It has been a challenging year. As we look ahead to the 1st Quarter 2023, there will certainly be growth opportunities and new positions coming available. Perhaps you have been reading newsworthy articles of slower times are ahead, but historically the pharma/biotech industry has weathered the economic storms of years past with respectable job activity and clients who continue to hire with approved budgets and new headcount.
In today’s employment atmosphere, many agree it is truly a candidate-driven market with more jobs available than people to fill them! Only a handful of times in recent years have we seen this indicator. Companies do need great candidates. Fortunately, PharmaOne Search continues to be well connected and providing top-tier talent across the board with our existing client base and future prospects.
However, if headwinds continue to develop and persist with a slower economy, we will be ready. We have performed well during these uncertainties and continuing our successful record for finding great candidates, offering counsel and individual career coaching services.
Not exactly sure what the hiring landscape will look like? Let me offer some tips to be prepared and get on with it!
Here are some thoughts and recommendations that stand out, and they work:
- Field new communication from reputable Recruiters. My philosophy is simple. You don’t know what you don’t know. Take the call, answer the email, be courteous. You only need to spend 10 minutes to determine if the position(s) offered fits your criteria and timetable.
- Evaluate all department opportunities within your current dept. If you feel “stuck in neutral” at your current position, explore the next opportunity with a focus of learning something new and stretching yourself. We all go through stages of disappointment, discouragement, rejection, and missing out on that key promotion. When it happens, we have the tendency to be upset and flee. Instead, consider staying the course. Do the extra work. If remote, get to the office at least 1-2 times per week. Be visible. Out of sight means simply, ‘out of mind’ when it comes to being evaluated for a future promotion.
- Will working remotely hurt your promotion chances? Yes, and no. According to Meg Embry 3/29/22 ‘What Will Working Remotely Mean for Your Career Trajectory?…”One of the biggest things you can do to advocate for yourself is to make your manager’s job easier: Keep careful track of what you do each month so they don’t have to work too hard to see the value you bring to your organization”…Meg is right. Don’t let yourself be forgotten.
- Find out your timetable for the next promotion.This is key. Normally your supervisor needs to hear from you as to why moving to the next level is deserved and justified. Often times we don’t plant the seed early enough. Make your desire for advancement known. It’s a bold, and even uncomfortable move for some people, but it shows initiative and commitment.
- Make sure bonus percentage and salary increase are in line with your performance.Many supervisors routinely ask their direct reports to self-evaluate. This is ideal, and to your advantage. Be honest in the evaluation and highlight accomplishments as well as skills you want to improve. Detail study/project documents to help support your facts are necessary. When you meet to discuss with management, be ready with additional information highlighting past projects and campaigns. In that meeting, you are selling yourself.
- Staying connected on social media sites (e.g., LinkedIN, Twitter, etc) are more inclined towards business. When convenient, pick up the phone, have a conversation with people you trust, and/or want to get to know. People need people You will glean new information and it will be good to know. Make the time to network.
And finally, in the game of golf there is a saying, “commit to the shot”. When golfers do this, the outcome is likely better. If you are focused, and have gathered your info, go ahead and follow through. Seldom do impulses work long term. Gather your facts, and commit to the shot!
Make it Count!
Steve Kane, President
PharmaOne Search, LLC