Working Scientist

Why science recruiters struggle to find high-calibre candidates


Listen Later

In the final episode of this six-part podcast series about hiring in science, Julie Gould asks what it takes to be the perfect candidate for a science job vacancy.

Lauren Celano, a careers coach who co-founded Propel Careers, based in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2009, defines a high-calibre candidate as someone who hits up to 70% of the technical things being asked for in a job spec, plus being a strong team player with good communication skills.


David Perlmutter, a communications researcher at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, says recruiters today are seeking what he terms Renaisance people who are able to demonstrate eight or nine qualities and qualifications. Thirty years ago, there might have been just two requirements listed on a job ad. “We’re asking too much of them, so of course they’re coming up short,” he says.


Julie Gould tests Perlmutter’s hypothesis by comparing a 1995 job ad in Nature for a postdoctoral researcher with one posted this year, at the same organisation. The results are revealing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Working ScientistBy Nature Careers

  • 3.2
  • 3.2
  • 3.2
  • 3.2
  • 3.2

3.2

21 ratings


More shows like Working Scientist

View all
Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

Science Magazine Podcast

818 Listeners

The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

The Rachel Maddow Show

36,794 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,119 Listeners

Lex Fridman Podcast by Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman Podcast

12,625 Listeners