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A practical approach for employers who want to reach young talent
Starters in Life Sciences often have more to offer than their CV shows at first glance. They have recently completed a program in which current knowledge, practical assignments and often internship experience played an important role. Still, taking the first step into the job market is not always easy. In this blog, we look at what starters need, what employers can do and how Talentmark bridges the gap between education, students and companies.
Within Life Sciences, vacancies continue to arise. On Indeed alone, there are currently hundreds of Life Sciences vacancies open in the Netherlands. The wider labor market also remains tight. According to CBS, around 359,000 new vacancies were created in the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2026.
At the same time, there is a lot of competition in the labor market, especially for profiles with several years of experience. A candidate with ten years of relevant experience is often difficult to find, quickly off the market and critical when it comes to employment conditions, travel distance and development opportunities.
That is why it is smart for employers to look more broadly. Not every role needs to be filled by someone who has already done exactly the same work before. Sometimes, a motivated starter with the right education, attitude and internship experience is a better choice than waiting for a scarce profile that is barely available. Starters need guidance, but they also bring opportunities. They have recently been trained, are used to absorbing new knowledge and can grow with an organization’s way of working, quality systems and culture.
Talentmark held a LinkedIn poll among starters and young professionals. The question was what they find difficult when looking for their first job. The outcome, based on 30 votes, was as follows:
A poll with 30 votes does not provide a complete picture of the market, of course, but the outcome is recognizable. Many starters are eager to begin their careers, but mainly come across vacancies that ask for work experience. As a result, they start to doubt whether they are allowed to apply at all.
For employers, this is an important point of attention. If a role is suitable for starters, make that clear. Not somewhere at the bottom of the vacancy, but in the job title, introduction or job description. This prevents suitable starters from ruling themselves out before they have even applied. Do you want to see some experience? Then be specific about what you mean. Internship experience, a graduation project or practical experience gained during education can already be relevant for a starter.
A good vacancy for starters is clear, concrete and honest. The vaguer the text, the greater the chance that strong candidates will drop out, or that the wrong people will apply. As an employer, this costs valuable time during the selection process. So make clear:
The education level is especially important. State whether you are looking for mbo, hbo or wo level and give examples of relevant study backgrounds, such as laboratory, chemistry, biotechnology or engineering. For example:
This role is suitable for starters with a completed mbo or hbo education in laboratory, chemistry or a similar field. Internship experience within a GMP, QC or research environment is a plus.
Or, if you are looking for slightly more experience:
For this role, we are looking for someone with initial experience in a laboratory environment. This may also be experience gained during an internship or graduation project.
This way, a starter immediately knows where they stand. And as an employer, you increase the chance that the right people will respond.
For starters, applying for jobs is often new. They do not always know where they stand, which roles are suitable or how their profile is assessed. That is exactly why feedback is important. Even when rejecting someone, you can still add value as an employer. Briefly explain why the candidate is not moving forward, for example because there is too little relevant experience, the travel distance is too far or another candidate is a better match for the job requirements. It does not have to be a long explanation, but clear feedback helps starters move forward. It also shows that you are professional and engaged as an employer.
That is more important than people sometimes think. The Life Sciences sector is large, but many companies, candidates, schools and recruiters know each other in the end. The way you deal with starters and applicants also contributes to your reputation as an employer.
Talentmark has been working with educational program for years, especially with mbo and hbo schools that offer laboratory program. We attend graduation ceremonies, provide training sessions such as CV, LinkedIn and interview workshops, and organise an orientation market to bring students and companies closer together.
This means we support students not only after graduation, but already during their studies. We get to know them, speak with them about their ambitions and gain a clear picture of their strengths. This is valuable for students, schools and companies. Students gain better insight into their options. Schools can offer their students additional support towards the labour market. And companies gain access to a group of starters who are already thinking about their future at an early stage.
On the Talentmark website, we also make clear when a vacancy is suitable for a starter. This can be shown through the area of expertise or in the vacancy description itself. This helps candidates quickly see whether a role matches their profile.
In addition, we have a registration button and specific starter vacancies. Starters can register through this button or apply to a starter vacancy, after which they are added to our database. When we think a CV is a good fit, for example because of the right education, relevant internship experience or strong motivation, we will contact the candidate as soon as a suitable vacancy becomes available. This means starters do not have to wait for one specific vacancy, but remain visible for future opportunities within Life Sciences.
Do you want to know as a starter which roles match your education or ambitions? Contact Talentmark or respond to one of our starter vacancies. Or are you an organization looking to attract more starters within Life Sciences? Discover the possibilities here.
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