When Careers Stall: Inside Switzerland’s Life Science Commercial Market

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Commercial careers across Switzerland’s life science sector are shifting. The latest Swiss Biotech Report shows that most companies are prioritising partnerships, licensing, and operational efficiency instead of expanding their teams.

For commercial professionals, that means fewer launches, longer decision cycles, and more pressure to show measurable impact from existing portfolios. The focus has moved from growth through headcount to growth through performance.

I’ve spent the past twelve years supporting commercial professionals in Switzerland, writing their CVs and helping them position their achievements. This year I’ve seen a clear shift. CVs that used to get noticed no longer do. Hiring teams now want clear evidence of business impact linked to current priorities. They want to see how you’ve grown value from an existing portfolio, improved access, protected revenue, or shortened time to a decision.

New roles are harder to come by. Launches are more selective, and decisions are taking longer. Each application now faces closer scrutiny, and general statements no longer stand out. The same applies inside companies, where promotions take longer and competition for progression has become tougher.

If you’re applying or preparing for your next step internally and not getting the response you expected, it often comes down to how your CV or internal profile reads. Experience still matters, but decision makers want to see the business results behind it and how your work connects to the outcomes that matter most today.

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Why Career Growth Has Slowed in Switzerland’s Life Science Sector

The slowdown isn’t due to a lack of innovation. Switzerland’s life science sector remains one of the strongest in the world. What has changed is how companies are operating.

The latest Swiss Biotech Report highlights a clear shift in priorities. More organisations are focusing on partnerships, licensing deals, and operational efficiency rather than expanding their teams. Many are working with leaner commercial structures and investing their resources in collaborations and non-dilutive funding instead of headcount.

These shifts come with new expectations. With fewer product launches and tighter budgets, teams are being asked to do more with less. Decision-making takes longer, and growth is now measured by portfolio performance rather than team size. For many professionals, this means longer waits between promotions and fewer opportunities to move up.

From what I’m seeing across the market, senior roles are staying filled for longer. Headcount requests are reviewed more carefully. Internal moves that once happened quickly can now take months. The focus has moved from who is next in line to who can show a clear commercial impact on revenue, access, and operational performance.

It’s a more selective environment, but also a fairer one in some ways. The people progressing are those who can show how their work supports business goals. When results are visible, strong performance still gets recognised.

Lessons from Swiss Life Science Commercial Careers

Over the past year, I’ve reviewed dozens of CVs from commercial professionals across Switzerland. Many are achieving strong results, but the challenge lies in how those results are positioned. The achievements are there, but they’re not being framed in a way that reflects what decision makers are now looking for.

The feedback given to candidates has changed. Hiring teams want concise, outcome-based statements that show measurable performance. They want to see performance versus plan, growth against budget, or improvements in market share, access, and profitability. They also want to understand what was directly owned versus what was influenced through affiliates, and how individual work contributed to launch readiness or regional success.

Most CVs still focus on activities instead of positioning achievements through outcomes. Phrases such as “responsible for market access” or “managed launch strategy” don’t show what changed because of that work. Reframing these into short, factual statements makes all the difference.

For example:

“Delivered 8% revenue growth within a mature portfolio by improving access and pricing strategy.”
“Reduced time to approval by streamlining internal review across two affiliates.”
“Supported affiliate launch readiness that accelerated uptake by three months.”

Positioning achievements in this way helps decision makers see scale, context, and commercial impact. It gives them confidence that you understand what drives results in today’s environment such as efficiency, adaptability, and collaboration across functions.

How to Position Your Career for the Next Level

The report also highlights how most new investment is being channelled into a small number of large players, while mid-sized companies are working under tighter budgets. This shift is changing how commercial performance is judged. Efficiency, adaptability, and the ability to deliver results through partnerships now carry more influence than scale or headcount.

In this environment, those aiming for their next move, whether externally or within their current company, need to position their experience through measurable results that reflect current business realities.

A clear record of performance still matters, but the way it is presented makes the difference. Hiring and promotion decisions now rely heavily on evidence that connects work to business outcomes. Decision makers want to understand how your actions influence revenue, access, or operational results. They are looking for professionals who can show commercial influence within a lean, partnership-driven structure.

This starts with using the language of business. Each statement on your CV or internal profile should make the cause and effect clear. What did you do, what changed, and what was the result? For example, “strengthened affiliate collaboration to reduce time to market by three months” says far more than “managed cross-functional communication.”

When your achievements are presented in this way, they become easier to understand and more credible. Leaders can see the direct impact of your work, and you position yourself as someone ready for the next level.

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The Career Optimiser

Final Thoughts

Switzerland’s life science sector continues to evolve, and commercial professionals are feeling the impact. With fewer launches, leaner teams, and greater focus on measurable outcomes, progression now depends on how clearly you show your contribution. Whether you are applying externally or preparing for an internal move, your CV or profile needs to show the business results of your work. When decision makers can see how your work influences revenue, access, and performance, you give them a clear reason to invest in your next step.

Let's Work Together And Optimise Your Career

I’ve spent more than a decade supporting commercial professionals across Switzerland who want to make progress but feel stuck. If you’d like an outside perspective on how your contribution is positioned, I can help you see what decision-makers notice most.

Best of luck,

Dave Crumby

Your Career Optimiser | Certified CV Writer