Case study: Helping a job seeker get back into work with gaps in their CV

The situation

Gaps in your CV can make looking for your next job feel more daunting. Often, job seekers can feel pressured to take lower salaries or take a step backwards in order to get back on the career ladder. One regulatory affairs specialist approached Hobson Prior having been out of work for three years. She had become the primary carer for her parents and was finding it difficult to secure the work-life balance she needed. She knew she would have to compromise somewhat, but other recruitment agencies were using the gap in her CV against her and were offering her very junior roles with substantially less pay.

Hobson Prior solution

When she spoke with Hobson Prior, she was connected to our specialist regulatory affairs recruitment team, who spoke to her to better understand her situation and what she was looking for.

With over 20 years’ experience and proficiency in pre and post CMC experience, she had a wealth of knowledge that was being overshadowed by her career break. She was looking for a permanent position, but our team advised her not to discount contract opportunities. These would allow her more flexibility to care for her parents and give her the opportunity to work with global leaders within pharmaceuticals to get solid, recent experience on her CV.

We spoke to our connections within her commuting radius, utilising our established relationships with our clients. Through our recruitment partnerships, we were able to identify unreleased roles at reputable pharma companies that would benefit from her skillsets. Despite the gap in her employment history, we were able to ensure her CV was seen by hiring managers and that her level of experience was the centre of her applications.

The result

Through our relationships with our clients, we were able to identify a handful of relevant contract opportunities that were both local and had minimal compromise on her pay rate. She interviewed for two positions that offered flexibility at globally renowned pharmaceutical companies that would help her rebuild her CV, one of which she is now working at.

We were able to consult her on the best plan of action to achieve her ultimate goal of moving into a permanent opportunity at a global pharmaceutical company. We were able to identify unreleased roles that weren't publicly available and used our relationships with hiring managers to make sure she was still considered as a credible and desirable candidate for regulatory affairs roles.