By Megan Daniel, Project Manager at PharmaLogics Recruiting
Recruiter screens are often the first opportunity for candidates to make a true impression. While this may not be the hardest or most technical interview during the hiring process, it is important to put your best foot forward, as it’s a great way to set the tone for your candidacy. After screening hundreds of life sciences candidates over the years, I’ve compiled a list of recruiter screen don’ts, and what you should do instead.
Before the Call: Set the Stage for Success
Don’t View the Recruiter Screen as a Formality. Do Treat It as Any Other Interview
One mistake life sciences candidates make is viewing the call as a mere formality. A recruiter screen is just like any other interview, so it’s important to come prepared to talk through your experience and interest in the role. Hiring managers trust the life sciences recruiters to assess not just general skillset, but overall professionalism and culture fit.
Don’t Assume the Life Sciences Recruiter Is Against You. Do See Them as a Partner in the Process
It’s easy to feel like the recruiter is a barrier or hurdle to getting in front of the hiring manager, but that’s not the case. Your life sciences recruiter wants you to do well and sing your praises, so they have a great candidate to share with the hiring team.
During the Call: Communicate with Clarity
Don’t Overshare. Do Keep Your Answers Concise.
Avoid diving too deep into details when explaining your background and experience. Aim to keep your answers concise – ideally just a few minutes long per answer. The recruiter will ask follow-up questions as needed; lengthy answers can make your experience hard to follow and limit the time life sciences recruiters have to ask all necessary questions. Instead, use each answer to highlight the experience that is most directly applicable to the question asked and the job you’re interviewing for. This makes it easier for the recruiter to sell you and your experience to the hiring manager.
Don’t Speak in Hypotheticals. Do Have a Structure to Your Answers.
Speaking in broad terms or hypotheticals can weaken your message. Instead, frame your responses with examples from your work whenever possible – past or present. Structure your answers in the form of a “Spark Notes” summary that outlines the situation or problem, what you did to mitigate said situation or problem, and what the outcome or impact was after doing so. You may have heard this idea referred to as the STAR, CAR, SOAR, or PAR method; they all roughly follow the same structure. Distilling your example into this road map will also help you remove unnecessary details that may cloud the message you’re trying to get across, helping with the timing consideration mentioned above.
Don’t Get Caught Off Guard. Do Prepare for Behavioral Questions.
Questions about challenges, mistakes, or conflicts often come up – so it’s wise to expect them. Prepare to answer those and other behavioral-adjacent questions with examples. These are popular interview questions for a reason. No matter the role, navigating problems and challenges is going to be a part of anyone’s job. Hearing how you handle these situations can also speak to how you might fit in with the culture – particularly for newer companies that are more agile and where employees wear multiple hats. I find these questions also help me better understand the scope of a candidate’s responsibilities.
Don’t Get Frustrated by Repetition. Do Be Patient and Clarify Kindly.
Repeating yourself can often be frustrating, but it’s important to have patience with life sciences recruiters, as they are not SMEs in every space they recruit in and may not realize you’ve inadvertently covered their question in another answer. Alternatively, they may ask interrelated questions to ensure they can fully convey your breadth of experience to the hiring team. Be kind when explaining how what you’ve already shared applies, and you can use the opportunity to share a couple of additional details or simply help them put the pieces together.
Don’t Lie About Other Opportunities. Do Be Honest About Your Timeline.
You don’t need to feel pressured to say you have multiple interviews lined up. Being honest about your general timeline helps build trust. I always tell life sciences candidates that I know job searching can fall on a spectrum from being open for the right role to actively looking with five interviews lined up – along with everything in between. No singular interviewing status increases your chances of being seen by the hiring team. Life sciences recruiters just want to understand your personal timeline so they are mindful of any urgencies or other considerations that may come up during the interviewing process.
Don’t Accuse the Life Sciences Recruiter of Lowballing. Do Share Your Expectations Openly.
Avoid accusing the recruiter of lowballing you during salary talks. Instead, share whatever information you feel comfortable with in terms of salary expectations. If your expectations don’t align with the position’s salary range, you can let the life sciences recruiter know, but nicely. This opens the door for the two of you to discuss company offerings overall – like total compensation potential, benefits, or other perks that may impact your expectations surrounding base alone. Then, considering those factors, you can decide whether it makes sense to proceed forward with your candidacy. There is no wrong answer, only the wrong approach – whatever you say, say it kindly.
Don’t Hold Back Questions. Do Show Your Curiosity and Engagement.
There’s no need to be afraid to ask the life sciences recruiter questions. It’s perfectly okay to inquire about things such as the interview process, the team, or company culture. They may not have answers to all of your questions during your call, but they’ll know who to ask within the company and can get back to you.
After the Call: Stay Professional and Engaged
Don’t Be Impatient When Following Up with Your Life Sciences Recruiter. Do Stay Professional and Polite.
Maintain professionalism and politeness when following up with a recruiter for updates. Keep in mind that if you haven’t heard back, it’s likely the recruiter hasn’t either. There can be many reasons for the delay – sometimes hiring managers forget to mention they’re traveling or are simply swamped with their main roles and responsibilities. That being said, it’s definitely okay to politely follow up and reiterate your interest in the position.
Don’t Wait to Share Your Timeline. Do Keep Life Sciences Recruiters Informed Throughout.
Keep the recruiter updated on your timeline throughout the interview process rather than waiting until you have another offer. Communicating your progress from early to later stages helps recruiters support you more effectively. They will do everything they can to expedite interview scheduling or provide feedback to you, whenever possible.
Navigating the Life Sciences Job Search: Partnering for Better Outcomes
Overall, life sciences candidates must remember that a recruiter screen is not meant to be complicated or all-encompassing, but that does not mean it isn’t important. View the recruiter as your partner and advocate who deserves your respect, the same as anyone else you interview with. They will often be your number one cheerleader and heeding the advice above helps both of you in the long run. Happy job hunting!
Looking for a better life sciences job search experience? At PharmaLogics Recruiting, we offer honest guidance, responsive communication, and roles that truly fit your goals. Get in touch with us today to take the next step in your career.
About the Author
Megan Daniel is a Project Manager for PharmaLogics Recruiting. Before transitioning into talent acquisition, she performed in various musicals and plays for theater companies across the East Coast. She is thankful to be a part of an awesome cohort at PharmaLogics and loves finding new ways to utilize her creativity in the recruiting field. When not working, Megan is reading, rock climbing, or finding something new to write about.