Do you feel that employment prospects for students are better this year in the pharmaceutical/ life sciences industry, given that the sector has proved to be somewhat more resilient than other sectors inspite of the economic slowdown?
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Prakash Shanware
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The pharma sector in India is growing with both expansion and new facilities are coming up and thus providing employment opportunities for the youngsters. The opportunities are going to be better, but for better qualified and experienced candidates. For freshers in the technical field much will depend on the institute from which the students are passing out and the facilities specially for laboratory and industrial training provided by them. Employers want to hire candidates who has handled laboratory instruments, machines during their studies since they are able to pick up the job much faster at the work place.
For non-technical position there seems to be lesser opportunities since companies prefer to use technology rather than adding people.
Do you feel that the industry is able to meet the aspirations of the desired talent pool, in terms of faster growth, better compensation packages, better exposure, etc?
The pharma industry is able to provide faster growth for candidates who are fast learners, shows initiative and contribute significantly in their area of specialisation. A candidate who is consistent in performance and stays with the company will have better chance to grow than a ‘rolling stone’. Companies are increasingly looking at people who have stayed longer and had grown with a company.
Which sectors compete for the same talent? On what parameters do these sectors score over the life sciences industry, i.e. faster growth, better compensation packages, better exposure, etc?
The alternative opportunity for technical candidates comes from hospitals and pathology labs. But the technical candidate still prefer to work with a pharma company. For non-technical and sales category, candidates prefer to join IT, retail, FMGC, consulting, since these sectors offer good compensation, faster growth and comfortable work environment.
Many pharma colleges are cropping up even in remote areas of the country. What should be done to test the credibility of such institutes? Don’t you think that students enrolling themselves at such colleges are risking their careers?
There is a spurt of new pharmacy colleges coming up all over the country, some even in remote areas where there is no presence of pharma industry. Such institutes do not have proper facilities, adequate practical exposure, poor faculty and hardly any interaction with the industry. Students get theoretical knowledge and are not able to connect their knowledge with the practical aspect of the job. Students even after acquiring a degree hence are not able to get a decent job inspite of spending a considerable amount of money. Approval to such new pharmacy colleges should be given only if adequate facilities for providing practical experience to students exists so that employable graduates pass out from the institute.
Should pharma companies open their placement cells at such colleges as well so that deserving talent will not be kept deprived of right opportunity?
With the pressure of hiring suitable candidates increasing on the human resource department, there is hardly any time for them to get involved with the developmental activity of the institutes. Pharma companies who have put up manufacturing facilities in interior tax saving areas, should engage themselves with new and old pharmacy institutes by providing training, interaction, factory visits and even financial help to set up modern laboratories. This will provide proper exposure to the students who ultimately could be hired by them or by any other pharma company. This also could become a part of the companies’ CSR activity. The locals who are educated and trained will find themselves a job closer to their home. The improvement in the availability of the trained personnel will also reduce the conflict between the locals and outsiders which has been disturbing many organisations who hire people considered to be outsiders since the qualified manpower is locally not available.
How about Indian pharma colleges tying up with counterparts abroad? Is this happening already? Will such association help pharma industry to get desired pharma talent?
The reputed institutes are collaborating with the international institutes, as well as with local and international companies. However, the percentage is too small. As a first stage collaborating with pharma companies, providing them help by taking up small projects will provide the students with the right type of exposure. The supply of pharma graduates is much more than the demand and hence the quality of the product (students) will decide the reputation of the institute.
The Indian pharma industry has come a long way in establishing itself as the global hub for generic medicines. The culture of being truthful, transparent and complied will have to be built up on a priority basis to maintain our creditability. The quick fix approach, jugard, chalta hai approach followed by employees at the shop floor and junior to middle management level will have to change. Data integrity and recording on what is being done and doing what is recorded although seems to be natural, does not happen with a large number of work force. Building a proper culture and ensuring that everybody is trained and follows the working norms without any compromise is a bigger challenge for the management.
Is reverse brain drain evident in the pharma sector as well?
There are cases where qualified pharma professionals are returning back to India but the numbers are too small and the ones who return also start showing frustration very quickly due to the lack of proper facilities, work culture and quality of life. It is long way for India to get the global pharma talent to move to India, contribute and stay happily.