5 Myths about QA/RA Recruiting in the Medical Device Industry

Global Medical Device Podcast · 11 Dec 2019 · 43m · Episode 128

What this episode covers

Mitch Robbins, managing director of The Anthony Michael Group, joins host John Spear of Greenlight Guru to debunk five common myths about recruiting elite Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (QA/RA) talent in the medical device industry. They discuss the critical importance of hiring managers owning the recruitment process, the necessity of updating resumes to highlight outcomes, and the high cost of mis-hires, which Robbins cites as 13 times a leader's salary. The conversation emphasizes that elite talent is driven by self-actualization rather than just money, and that companies can compete with large corporations by offering compelling employer value propositions and rigorous validation tests like 'test drives.'

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Greenlight Guru, The Anthony Michael Group
Products
Greenlight Guru EQMS

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 52m

    S2E08 How to hire engineers, develop curiosity, and “fail fast” | Mike Reo

    Mike Reo, a medical device engineer and consultant with 64 US patents, discusses the nuances of building engineering teams, arguing that hiring 'A-plus' players who are passionate about tinkering at home is more valuable than focusing on GPA. He critiques the current medical device funding landscape, noting that venture capital has shifted toward software due to the high cost and regulatory hurdles of hardware, leading to fewer early-stage investments. Reo also challenges the 'fail fast' mantra, advocating instead for a 'succeed fast' mindset to maintain positive team psychology, and emphasizes the importance of overcoming artificial limitations through curiosity and open-minded problem solving.

  • Let's Combinate · 42m

    060 - Why People Leave, Starting Elemed and Trusted Advisory with Elena Kyria

    Elena Kyria, CEO of Elemed, discusses her journey from a language background to founding a specialized medtech recruitment agency focused on regulatory, quality, and clinical roles in Europe. She explains how the implementation of EU MDR and IVDR created significant talent shortages, particularly affecting notified bodies, because regulators failed to consult on workforce capacity before launching. Kyria details the complexities of European hiring timelines, noting that notice periods vary by country and can extend to six months, requiring recruiters to act as trusted advisors rather than just CV senders. She also shares insights on why employees leave jobs, citing culture as the primary factor, and describes her community work managing large LinkedIn groups and collaborating with RAPS to support industry professionals.

  • Let's Combinate · 47m

    193 - Bioengineering Grads: Here’s What Recruiters Actually Want to See in 2025

    Kirk Petyo, Managing Partner at Talent Factory Medical, advises bioengineering graduates on securing entry-level roles in medical devices and pharma by emphasizing the importance of a clear career 'why' and specific resume objectives. He explains that large companies like St. Jude, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific hire entry-level talent for document control and validation roles to build internal pipelines, rather than just hiring experienced engineers. Petyo also discusses the impact of onshoring trends and tariffs, noting that industrial engineering and manufacturing roles are critical for cost optimization as companies shift production back to the U.S.

  • Let's Combinate · 54m

    034 - "Agent" with Mitch Robbins

    Mitch Robbins, founder of The Anthony Michael Group (AMG), explains the business models of executive search firms, detailing contingency, engaged, and retained fee structures, as well as contract staffing. He outlines AMG's specific recruiting process for MedTech roles, which includes market mapping, intake calls, and a multi-channel outreach strategy using video landing pages to engage passive candidates. Robbins emphasizes objective hiring practices through his 'Interview Matrix' for scoring candidates and recommends 'test drives' and 'back door references' to validate final selections before making offers.

    8 chapters
  • Embedded.fm · 1h 23m

    265: What's Your Superpower

    Anita Pagin, a generalist recruiter and career coach who recently joined Carbon3D, explains the realities of the recruiting industry, distinguishing between in-house, agency, and freelance roles. She details how top recruiters vet candidates by reading profiles thoroughly rather than sending mass emails, and emphasizes that candidates must be able to explain their technical work in layman's terms to pass phone screens. Pagin provides specific advice on resume formatting, such as using portfolios and avoiding bolded skill lists, and discusses the nuances of salary negotiation, including the trade-offs between base pay and equity in startups versus public companies.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Global Medical Device Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.