjoyed candid conversations about the biotech recruiting career path. I thought it would be a perfect fit for my aspirations, and the welcoming environment of Sci.bio sealed the deal!
What do you enjoy most about being a recruiter?
My favorite aspect of recruiting is the people I meet every day. I have the privilege of meeting leaders in the industry, and listening as they explain their technology and how it could be used to positively impact the quality of life of patients across the world. I also have the opportunity to meet scientists and learn something new from them each day while making meaningful connections.
What do you find most challenging about recruiting?
Recruiting is not an easy profession. It requires thick skin to overcome rejection from prospects that aren’t interested, hiring managers with lofty expectations, and candidates that chose a different path. You need to be able to pick yourself up after a loss and persevere with a positive attitude to fill those tough positions.
What are your passions and interests outside of work?
I enjoy anything that involves staying active in the outdoors! I spend my summer weekends in NH, from backpacking trips in the White Mountains to mountain biking with friends. In the winter I travel north to ski at Sunday River or in the Vermont backcountry. I also take pride in cultivating all varieties of spicy peppers and tending to my succulents.
What do you think your greatest strength is as a recruiter?
While there are many challenges in recruiting, one that I excel at is managing client relationships. Some clients and hiring managers have very specific visions for who they are looking for and how they want to build out their team, while others need a lot of guidance. I walk the line between listening to their needs while also providing honest feedback on unattainable expectations. Their expertise is focused on science and their company’s direction, while ours is the recruiting market. It requires a collaborative effort to build out the perfect team for success.
What advice would you give to someone entering the world of biotech recruiting, or recruiting in general?
Hold yourself accountable. You are going to face challenges, you won’t fill every position, and you will have some failures. Growth requires taking a step back and evaluating yourself honestly. Assess what worked, learn from your mistakes, and steps you can take to improve and become a better recruiter.
I was fortunate enough to be mentored by successful recruiters like Mike Cordaro and Eric Celidonio and learned how important it was to watch and listen to other recruiters. Pick up some of their tips and tricks, learn from their mistakes, and form a recruiting style that works for you.
If you’re looking to fill a role with a highly qualified candidate, Sci.bio’s recruitment services can help. We know that no two clients are the same, so we provide customized recruiting support that adapts to a given client’s structure and needs and have placed successful candidates with a variety of companies. Please contact us to connect with a recruiter and discuss your needs, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Danielle Cox joined Sci.bio over five years ago and was one of the company’s first recruiters. Now a Scientific Recruiting Partner, Danielle juggles both contingency searches and hourly work, tailoring her approach depending on each client’s specific needs.
Read more below about Danielle’s journey as a recruiter, her passions outside of work, her valuable advice for those entering the field of life sciences recruiting, and more.
How did you get into recruiting, and how did you end up at Sci.bio?
I started my career in academic research, then moved to the biotech industry. In looking for a career change away from the bench, I took a position with a recruitment agency that focused on hiring scientists to place scientists in contract positions. I wanted to try something new within the industry and found that I really enjoyed meeting with clients, establishing new relationships and learning more about multiple sectors of the field. What I liked best was the rewarding feeling of a successful placement.
I came to Sci.bio after being recruited by our founder, Eric Celldonio. I was interested in the company as it was run with a team mentality and allowed a work/life balance which I appreciated having a young family at the time. This month I am celebrating my six-year anniversary!
What do you enjoy most about being a recruiter?
I enjoy helping people find jobs they love and contributing to my clients’ goals by helping them to build successful teams.
What do you find most challenging about recruiting?
Recruiting is a balance of highs and lows. You need to be able to pivot quickly and redirect your sinking searches to find success. This can be easier said than done, but it keeps things interesting.
What do you think your greatest strength is as a recruiter?
Persistence, and experience. I’m confident in my skills, but never afraid to add talent from my team to help in a difficult search. I appreciate a fresh perspective and a good team to lean on.
What advice would you give to someone entering the world of biotech recruiting, or recruiting in general?
As the saying goes, if it was easy everyone would do it. Always take opportunities to learn, and to network. Find a mentor and a company that has a good culture and supports their team.
What are your goals that you hope to accomplish as a recruiter?
