In my role as a search partner, I consult with professionals across the full spectrum. From confident, in-demand candidates to experienced leaders navigating the uncertainty of redundancy. To be effective, I must shift gears constantly, offering tailored support while staying grounded. The principles I abide by never change:
- Be consistent
- Treat people the way you would want to be treated
- Don’t overpromise
It’s a tough market. Those who have lost roles due to restructures or funding issues don’t need empty reassurance, they need empathy, clarity, and respect. Unfortunately, many companies still create false hope, engaging candidates to hit internal hiring quotas before ghosting them entirely. The result? Widespread disengagement from candidates who genuinely want to contribute.
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The Employer Mindset: Compassion and Performance
Engaging with pharmaceutical employers in 2025 is an interesting shift from just a few years ago. In 2022, the war for talent was real—search professionals were in high demand, and hiring was a race. Today, I often hear a confident “we’re hiring directly—there are plenty of applicants.”
That’s true. The market is full of highly capable, motivated job seekers. But let’s not confuse visibility with reach.
The most transformational leaders, the ones who elevate teams and shape culture, are often not on the market. They are passive. comfortable, focused elsewhere. Reaching them takes time, persistence, and relationships built over years.
This is where search adds value (not just in filling a vacancy), but in finding someone who truly fits.
The hiring focus for employers is understandably shifting toward cost savings, team resets, and meeting ED&I objectives. But these efforts shouldn’t come at the expense of compassion or long-term thinking. A trusted contact of mine always says: “Create hope in dark times, and caution in easy times.” That wisdom has never felt more relevant.
(And for those who know the story of the Chinese farmer and his son… you’ll understand why perspective is everything.)
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Candidates: Rise to the Challenge with Purpose
For professionals in transition, it can feel like a brutal market. But it’s also an opportunity to reframe your mindset.
Yes, today's hiring climate rewards adaptability and values alignment—but we mustn’t forget the value of persistence and human connection. I’ll always make time for someone who picks up the phone and reaches out with intent. A younger version of me might not have—but in today’s digital, transactional world, that personal, traditional touch stands out more than ever.
Passive opportunities are still out there. But they go to people who put themselves out there—without entitlement, without expectation, and with a focus on relationships over transactions. Putting yourself ‘out there’ is in my opinion NOT being the loudest voice on linked-in, its showing influential hiring leaders you are ready to standout.
That means:
- Giving your time to employers and recruiters who share your values
- Being persistent — and having the courage to go after an opportunity
The process is harder. We all need to adapt to create opportunities.
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No Perfect Answer—But the Right Conversations Matter
There is no single formula for hiring success—or career success. But I believe the pharmaceutical industry can, and should, do more. That means:
- More openness to diverse candidate backgrounds. Transferable skills are harder to assess than direct ones. Could this bring a rise to the desire to hire candidates who fit culture?
- More compassion in the process. Honesty and integrity is in high demand – a career is long and we are not always on top without needing support.
- And more strategic thinking beyond just cost per hire. Long-term thinking is critical and short term gains don’t equal long-term success.
If you're an employer rethinking your approach, a candidate navigating uncertainty, or a leader striving to balance short-term pressure with long-term success—I’d welcome a conversation. I can share battle scars, best practice and what my longest relationships rely on – challenge your thinking.
Let’s stop searching for the perfect answer and start having the right discussions.
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Andrew Davis
Founder, Allerton Bishop
📞 +44(0)7958 109399
📧 andrew.davis@allertonbishop.co.uk