DiPalo is one of a breed of headhunters who make a living by probing organizations for weak spots that allow them to entice good people away from their employers. The headhunters try to make the scientists feel valuable and wanted. They thrive on mistakes made by managers in life science companies and departments.
Knowing what headhunters see when they're looking for vulnerable companies can help managers spot and plug gaps in their retention schemes for key employees. Several experienced recruiters agreed to share trade secrets with The Scientist, to contribute their unique viewpoints to the bank of management know-how.
DiPalo calls his job "snapper fishing." Snappers, or baby bluefish, are even more voracious than the ever-hungry adults of the species. For DiPalo, the baby bluefish exemplifies scientists who want to move to their next job--now. "You don't even use bait," the headhunter says. "Just throw a bright lure in the ...
