Population growth, coupled with an ageing population has meant that pharmaceutical sales in the UAE are growing year on year.
The Khaleej Times reported recently that the sector could expect ‘robust growth ahead’ as sales build year on year.
Increased demand in the sector has led to significant growth for pharmaceutical companies. However, the problem arises that many pharma companies are competing from the same pool of talent. There is a skills shortage in many essential pharma roles, as companies struggle to find the best talent to fill positions.
This has led to an increase in UAE pharma firms relying on recruitment companies to help them source the most talented candidates – however, finding the ‘right’ recruiting partner is essential.
Firms must be sure that the recruiting partner they choose fully understands the specific issues facing pharma companies in the UAE currently.
An increase in the field of recruitment has meant that it is more difficult now for time-short companies to select the best recruiting partner to suit their needs.
To help clarify things, I have put together this article, detailing the five most critical questions all UAE pharmaceutical companies must ask their recruitment company in assisting them in choosing one which is best suited to their needs.
- Which Similar Roles Have You Placed Candidates In?
First and foremost, if you have not worked with this particular recruitment company before, you need to ascertain if they understand the type of roles that your company needs candidates for now, and in the future.
A recruiter can tell you that they understand exactly the type of candidates you are looking for, but if they have little or no experience in your field, it is unlikely that they will be able to meet your expectations.
I advise that you only work with a recruiter who has extensive experience placing candidates not just in pharma roles, but specifically in the UAE – let me explain why.
- Are You Aware of the Current Issues and Trends in the UAE Pharma Sector?
As I mentioned earlier, the pharma sector in the UAE is currently enjoying significant growth. Firms are specifically focusing on growing the UAE as a pharma world leader, and many companies are looking to branch out internationally.
A comprehensive understanding of the UAE’s pharma sector built over many years is something which your recruiter must truly possess if they are going to source you the best candidates.
Emiratisation in recruitment is also a current issue, which some recruiters do not specialise in. If you are recruiting for positions which have nationalisation sanctions on them, make sure your recruiter has a specialism in this field.
- Which Pharma Companies Have You Recruited For?
Once you are comfortable that your pharmaceutical recruiting partner has the right skills and experience locating talent in the roles that you require them for, next, you should check their credentials.
How many UAE specific pharma companies have they recruited for? Have they recruited internationally? Have they recruited for world-leading pharmaceutical companies? The more established the recruitment company is, the higher the quality of candidates.
Be sure to check their website for testimonials and case studies of previous and current recruiting partners. If they don’t display any, ask. If they can’t provide social proof of their past successes, this can be a red flag. It would be best if you were assured that your recruiter is an expert in their field and that they are going to meet your brief exactly.
- Do You Understand Our Company Culture?
Finding a recruitment company who has an impressive portfolio is one thing, you also need to make sure that they will take the time to understand the precise needs of your company and the position that you are recruiting for.
A big part of whether a new hire works out or not is if they fit in with your company culture.
Your recruiter should take the time to truly understand your company culture, as culture misfit is widely reported to be one of the main reasons employees give for leaving their position.
- What Support Will You Offer Our Company Throughout the Recruiting Process?
Finally, some recruitment companies, unfortunately, concentrate on simply finding you a hire, and are less involved in the process of ensuring the candidates are the right fit, getting to know your company for future vacancies, and ensuring the candidate is the perfect person for the job.
For example, at Kinetic, we take pride in building and developing long-standing relationships with our clients, so that we become trusted partners, and an extension of their internal HR department, rather than just a service.
If the relationship with your recruiter is going to end as soon as they think they have found you the right candidate, this is a business relationship you should seek to avoid.
If you need assistance sourcing the best possible pharmaceutical, medical device and life science candidates for your organisation, get in contact with our team today to discover how we can help.
How Kinetic Can Help
Kinetic source professionals locally and internationally for leading multinational, regional and local Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices companies, including Consumer Healthcare organisations.
As such, we understand the niche requirements for all specialisms of this ever-increasing regulated industry. To find out more about how we can help you in landing your next career progression, contact us today.
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