Hiring for Attitude, Training for Skills

In clinical research, brimming with degrees and certifications, it’s often tempting to set stringent educational and experiential requirements for entry-level jobs. This approach can inadvertently shut out many aspiring professionals. However, I discovered long ago that the real value lies not in the number of degrees or certificates a job applicant has, but in their character, their eagerness to serve others, and their willingness to learn.

With this philosophy in mind when I ran clinical research sites, our human resources strategy for the clinical team focused on recruiting soon-to-be graduates from local two-year colleges offering Medical Assistant programs. To be eligible, students needed to be in the top 10% of their class and have a letter of recommendation from the college president, attesting to their character, work ethic, and attitude.

Our program began with an internship, where select students started at the reception desk and then moved through every role at the research site, culminating in shadowing a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). As our organization was rapidly expanding, every intern who successfully completed the program was offered a full-time position.

This approach required significant time and resources, and while it wasn’t our only method for recruiting CRC talent, it proved extraordinarily successful. Every hire from this program became a high-performing CRC, earning the admiration of both their colleagues and, crucially, the patients involved in our clinical trials.

Interestingly, while diversity wasn’t our initial goal, over 80% of the participants we hired through this pathway were from minority backgrounds. These individuals went on to acquire industry-recognized credentials, enhancing their professional profiles.

This experience reaffirms that true diversity and exceptional talent emerge naturally when character and attitude are prioritized over traditional qualifications. We encourage others in the industry to consider similar approaches. Embrace the potential in attitude and character; the skills can be nurtured. Together, we can open doors to a more diverse and capable workforce.