Blog

BIO International 2025 Recap: Why Relationship-Driven Growth Is Winning in Life Sciences

By Alex Halstead, Director of Business Development – Life Sciences, Hobson Associates

After spending a packed few days at BIO International 2025 in Boston, one thing is clear: the market has shifted—and so have the strategies that win.

Across conversations with CDMOs, CROs, diagnostics firms, and leaders in pharma services and biotech platforms, the same themes kept emerging. Companies that are thriving in today’s market aren’t relying on volume or speed alone. Instead, they’re leaning into something deeper: relationship-driven partnering.

The Market Reality in 2025

Too many companies are still waiting for the market to “feel like 2021” again—
When capacity sold itself.
When growth was fast and frictionless.
When speed trumped alignment.

But here’s the reality today:

Is Your Hiring Process Costing You Top Talent?

12 Hiring Mistakes Companies Need to Leave Behind.

In today’s market, hiring isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about attracting the right people before your competition does.

At Hobson Associates, we work with clients across Technology, Life Sciences, Healthcare Technology, Medical Device, Industrial Manufacturing, Insurance, and Staffing & Office Services. One thing is clear across the board: top candidates are walking away from outdated hiring processes.

If your hiring practices haven’t evolved with the times, they may be doing more harm than good.

Here are 12 hiring habits that companies should ditch in 2025—and what to do instead:

Why AI Won’t Replace Recruiters Anytime Soon

Real Connections Still Matter—And Always Will.

There’s no denying it—AI and tools like ChatGPT are changing how we work. From resume parsing to job ad writing, artificial intelligence has made recruiting faster, more efficient, and in some cases, more cost-effective.

But let’s be clear: AI is not replacing recruiters—especially not the kind of high-touch, relationship-driven search Hobson Associates has delivered for over 50 years.

Recruiter Reaches out to You-Now What?

Most of the time during your job search, you’re the one who is responsible for making all the first moves in the process. It’s up to you to write a stand-out resume, find an opportunity that’s right for you, apply to the position(s) and really market yourself to the company/hiring manager. But if you’ve got an impressive enough background or a mastery of hard-to-find skills, chances are that recruiters will be the ones reaching out to you.

So, what should you do when a recruiter contacts you? Here’s what Glassdoor had to say about it:

7 Signs It’s Time to Hire a Recruiter to Help Your Business Thrive

Whether you're a startup in growth mode, a mid-market company expanding, or an established organization entering new markets, your hiring decisions can make or break your success. In today's fast-moving world, securing the right talent—efficiently and strategically—is crucial.

At Hobson Associates, we specialize in recruiting top talent across industries like Technology, Life Sciences, Medical Devices, HealthTech, Manufacturing, Insurance, Staffing, and Office Services. We help businesses like yours find the right people—fast and with precision.

Here are 7 signs it’s time to bring in a recruiter to help your business thrive: 

How to Spot a Bad Hire - and How to Fix It: A Guide for Hiring Managers and C-Level Executives

In the fast-paced world of business, making the right hiring decisions is crucial for the success of any organization. However, even the most experienced hiring managers and C-level executives may encounter situations where a hire doesn't meet expectations. Recognizing a hiring mishap early on and taking corrective action is vital to maintaining a high-performing team and fostering a positive workplace culture. In this guide, we'll explore how to spot a bad hire and offer strategies to rectify the situation effectively.

Digital Health Renaissance: Why Funding is Making a Big Comeback

By Kevin M. Carroccia - Practice Manager Healthcare Technology

In the world of digital health, the narrative often swings like a pendulum—from meteoric funding highs to cautious recalibrations. But as we dive deeper into 2024, it’s clear the sector is experiencing a renaissance. After a sobering 2022 and a recalibrated 2023, U.S.-based digital health companies are roaring back with innovation and investor enthusiasm. Year-to-date, the sector has raised $12.4 billion across 719 deals, signaling not just resilience but a renewed appetite for transformative solutions in healthcare.

Hobson Associates: Giving Back to Local Communities This Holiday Season

As one of the nation’s leading executive recruiting firms, Hobson Associates is built on the values of connection and care. These principles don’t just guide our work—they shape our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.

Supporting Connecticut Foodshare
This Thanksgiving, our team stepped up to make a difference. Larry Botelle, Senior Partner on our Tech team, led a successful initiative to support Connecticut Foodshare. Joined by Medical Device Senior Associate Mike McCaffrey, they organized efforts to collect turkeys, hams, and monetary donations, ensuring families in need could enjoy a holiday meal.

To Retain or Not to Retain?

That is the question … You are a hiring authority and are considering enlisting the help of an Executive Search firm to assist with a key hire. So, what do you do next? Do you work on a retained basis, contingent, or a mix of the two?  

We're here to help.

The real answer is that there is a time and a place for each when retaining a headhunter or working on a contingent model. There are benefits and detractors, depending on your situation:

The Virtual Interview: What Hiring Managers Want to Hear from Candidates

Virtual Interviews have become more commonplace than ever during the early stages of the interview and hiring process. This is a way to efficiently screen through large candidate pools, as well as minimize interview expenses for out-of-town candidates. For some remote positions, an online or phone interview may be the only method.

Below are some ways candidates can ace their next telephone interview, according to Glassdoor: