Behind the Scenes of Staffing: Meet Christiaan, a Life Sciences Recruiting Lead

What’s it like to be a life sciences recruiter? We sat down with Christiaan DeBruin , the Life Sciences Recruiting Lead at Whitridge, to get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a recruiter in this specialized industry.

Let’s start with an introduction—tell us a bit about yourself and your background!

My name is Christiaan, and I’m the Life Sciences Recruiting Lead at Whitridge. I’ve been in recruiting for 8 years, all within the life sciences sector. I jumped straight into recruiting after college, worked for a few recruiting agencies and talent acquisition departments. My expertise spans medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotech, quality, validation, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs. Throughout my career, I’ve placed candidates in contract roles, contract-to-perm, and permanent positions.

Why did you stick to life sciences recruiting?

There are two key reasons.

First, it’s a niche market. You need to get to know the industry and learn about specific skill sets and tools, to understand what people (hiring managers) are looking for.

Second, the life sciences field is incredibly interesting. I get to learn about groundbreaking medical devices, new medicines, and cutting-edge clinical research that have a real, positive impact on people's lives—including my own friends and family. It really feels like I am making a positive impact on the world.

Walk us through a typical day in your role—what does life look like as a life sciences recruiter?

First, I connect with our life sciences account manager. We sync up on our progress—discussing potential new clients, candidates we can market, and any challenges that need solving. ?Afterwards, we update the rest of the team. The more brainpower, the better. I’ve historically worked for smaller teams, more collaborative environments.

The rest of my day is split roughly 70/30. About 70% of my time is spent working on active openings—contacting, screening, and submitting candidates. The remaining 30% goes into following up with candidates I’ve talked with before. It’s important to me that candidates see me as a long-term resource. I keep them informed about new roles, market trends, and ensure we are still aligned on their goal(s).

What’s been the most challenging aspect of recruiting in life sciences?

Staying up to date with the constant changes in regulations, policies, and standards is definitely the toughest part. The life sciences industry is always evolving, and it’s crucial to recognize, anticipate and address changes proactively to position yourself well in the market.

What do you enjoy most about your work? Is there a particular aspect of life sciences recruiting that excites you?

I genuinely love recruiting. I love talking to people, helping them land roles they’re excited about, and staying informed on the latest developments in the industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the work I do has a positive impact

What traits do you believe are essential for someone to thrive in life sciences recruiting?

To thrive in life sciences recruiting, you need to be proactive—don’t hesitate to ask questions. Being an active listener is crucial, as is valuing honest feedback. It’s also important to regularly check in with your network and maintain those connections. And finally, don’t be afraid of making mistakes; it’s all part of the learning process.

For those looking to break into life sciences recruiting, what advice would you give them?

Ask all the questions you can and let it be known that you’re interested in life sciences recruiting. When you’re just starting out, focus more on the people you’re working with than on the initial pay. ?If you have the right people to teach you, you will set yourself up for long-term success.? If you set yourself up, money will follow.