In this episode, Charles interviews John Goldener, a former pediatrician who transitioned into a successful career as a pharmaceutical industry recruiter. He specializes in retained executive search for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

With over 20-25 years in clinical development recruitment, John shares valuable lessons learned, common mistakes, and effective partnership strategies. This conversation is packed with lessons for both recruiters and candidates aiming to navigate the competitive world of specialized recruitment.

Here's what you're in:

00:00 John Goldener Introduction

02:38 Starting a Recruiting Firm

06:06 Building a Network

12:02 Understanding the Science

19:07 The Importance of Retained Search

23:05 Impact of Considerate Recruitment Approaches

24:10 Personalized Interview Process

25:08 Challenges with Contingency Search

26:51 Importance of Candidate Fit

27:50 Quality-Based Recruiting System

30:52 Differences in Hiring Practices

32:31 Biotech vs. Big Pharma Dynamics

41:59 Advice for Job Seekers

46:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

About John Goldener

Former pediatrician John Goldener transitioned into a pharmaceutical recruiter with over 20 years of experience and founded his own executive search firm, Goldener Executive Search Associates, focusing on oncology clinical development. With an MD and extensive clinical background, including running his practice and chairing a department, he placed 8-12 candidates yearly, totaling 100+ placements. Known for meticulous research and networking, plus attending key industry conferences, Goldener's expertise covers U.S. and European markets, working with companies like Genentech and numerous biotech firms. He combines medical knowledge with recruiting acumen to provide thorough candidate evaluations and job descriptions.

Connect with Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-goldener-aa6642/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/