Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same as expressed in the statement sentences.
The pharmaceutical industry offers a silver lining in these hard times. It wants candidates to join at the earliest.
1. despite
2. as
3. so
1
Only 1
2
Only 2
3
Both 1 and 2
4
Both 2 and 3
5
None of these