I hope to continue driving top talent to my clients and helping people to reach their career goals. There’s always room for learning more, and it’s a pleasure to support the more junior members of my team and I hope to continue to do that as well.
What are your passions and interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my family. I have 4 kids, and 3 of them are in hockey, so we are often in ice rinks around New England! I am also a comprehensively certified Pilates teacher and have been teaching for almost 10 years and I love it!
Picture this: You’re a biotech company on the cutting edge of innovation, racing against the clock to develop life-changing therapies and technologies. But there’s a problem lurking in the shadows – your internal talent acquisition function is crumbling under the weight of escalating costs, a scarcity of specialized training, and pressing time constraints.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. In the fast-paced world of life sciences and biotech, many organizations’ internal talent acquisition processes are simply not keeping up with their recruitment needs. But fear not: in this blog post, we’ll explore the challenges plaguing internal talent acquisition teams – and uncover effective solutions to help you navigate the turbulent HR landscape of the modern day.
Internal Talent Acquisition in the Life Sciences: How’s it Going?
The life sciences and biotech industries are burgeoning with new discoveries and advancements. As a result, the demand for skilled professionals in such areas is soaring, and talent acquisition in these fields is struggling to keep up. In the face of fierce competition for top talent and rapidly evolving industry requirements, companies are facing an uphill battle to secure candidates that truly suit their needs.
Three Major Challenges to Internal HR Teams in 2024
Internal talent acquisition teams in the life sciences and biotech sectors are grappling with a myriad of challenges, including:
Escalating Costs: Recruiting and hiring top talent can be a costly endeavor, particularly for specialized roles in the life sciences. Internal talent acquisition teams often find themselves burdened with rising expenses from sourcing, screening, and onboarding new candidates.
Skills Shortages: Rapid technological advancements and shifting industry demands have created a skills gap, leaving internal recruiters scrambling to find candidates with the right expertise. Unfortunately, a shortage of qualified talent can impede organizational growth and innovation.
Time Constraints: In a competitive job market, time is of the essence. Internal talent acquisition functions must contend with tight deadlines and high-pressure environments, leaving little room for error or delays in the recruitment process.
External Recruitment Agencies: to Use or Not to Use?
Amidst the many challenges to the modern internal hiring process, many life science and biotech companies are turning to external recruitment agencies. Here are some key benefits of partnering with an external agency:
Specialized Expertise: External recruitment agencies have in-depth knowledge of the life sciences industry and its unique talent landscape. They can leverage this expertise to identify, attract, and secure top talent that aligns with your organization’s specific objectives.
Broader Candidate Reach: External agencies have extensive networks and resources for sourcing candidates, both locally and globally. This broader reach allows them to tap into a diverse pool of talent, including passive candidates who are not actively seeking new opportunities.
Cost Efficiency: Contrary to popular belief, partnering with an external recruitment agency can be a cost-effective solution. By outsourcing recruitment activities, companies can reduce overhead costs associated with internal hiring processes, such as advertising, screening, and training.
Keys to a Seamless Recruiting Experience
Given the mushrooming demand for talent in the life sciences and biotech fields and the increasingly complex STEM hiring landscape, internal talent acquisition teams are finding it challenging to keep up. The good news: by understanding these challenges and exploring effective responses, organizations can navigate the recruitment landscape with confidence. Whether it’s leveraging the expertise of external recruitment agencies or implementing innovative hiring strategies, investing in talent acquisition is essential for driving long-term success in an increasingly competitive market.
If you’re looking to fill a role with a highly qualified candidate, Sci.bio’s recruitment services can help. We know that no two clients are the same. So we provide customized recruiting support that adapts to a given client’s structure and needs and have placed successful candidates with a variety of companies. Please contact us to connect with a recruiter and discuss your needs, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.
Sources:
1. “The State of Talent Acquisition 2023” – Life Sciences Recruitment Report, Industry Insights, 2023.
2. “Navigating the Talent Crunch: Strategies for Recruiting in the Life Sciences Industry” – Biotech HR Trends, Talent Solutions, 2022.
3. “The Rise of External Recruitment Agencies in Life Sciences” – Recruitment Trends and Insights, Biotech Today, 2021.
4. “The Cost of Keeping a Position Open” – Talent Acquisition Insights, Sci.Bio, 2023.
