Interview Smarter: Contractors vs Permanent Talent

Hiring isn’t what it used to be.

In life sciences today, hiring teams are under pressure to move fast and think long-term. One moment, you're solving an urgent project need. Next, you're mapping out the future of your function. The challenge? Each strategy requires a different kind of hiring approach and a different kind of interview teqnique.

Sometimes, the right person is a specialist contractor, someone who is sharp, fast, and focused. Other times, you're looking for your next long-term hire. Someone who will grow with your company and shape its culture. But here’s the mistake we see far too often: companies applying the same interview process to both scenarios.

 

Why it matters

Hiring is no longer about filling seats. It’s about building capability, and that starts in the interview. Whether you’re scaling a project team or hiring your next innovation leader, the questions you ask shape the future you build.

This guide will help you interview with more intention, tailor your process to the role, and connect with the talent your business actually needs.

 

What you'll learn

This guide isn’t just a list of questions. It’s a blueprint for sharper, more intentional hiring, tailored to the role you’re filling and the kind of talent you want to attract. Inside, you’ll find:

• The real-world differences between contractor and permanent hiring

• A full breakdown of the STAR method for evidence-based interviews

• Specific questions to assess delivery focus vs long-term potential

• The most common pitfalls hiring managers make and how to avoid them

• What top candidates expect in 2025, and how to meet them where they are
  

If you’re ready to upgrade your interview strategy and attract the right people for the right roles, this guide gives you a great foundation to optimise your strategy.