Finding the best people for high-level jobs in the pharmaceutical sector can be difficult, as competition for experienced staff is strong. Using the services of a specialist pharmaceutical industry headhunter can make the process quicker and simpler.
Executive search firms operate in a variety of ways when filling senior positions and can assist employers in deciding which is the most suitable for their vacancy. One of the most common methods is for them to use relationships they have built over many years with high-calibre candidates to sound them out about a potential move. The real benefit of this is that the shortlist the specialist recruitment agency presents for interview will contain a number of people with relevant experience who were not actively searching for a new job.
A headhunter may also recommend advertised selection for senior roles, which involves the agency running a recruitment ad on behalf of the client and then handling the response. They will carry out screening interviews with candidates who have impressive CVs, before drawing up a final shortlist for the recruiting manager to meet.
Executive search firms are more expensive than standard employment agencies and clients may have to pay a retained fee up front for them to take on the assignment. However, a pharmaceutical industry headhunter is a cost-effective way to find staff with very specific skills to fill £80,000+ jobs, such as clinical development director, head of QA, marketing manager and medical director.