What is the most dangerous human activity? Being a fireman? A mountain climber? An astronaut? None of them. The riskiest activity is… recruitment. Indeed, a fireman is only risking their life, while the wrong hire can derail an entire organization. Did I scare you? Relax. I’m not serious. Here’s the truth: recruitment is not inherently dangerous. It’s normal, manageable, and most importantly human. You might dream of making hiring an exact science, with AI and tools eliminating biases,...

“We keep seeing the same profiles.” “Even different head-hunters bring us the same names.” When selecting a new recruitment partner, the expectation is clear: “Bring us fresh talent we’ve never seen before.” I understand the desire. But it is largely an illusion. Here’s why. 1. For a highly specific role, the talent pool is finite. Let’s take a concrete case. A company is looking for a Medical Affairs Director in neuro-oncology to lead a global product launch. A competent...

Yes, even in the healthcare industry, professionals are out of work. For decades, the sector felt untouchable: growth, funding, expansion, continuous hiring. That cycle has shifted. Layoffs. Hiring freezes. “Strategic” recruitments limited to the strict minimum. Meanwhile, something paradoxical is happening. Companies say: “We only hire exceptional profiles.” But at the same time, highly experienced, 45+ seasoned experts are quietly filtered out. And here is the uncomfortable truth: The...

Many professionals are currently out of work even in the healthcare industry. Who would have predicted that? For decades, the sector offered stability, growth, attractive salaries, and continuous opportunities. That era is over. Like the rest of the economy, the healthcare industry is now experiencing layoffs, hiring freezes, and “minimum strategic recruitments” which are not always the most useful ones. Seasoned professionals, experts with 20+ years of experience, now face the harsh...

Client: “We’re looking for the ideal candidate.” Me: “Really? Are you an ideal employer?” Client: “Of course. We’re a market leader with over 100 years of history. We’ve developed countless life-changing medicines, we care about people development, diversity, and we believe in a human-sized, sustainable ecosystem.” And then... I wake up. No way I’m falling back asleep. Never mind, let’s write a philosophical post instead. What is ideal, really? Adjective: Satisfying...

Some of you may have seen the rare ads I post here, or browsed my website and noticed there are only a couple of job openings. Time for a confession: in 25 years of head-hunting, I have never - I promise - received a single qualified profile through an ad. Why? Because I’m a head-hunter. That means I’m called when companies, despite the efforts of their talented in-house recruiters, still can’t fill a critical position. I get involved when the search requires deep expertise, patience, and...