Overcoming fraudulent candidates to onboard Lead Clinical Data Managers in record time
The Challenge
The client, a leading CRO, recently won a significant RFP with a global pharmaceutical organization. This required them to ramp up their hiring efforts immediately, particularly in the USA and Canada, across key therapeutic areas including Oncology, Neurology, and other complex fields. However, their internal resources were insufficient to meet these urgent demands, and their talent acquisition team was already overwhelmed by the volume of work. A significant challenge arose in the Data Management market within the USA, where there had been a notable increase in fraudulent ‘fake candidates.’ The client faced the dual pressures of needing to onboard 20 Lead Clinical Data Managers quickly while simultaneously combating the surge in fraudulent profiles, which threatened to derail their hiring timeline and resource allocation.
Delivered 20 screened candidates
4 weeks
18 advanced to final interview
100% offer acceptance rate
12 hires
100% candidate completed probation
The Solution
Our approach involved close collaboration with the client to identify the underlying issues associated with fake candidates and establish effective early detection strategies. Partnering with our internal expert, Caroline O’Brien (ex-Associate Director of Biostatistics), the client's Talent Acquisition team, and the hiring managers, we developed a comprehensive first interview template that outlined all the key responsibilities and tasks of the Data Managers, specific to these roles. Additionally, we worked in tandem with the internal Talent Acquisition team to compile a 'red list' of suspected fraudulent companies. This list was shared with other agencies involved in the project, ensuring a unified approach to filtering out fraudulent candidates across the board.
Leveraging our extensive network within the biometrics space, along with referrals and a robust candidate database, bolstered by candidates personally met at industry conferences - we confidently sourced legitimate candidates. Traditional recruitment methods, including job postings on multiple platforms, were also employed to expand our reach. Given the client's ambitious goal of onboarding 20 Lead Clinical Data Managers within a tight timeframe, we conducted thorough video calls and, when necessary, first-round interviews with our Biometrics expert to verify candidate authenticity. Although referencing each candidate slowed the process slightly, it was a crucial step in alleviating the client’s concerns about fraudulent profiles.
In just four weeks, our team presented 20 thoroughly screened candidates, with 90% — 18 candidates— moving to final interviews. Of these, 12 received and accepted offers, and have since completed their probation period. Despite four agencies being involved, our competitors made only two placements, with the rest sourced internally by the client. Our focused approach met the client’s urgent needs while maintaining high standards of candidate quality.
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