Culture Check: Why We Only Partner with Companies We’d Recommend to Our Own Network

One of the most common questions we get from candidates is: “How would you describe the culture?”

It’s a simple question, but the answer is rarely simple. Culture is the heartbeat of any organization. It determines how teams communicate, how decisions are made, how leadership shows up for their employees, and ultimately how people feel at work every single day.

You can have a competitive salary, impressive benefits, and a high-profile title, but if the culture doesn’t align with who you are and how you work, that role won’t feel right for long.

That’s why, when we choose which companies to work with, we take culture seriously. We don’t just fill jobs. We build relationships that last, and that starts by making sure we’d genuinely recommend the organization to our candidates.

Why Culture Matters So Much

For candidates, culture impacts:

• Engagement: Feeling connected to the mission, the work, and the people.
• Growth: Having leaders who invest in development and create opportunities.
• Work-life balance: Knowing expectations are fair and boundaries are respected.
• Belonging: Being part of a team that values diversity of thought and background.

For companies, culture directly influences retention, productivity, and reputation. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to stay, contribute at a high level, and advocate for their employer.

The right culture match means a candidate doesn’t just survive in a role, they thrive.

How We Evaluate Company Culture

When we start a new partnership, we go far beyond reviewing the job description. We:

• Talk to leadership about their vision, values, and approach to decision-making.
• Assess growth pathways to understand how employees are supported over time.
• Observe recognition and feedback how successes are celebrated and how challenges are addressed.
• Look at long-term employee trends retention rates, promotions, and internal mobility.

We combine these insights with our own instincts, built over 35 years of working with diverse companies in the Life Sciences industry. At the end of the process, we ask ourselves one question:

Would we feel confident recommending this company to our candidates?

If the answer is anything less than an enthusiastic yes, we don’t move forward.

Why This Matters for Candidates

Our culture-first approach means candidates can trust that the opportunities we bring them are aligned not just with their skills and career goals, but also with their work style, values, and personality.

We want them to feel excited walking into work on Monday morning, not drained by an environment that doesn’t fit. We want them to see a future at their new company, one filled with opportunity, growth, and genuine connection.

Our Commitment

We believe recruitment should be about more than just filling an open seat. It’s about creating lasting matches where both the company and the candidate feel they’ve found the right fit.

That’s why we carefully choose who we partner with, and why we prioritize culture as much as we prioritize skill sets.

Because at the end of the day, the right culture isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s the difference between a job you tolerate… and a career you love.