Want to hire in Jan-March? Why you should start the process now.

Want to hire in Jan-March? Why it is so important to start looking now…

As established recruiters, we know inside-out the time it takes to hire positions in the drug discovery sector, at any time of year. We must be able to predict potential delays and bottle necks along the way, to enable us to provide accurate proposals and timeframes to our partners.

But when we start looking at these timeframes for Jan, Feb, March, then the dial shifts slightly. If you are planning on hiring into your teams around this period, then we wanted to give you some food for thought.

It’s November. We are all so busy in the run up to the holiday season, with a long to-do list to complete, but we’re also conscious that we want to switch off over Christmas and push back anything that seems unimportant. Recruitment often falls into this unimportant category.

It’s a common misconception that you won’t find many candidates to interview in December, and that people are more motivated after the Christmas break. In fact, it can be quite the opposite.

Starting the hiring process in November (or earlier) for people you need in the first quarter of the New Year is a really smart move for your business. Here are a few points explaining why:

• Hiring in advance ensures that your business is adequately staffed to handle a surge in projects / work during January.
• Hiring in November or early December gives you time to integrate new employees smoothly and set them up for success in the New Year.
• New hires who join before Christmas can help build morale within your organisation. They bring fresh energy to your team, which can be especially beneficial during a hectic season.
• If you are UK/Europe based then you can start seeing through the 2-3 month notice periods sooner.
• Hiring before Christmas means you can avoid the stress of competing with other employers for top talent in the Jan-March periods.

Hiring before Christmas is not just about filling positions, it’s a proactive strategy that positions your business for success during a critical time of year.

Finally…

We wanted to leave you something that could help you with hiring plans throughout the entire year, not just at Christmas.

Do you ever work backwards and map out your hiring timeframe?

Let’s break it down.

• 1-2 weeks: Writing an advert and reviewing up to 100 CV’s
• 2-3 weeks: Screening 10-15 candidates for 45-60 mins
• 2-3 weeks: Interviewing a shortlist of 4-5 candidates
• 2-3 days: Accounting for admin and cancellations
• 1-2 weeks: Reference checks, offer negotiation

= 6-10 weeks to complete the entire process.

This is providing everything goes to plan, which we all know, it often doesn’t! Your timeframes will differ, but we advise thinking about this before you begin the process and, if you would like to hire in Jan-March, start thinking about ticking off the following:

Write and post your advert now to gain traction.
Start blocking time in calendars for interviews before and after Christmas.
Get a true understanding from managers about what skills they need, so you can move quickly with the right applicants.
If needed, engage a recruiter who still has a good 4-6 weeks of solid search time before Christmas.

…….. GOOD LUCK!!!

Hiring in North America? Contact us here

Hiring in the UK & Europe? Contact us here

KEMIO is a trusted resource to start-ups, biotech’s, global pharma and non-profit organisations. Working in such a niche area across the globe for so many years has enabled us to build an exceptional network and gain a thorough understanding of challenges within the Research, Healthcare, and Pharmaceutical industry.