Career Advice
Looking for a biopharma job? Check out the BioSpace list of 12 top companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
Leadership
An executive who is rarely short on ideas needs someone to pull their big ideas through to implementation. Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack explains why this person, who he calls the implementer, may be the most important hire in the building.
Career Pathing
Limited opportunities and burnout are just two reasons biopharma professionals stop looking for work, with some pivoting away from the industry or turning to consulting. Two career coaches discuss why ending a job hunt is harmful and what to do instead.
A missed promotion can feel like a verdict on your potential. But people and organizations do not always develop at the same pace. Executive coach Angela Justice breaks down what a missed promotion is actually telling you—and what it isn’t.
While biotechs and contract research organizations each have their advantages, that doesn’t mean both options work for everyone. Two experts discuss the differing environments and how to pick between them.
Best of Career Coach
Plus, tips on applying to multiple jobs at the same company, making new work friends, and how to ask for more time at the offer stage.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGY
A recruiter and career coach discuss when and why some biotech and pharma professionals put a premium on health insurance benefits.
BioSpace NextGen honorees made up one-third of the U.S. biotechs that have publicly debuted in 2026. Most are looking for biopharma professionals to join their teams.
Biotechs that announced series B financing this year and are looking for employees as they grow include one that received over $100 million and another that has a partnership with a Big Pharma company.
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Two recruiting experts discuss the main areas where biopharma employers and candidates don’t match up, from how the hiring process runs to what companies can truly pay new employees.
AI tools can help job seekers write resumes and mass apply to open positions, but those aren’t the only, or best, ways to use them. A career coach shares how she advises clients to make the most of AI during the application and interview process.
It’s not unusual for it to take unemployed biopharma professionals awhile to land new jobs. Three experts discuss when employment gaps are an issue and how to explain them to prospective employers.
INTERVIEWS
Business stage is just one factor in whether biopharmas want job candidates to have oncology experience for oncology roles. Two recruiters explain when oncology expertise matters most, the mistakes job seekers make and how to make a good impression.
Even something as simple as “Tell me about yourself” can trip up biopharma professionals during job interviews. Two recruiting experts discuss what candidates should and shouldn’t say when answering five specific questions.
Panel interviews can play a major role in getting jobs. Two career coaches discuss what to do before and during the interview, including identifying how to differentiate yourself, engaging in true conversations and not overlooking a key panel member.
Controlling CEOs, manipulative middle managers and high-performing jerks can damage employees’ trust in employers and motivate them to hit the job market. Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack discusses the problematic behaviors executives must watch for in the workplace.
Rather than getting hung up on what to call DEI in the workplace, leaders should take three specific actions to help their employees embrace and engage with it. Companies and the patients they serve will benefit.
Three experts discuss whether biotech and pharma professionals should try to convince employers to adjust employment offers, mistakes people make during the process and tips for getting it right.
The people most trusted to deliver are not always the ones invited to shape direction. Executive coach Angela Justice examines why the habits that build a career can eventually limit advancement.
Scientists who focus only on generating data risk missing their role in shaping strategy and driving innovation.
Over one-third of BioSpace LinkedIn poll respondents have done free work while interviewing for jobs. A recruiting expert and career coach discuss why employers make work requests and how biopharma professionals should evaluate and respond to them.
Join us in this discussion on how you can optimize your chances of landing a new role despite a highly competitive job market.
MORE ADVICE
Finding the right people for critical open roles can be difficult even for biopharma leaders. In this column, Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack discusses four pitfalls executives face during the hiring process, starting with confusing scientific brilliance with leadership ability.
Some bosses stretch you. Others make work more bearable. Both can earn your loyalty. Only one is building your future. Leadership coach Angela Justice explains how to tell the difference.
As AI reshapes deeply specialized scientific work, R&D professionals must learn to navigate the shift to a skills-centered market. The key is knowing which skills to develop and how to leverage AI as scientific modalities evolve, technologies advance and regulatory complexity increases.
Recruiters can play a significant role in biopharma professionals getting hired, especially in an employer-driven job market. However, when working with them, candidates need to avoid making six key mistakes, from waiting too long to ask for help to prematurely contacting hiring companies.
While you should never rely solely on AI tools when applying for jobs, they can greatly benefit the application process. Recruiting expert Bryan Blair discusses how using large language models can set you apart from the competition and includes a prompt framework to get you started.
In a competitive job market, how applicants present themselves in interviews is critical. Asking about promotions and expressing dislike for the work they’d be doing are just a few reasons hiring managers don’t extend job offers.
With leaner teams and tighter budgets, senior leaders can face tremendous strain as they juggle increased workloads and leadership responsibilities. In this column, Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack discusses how pressure builds and what can ease it.
Biopharma professionals need to understand today’s job market and how they can stand out to position themselves for success. Three talent acquisition and recruiting experts discussed these topics in a BioSpace webinar, from the importance of contract work to the value of an advocate.
This webinar provides a clear-eyed assessment of current hiring conditions across biopharma, exploring which roles and skills are in demand, where opportunities are emerging, and how hiring practices are evolving.