Getting Forward of the Curve with Trade Credentials

Getting hired in the biosciences industry can be a competitive process. Many applicants vie for the same positions and employers often struggle to find the most appropriate candidate for a role. While an undergraduate or graduate degree and professional licenses or certifications are reasonable screening criteria when reviewing resume submissions in certain fields, they fall short when it comes to the biosciences industry, where academic knowledge may not necessarily translate into current, practical, and transferable skills. Hiring managers may find it challenging to understand what specific competencies candidates hold, how they compare to those of another candidate who graduated from a different institution, and how well versed they are in any given skill. Neither skill attainment nor practical, hands-on proficiencies are represented in the average resume, necessitating an innovative approach that can help differentiate qualified applicants to employers.

Moreover, there is a growing understanding that the demands of the biosciences workforce are shifting towards a model that is more agile and able to keep pace with technological advancements. As a result, biosciences industry professionals are looking beyond the classical academic program models towards non-degree credentialing avenues as a supplement or addition to degree programs.¹

Bridging the Gap

Shifting attention to the gap between academic knowledge and industry specific competencies in the biosciences can help both prospective employees and employers focus on workforce relevance. The key to standing apart from the biosciences job candidate crowd is to showcase demonstratable competencies beyond the academic preparation afforded by a degree.

By providing skills validation, bioscience industry credentials help hiring managers assess and verify industry relevant and practical competencies for specific positions, ensuring that the competencies of future employees are up to date and that they can hit the ground running once hired.¹ Earning such credentials typically involves completing an online exam covering various domains that verify an individual’s core competencies in a specific area. For example, a laboratory manager credential validates the skills and knowledge needed to manage a biosciences laboratory, including an understanding of lab operations and resource and team management. For prospective job candidates, industry-defined standards validation provides a competitive advantage and the confidence and adaptability to meet the demands of an ever-advancing job market.

As an increasing number of bioscience industry employers turn towards skills-first hiring of credentialed earners, there is a growing need for reputable credentialing providers that align with industry standards. Because future biosciences employees come from a diverse range of educational backgrounds, a standardized approach to skills evaluation and credentialing is critical.

Opening Doors with Industry Credentials

Biotility’s Bioscience Industry Credentials give job seekers a competitive advantage and take the guesswork out of industry-defined standards hiring by placing credentialed earners front and center as the best verifiable candidates for a specific role. With nationally recognized exams that test a range of skills, Biotility’s industry credentials include biotechnology aptitude and competency, closed system processing, aseptic processing, institutional review board, quality control, document control, laboratory management, and more.

Such role-based credentials go above and beyond to provide employers with reliable insights into verifiable, up-to-date information about an individual’s qualifications for a specific role. In this way, they help improve the efficiency of the onboarding process, minimize training costs, and ensure long-term success by maximizing the fit between an employee and the position for which they were hired. By clarifying and streamlining the process for both prospective employees and employers, Biotility’s Bioscience Industry Credentials open the right doors at the right times.