Hiring for Potential in Biotech: Lessons from 25 Years of Recruiting

In this episode of Advancing Talent Acquisition, Michelle Krier sits down with Steven Swan, CEO of The Swan Group and host of the podcast Biotech Bytes, to explore how biotech hiring has evolved over the past 25 years. Steve shares how the industry shifted from valuing potential to seeking “perfect match” candidates—and why it’s now swinging back toward hiring for aptitude, cultural fit, and soft skills. He discusses the critical role of clean, well-governed data in accelerating biotech innovation, the growing demand for consultative recruiters who can uncover candidate motivations, and why the human “work in the middle” will remain essential even as technology reshapes the hiring landscape. Connect with Michelle and Steven! Michelle Krier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekrier/Steven Swan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swangroup/