Global biopharmaceutical company Abbvie recently opened its first manufacturing facility in Singapore.
In a press statement, they said the facility will support “the growth of Abbvie’s oncology and women’s health pipeline” and is the only facility in their network that covers active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and biologics manufacturing.
They further stated that they are looking to “hire 250 new employees, the majority of whom will be hired locally in Singapore, including skilled positions across manufacturing, technical operations, administration, quality, information technology and supply chain”.
The recent report from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on the tight labour market might seem bleak but Ai Lan Ng, Abbvie Operations site HR director, said there are three ways HR can continue to attract top talent in Singapore:
1) A strong brand;
2) Foster an innovative environment;
3) Have a strong leadership team from the start.
Highlight the facts that make your employer brand stand out from the rest of the market, she said.
At Abbvie, for example, new hires can take pride knowing they are working for a brand that’s well-known for its strong financial performance and expertise in key areas such as oncology and virology, she cited.
Ng also said they just launched “a culture carnival involving games to demonstrate the ‘Ways We Work’ at AbbVie in a fun, interactive way.”
“This helps to create awareness of our cultural behaviours through experiential learning.”
Gamifying the recruitment process is also an innovative way employers can show potential candidates what’s unique about your company and the culture within while a strong leadership team will instil confidence in the company, attracting and retaining top performers, she added.
Competition for good talent has been tight over the last decade, she said, because the growth of the pharmaceutical industry created demand for skilled personnel with relevant experience.
“With this demand and competition, other factors like location and shift work, become part of the consideration for potential employees. Hence, we ensure we have a strong value proposition for joining AbbVie,” she said.
“People, passion, possibilities is what AbbVie stands for so we look for team players with a mindset that is open to possibilities and a passion for making things happen.”
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