Interview with: Tim Wierenga, Chief Executive Officer, ClinLinks

1. Why Timing is Crucial in
Clinical Research Recruitment
Interview with: Tim Wierenga, Chief
Executive Officer, ClinLinks
“Timing is crucial when finding the right
candidate. Any time wasted in filling a
position can delay a new drug from
reaching market,” according to Tim
Wierenga, Chief Executive Officer,
ClinLinks.
ClinLinks is a niche recruitment service
provider at the upcoming marcus
evans Evolution Summit 2015, in
Palm Beach, Florida, May 6-8. Ahead of
the Summit, Tim discusses the best
approach for recruitment and what
matters most.
Why do pharma and biotech
companies need niche recruiters?
What do the traditional channels
lack in?
Niche recruiters personally network with
people within a very specific set of skills
and/or therapeutic expertise. They
connect with emerging talent and stay
in touch with industry veterans, allowing
them access to all levels of experience
to find you the best candidate for the
position.
Traditional channels (i.e. job postings),
inundate HR staff with an overwhelming
amount of candidates, the majority of
which lack in qualifications. As it
becomes easier to apply to job postings,
with mobile access and one-click apply
buttons, the seriousness of the
application is declining. Niche recruiters
bring you only qualified talent interested
in your company and within your
budget, dramatically cutting down on
time and money spent.
Why is timing crucial when it comes
to filling a position?
If a small biotech, with limited
resources, is looking for a Director of
Regulatory Affairs with strong New Drug
Approval (NDA) experience in oncology,
then it is important to fill the position
quickly. Any delay in filling this position
may impact the company’s ability to
continue its NDA process, which may
have lasting monetary effects.
From the recruiter’s viewpoint, timing is
everything. Between 75-91 percent of
industry candidates are passive, or
happy in their current position. It is our
job to target candidates who may be
facing uncertainty in their current
position due to an acquisition, merge or
layoffs. Because we are constantly
communicating with individuals
throughout the industry, we have the
information necessary to appropriately
target candidates best suited for a
particular position.
Recruiters who know how to cultivate
great relationships will understand the
timing involved with a candidate’s
personal situation. For example,
knowing when an industry leader’s
youngest child is off to college, opening
them up to relocation for the first time,
gives the niche recruiter’s clients first
access to newly available talent.
Can these skills be developed
internally?
With time, resources, and a knowledge-
able leader, a large company may be
able to successfully develop an internal
recruitment department; however, small
companies (and large companies that
prefer to stay at arm’s length from
recruiting competitor’s talent) may wish
to better focus their limited resources.
Pharma and biotech recruitment is an
ever-changing field. Therefore,
recruitment within these fields requires
dedicated resources and personnel. For
example, social professional networks
are the fastest growing source of quality
placements. As such, these networks
have doubled over the past four years,
and, if one is not actively connecting
within these networks daily, it is nearly
impossible to acquire the best talent.
What must they look for in recruit-
ers?
Companies should shop around and
understand exactly what services are
being offered. Technology has taken
power away from the larger recruitment
agencies and, in turn, technology has
allowed smaller niche firms to better
service large and small end-users at
better rates.
Look for recruiters intimately connected
with their professional networks, with
access to passive candidates, trustwor-
thy relationships, and inside informa-
tion. Great recruiters also remain
dedicated to educating themselves in
industry trends and new technologies,
keeping them ahead of the curve and in
sync with the skillsets your hiring
managers desire.
Any delay
in filling this
position may
impact the
company’s ability
to continue its
NDA process,
which may have
lasting monetary
effects

2. The Pharma Network – marcus
evans Summits group delivers
peer-to-peer information on
strategic matters, professional
t r e n d s a n d b r e a k t h r o u g h
innovations.
Please note that the Summit is a
closed business event and the
number of participants strictly
limited.
About the Evolution Summit 2015
The 8th Evolution Summit is the premium forum bringing clinical trial experts from
leading drug development companies and solution providers together. The Summit
offers an intimate environment for a focused discussion of key new drivers shaping
drug development. Taking place at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Palm Beach,
Florida, May 6-8, 2015, the Summit includes presentations on improving trial
performance, driving innovation, site selection and feasibility, and pinpointing
recent trends.
www.evolutionsummit.com
Contact
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division
Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com
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About ClinLinks
ClinLinks is dedicated to providing expert recruitment services in the clinical research industry.
Our Clinical Research Recruiters utilize effective communication and build long-standing relationships with Companies and
Candidates alike. We continually stay at the forefront of new trends, resources and technologies to provide additional value and
insight.
We are committed to our ethics, integrity and reputation in the clinical research industry. ClinLinks is not the recruitment agency
you will use just once, we are the recruitment agency you will work with from now on!
www.clinlinks.com
About marcus evans Summits
marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss
strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to
individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, case studies, roundtables and one-on-one business meetings.
For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com
Upcoming Events
Discovery Summit (Europe) - www.discovery-summit.com
Evolution Summit (Europe) - www.evolution-summit.com
To view the web version of this interview, please click here: www.evolutionsummit.com/TimWierenga