Lengthy employment gaps remain a concern for job seekers and employers in the biopharma industry, several experts said in comments published on June 4. While the job market is challenging, gaps of a year or longer are typically seen as problematic by recruiters and hiring managers.
Eric Celidonio, founder and managing partner of Sci.bio Recruiting, said he considers unemployment periods exceeding 12 months to be a red flag. "If someone has been unemployed for more than 12 months... I want to hear a good reason why," Celidonio told BioSpace. He added that serious health issues can be understandable causes for such gaps.
Enrique Martinez, senior manager of human resources and operations at iBio, also pays close attention to candidates with long periods out of work. "The reason I ask is to better understand how candidates stay engaged professionally, keep their scientific or industry knowledge current—that’s for me the most important—and maintain the momentum during the gap," Martinez said.
Julie Heneghan, president and founder of The Steely Group recruiting firm, noted that employer attitudes have shifted recently. "I would say in the last two years, they used to be more forgiving, where now if somebody’s been out of work for a year, that really gives a hiring manager or someone in talent acquisition pause," Heneghan told BioSpace.
Celidonio explained that not all employment gaps are viewed equally across different roles within biopharma. For example, significant gaps are concerning in areas like clinical operations but may be more common among commercial or research professionals due to changes in company structures and automation trends. Reasons cited for prolonged unemployment include caregiving responsibilities, relocation efforts, selective job searching strategies, or layoffs.
Both Celidonio and Martinez advised candidates with employment gaps to prepare clear explanations when interviewing. Celidonio recommended being confident yet concise about personal reasons such as health challenges: "Be careful you don’t share too much... but you should share enough so that people know that you had a health struggle and that you’re ready to go back in." Martinez encouraged focusing on skills and accomplishments: "I can do the work... Just give me the opportunity." Heneghan suggested taking available roles—even those below previous experience levels—to avoid extended absences from the workforce.
