Okay, your boss has just handed you the task of recruiting multiple CRA (Clinical Research Associate) positions at your company.  After wondering what you did to them to get them upset at you, now what do you do??

The real question is, ? what should your organization have been doing all along??

CRA positions are notoriously difficult positions to fill because of the very specific experience, travel, and often relocation requirements.  One key to recruiting these difficult positions at your company is to decrease the need for finding external candidates to fill these positions in the first place.  This can be done by first identifying B.S. level R&D Associates that have a solid scientific education and background, great attention for detail, excellent interpersonal skills, and top notch writing skills and then providing a career track for them that could include an option to move into Clinical Affairs. 

This could be a very positive situation for your company. It eventually builds a strong stable of potentially viable CRA candidates while at the same time motivates your high potential employees by showing them that they are working with a progressive, forward thinking company.

Sometimes an effective organizational development and resource planning initiative can be one of your best long term recruitment strategies.