Technical and scientific expertise are critical in life sciences, but expertise alone doesn’t drive innovation, collaboration, or regulatory success. In regulated, cross-functional environments, soft skills can determine whether a hire thrives or stalls. For instance, clinical trials require flawless cross-functional communication, regulatory submissions require teamwork, and startups need adaptable, flexible problem-solvers. Finding the right people with the right soft skills is crucial to the success of any organization.
The most important soft skills in the Life Sciences are communication, adaptability, and critical thinking. Communication is pivotal to working with the non-scientific stakeholders within the organization, like executives and investors. Many employees will also need to work cross-functionally, as the clinical, regulatory, quality, and commercial teams must align. The best employees will be able to translate complex scientific ideas into clear, actionable insights. Adaptability is key to success as there is much ambiguity, especially in startups or early clinical stages. The constantly evolving regulatory requirements also make adaptability necessary for every Life Science company. Finally, critical thinking is necessary for any organization, as people often must make strategic decisions when facing incomplete or conflicting information.
The best ways to assess soft skills during the hiring process comes during interviews or in a reference check. Some good questions to ask include:
“Tell me about a time you had to explain complex scientific information to a non-expert audience. How did you approach it?”
“Give an example of a cross-functional project you worked on. How did you ensure team alignment?”
“Describe a time you had to persuade leadership to adopt your recommendation. What strategies did you use?”
“Describe a situation when a major change happened during a project. How did you adapt?”
Overall, the hiring process should not come down to science vs. soft skills, both are necessary for the success of a Life Science company. Teams that thrive combine technical expertise with communication, adaptability, and leadership.
