There's a real need for analysts, particularly with expertise in specific gene families, such as kinases, GPCRs, or proteases. Plowman regards all three groups as essential. You can't have holes. You need people who interact and are communicative. We feel out people in telephone interviews first.
References help, especially from certain labs.
I am also impressed when postdocs working in the life sciences have taken formal courses in informatics at community colleges or other institutions. And at the interview, they should demonstrate creative abilities that enable them to bridge disciplines in a way that others can't. In Europe, as in the United States, the genomics revolution has transformed drug discovery and development. Pharmas and biotechnology companies that have overseen or funded gene sequencing efforts now face the challenge of turning the ever-increasing accumulation of genetic sequences into commercially useful products. They must do so with maximum efficiency, by avoiding as much as possible the bottlenecks that can delay the transition from research laboratory to market.