Recruiting and retaining the best scientific talent for your education, business or research organisation is key to maintaining a competitive edge. Whether you’re developing a new research team or expanding an existing one, finding the right scientists is crucial. Here is a guide from jobs.ac.uk on how to attract, hire and retain top scientific talent.
Attracting Top Scientists
To attract top scientists, your organisation needs to stand out as an employer of choice. Start by promoting a compelling vision that will align with the interests and goals of highly skilled professionals. Top scientists often seek roles where they can push the boundaries of knowledge, work on meaningful projects, and have access to cutting-edge resources and technology.
An important part of attracting talent is creating a strong employer brand. Highlight research opportunities, and the innovative work your institution is doing, as well as other aspects like commitment to diversity and inclusion, career progression and support for professional development, can help set a university apart for prospective candidates.
To attract scientific talent, many scientists are motivated by the chance to contribute to impactful research, so make sure to showcase how your projects advance science or solve real-world challenges.
In your adverts, consider the details you include, as over 71% of research and academic jobseekers in jobs.ac.uk jobseeker survey prefer an advert that contains all the job details, including job description and person specification. When considering a new job, the top two most important factors respondents look for an employer are: a reputation as a great place to work and a reputation for great research/services.
Specialist job boards such as jobs.ac.uk are a great place to start attracting talent that caters specifically to scientists, researchers and academics. Read more top reasons to use jobs.ac.uk.
Hiring the Right Scientists
Once you’ve attracted interest, the hiring process should be thorough but respectful of the candidate’s time and expertise. Evaluate candidates based not only on their technical skills but also on their ability to collaborate and innovate within a team.
During the hiring process, 56% of candidates can find long application processes and 57% not hearing back from jobs a frustrating part of the process, which is important to keep in mind.
Interview preferences from our jobseekers found 62% prefer a video interview for the first interview stage and 58% for an in-person interview for the second stage.
To ensure you’re selecting the right person, you can involve your existing scientific team in the interview process. This helps assess cultural fit and allows candidates to meet future colleagues. It’s also important to make sure their research interests align with your institution or organisation’s goals, as this alignment can significantly influence long-term job satisfaction and productivity.
Retaining Your Best Scientists
Once you’ve secured top talent, the focus shifts to retention. Scientists are often driven by intellectual curiosity, so providing opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, and the freedom to explore new ideas can help keep them engaged. Offering mentorship, clear career progression, and access to professional networks can further enhance their job satisfaction.
Recognition is also key. Acknowledging accomplishments and allowing scientists to present their work or take on leadership roles in projects can go a long way in boosting morale and loyalty. Creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture where collaboration and respect are prioritised helps ensure long-term retention.
Work-life balance is also important to offer, allowing flexible working hours or the option to work remotely can help retain top talent, especially as many employees value the ability to balance their professional and personal lives. 75% of jobs.ac.uk jobseeker survey respondents favoured a combination of working from home and an office/campus.
By fostering a supportive, collaborative environment where scientists feel valued and have room to grow, your organisation will not only attract the best talent but also keep them motivated and committed for the long term.
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