Welcome to Life Science Partner

I founded Life Science Partner in 2002 with several colleagues because we saw the life sciences industry needed recruiters with the specific skills and knowledge base of the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology industry and had the ability to attract the talent so that they might bring new medicines and new medical devices to help patients lives. Life Science Partner is comprised of dedicated individuals, who recruit with passion, the type of leaders that these entrepreneurial companies need to take their technologies and bring them through regulatory and clinical processes so they might help others.

Dealing with Recruiters

The major roles at larger companies are usually managed by retained recruiters. It is important to know that when a recruiter calls you, that they are soliciting you for your personal interest in the opportunity in addition to other people you might know. Be sure to receive their calls. If the opportunity is not appropriate for you, explain to them of others whom you think might be qualified. Also, tell them what you are looking for personally and what your next steps might be. Suggest that you would welcome their phone call any time that they have an opportunity that might be a potential fit or also if you could be a good networker for them. Be good to the strongest recruiters, and they will be good to you.

Your Career Game

Many people ask how to manage their careers and make rapid progress in their field, so I wanted to share some tips I had to get ahead. First, manage your own personal profile by attending conferences in your expertise. Have business cards ready and take opportunities to give talks or presentations. Recruiters often identify good candidates by finding the list of speakers at conferences. Also, be sure to keep your resume and LinkedIn current. Give facts about what you achieved and the results you have obtained. Indicate your management skills, the types of teams you have managed, and how you led them to greater performance.

Building an Effective Resume

A strong resume is an important feature that tells your story. I suggest that candidates describe each role they had, the number of employees they managed, types of opportunities and activities they experienced, and the results that they achieved. This process spells out a clear message to the employer, lists quantitative sales numbers, and numbers the products developed during your time. Be clear in your resume, but tell a story of growing success, growing numbers, and your ability to manage teams of people.

Your Successful Interview

It’s important to prepare carefully for an interview. My recommendation is that you read the annual report of the company, but also the most recent press releases that are usually available on the web. An informed candidate tends to impress the clients, so it’s important that you understand what is going on with the company in order to ask relevant questions. I also highly recommend that you are able to tell your life story and career in two minutes or less. It is your own elevator pitch: “This is who I am, this is what I’ve achieved, and this is why I’m here to explore this particular opportunity.” You are not only trying to see if you are the right fit for the company, but if the company is the right fit for you. In addition to your pitch, it is important to read the job description, know it in detail, and think of your own career experiences that related directly to the characteristics and qualifications they are seeking.

Post Interview Steps

After the interview process, be sure to write a carefully thought email back to all individuals you have spoken with. Also, thank the recruiter for the opportunity. This is a good way to close the loop and get his/her feedback. Next, the toughest part is being patient. The recruiter is often managing 4-5 candidates at a time for multiple searches, and therefore an immediate response may not always come. This does not mean there was a negative response. Frequently, a client does not return feedback immediately to the recruiter.

Closing the Loop

If you get the offer, congratulations! Now it’s on your time to consider whether or not you want to accept the position and negotiate the final package. However, if you did not get the offer, realize it is a good learning experience and a good networking opportunity for you. Talk to your recruiter, ask what you could have done differently and why it was this not the right fit. Be sure to write emails to thank the individuals who considered your candidacy.

And always, here at Life Science Partner, we are happy to be of help to you as you explore your next opportunity, as we are representing many other life science companies as well.