Finding qualified talent has always been a challenge in Animal Health, but reaching the right candidates has become increasingly difficult. Many of the professionals that employers most want to hire are already employed and are not actively looking for a new position. These passive candidates may be very open to the right opportunity, but they are unlikely to be scrolling through job boards or submitting applications. In a specialized industry where experience, technical expertise, and established relationships can be critical, simply posting a position often isn’t enough. The best candidate may never see it.
At the same time, Animal Health companies are competing for talent with industries outside of Animal Health itself. Biotech, human health, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, and emerging pet health companies can all attract professionals with transferable skills. The continued growth of the Animal Health industry, including areas such as companion animal health, diagnostics, biologics, nutrition, and preventive care, is creating new career opportunities while also increasing competition for experienced professionals. L.E.K. Consulting has identified continued transformation and investment across the Animal Health industry, driven by innovation, technology, and changing consumer expectations1.
For employers, this makes branding more important than ever. Candidates want more than a list of responsibilities and qualifications. They want to understand why they should consider leaving a position they already have. What is the leadership like? Is there room to grow? Will they have flexibility? Will they be challenged and continue learning? Most importantly, what makes this opportunity different? LinkedIn’s recent recruiting research2 emphasizes the growing importance of employer reputation, innovation, career development, and the overall candidate experience when competing for talent. A strong employer brand gives recruiters something meaningful to communicate and gives passive candidates a reason to start a conversation.
This is also why specialized recruiters are becoming increasingly valuable to employers. Technology and LinkedIn have made it easier to identify potential candidates, but finding someone’s name is not the same as successfully recruiting them. Effective recruiting requires understanding the market, knowing which backgrounds translate well to a particular role, developing relationships, and understanding what might actually motivate someone to make a career move. In Animal Health, industry knowledge can be particularly important because the strongest candidate is not always the person with the most obvious title or background.
At Boaz Partners, we regularly speak with highly qualified Animal Health professionals who were not actively considering a job change when we first contacted them. They were successful in their current roles and weren’t necessarily looking to leave. What got their attention was learning about an opportunity that offered something meaningful, whether that was greater responsibility, stronger leadership, career advancement, flexibility, or the opportunity to work in an area of the industry with significant growth potential. In today’s market, successful recruiting is less about waiting for candidates to come to you and more about knowing where the right talent is, understanding what matters to them, and starting the right conversation.
Are you looking for top talent in the Specialty Chemical, Advanced Materials, or Animal Health industry?
Contact us to discuss how we can bring top leadership talent to your team. Boaz Partners is a premier executive search firm focused on the direct recruitment of executives and professionals for the specialty chemicals and animal health space. We are your partner, and our focus is on custom recruiting solutions. Follow the link to learn more about how our animal health recruiters can help you.
Sources
- E.K. Consulting, The Future of Animal Health: An At-a-Glance Overview
- LinkedIn Talent Solutions, The Future of Recruiting
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinarians
