Oh, the dreaded job search! It can be a fine way to lose countless precious hours of your life!
Why not abandon the often fruitless, always time-consuming solo search and instead rely on the expertise of a skilled healthcare recruiter, someone whose job is looking for jobs?
If you’ve considered turning to a healthcare recruiting agency to help you find your ideal position but weren’t sure where to look, you’re in luck! We’ve put together this handy guide to help you on your way.
How Do I Choose the Right Recruiter?
Follow these steps to choose the best healthcare recruiter (and keep reading if you’d like details on how to approach each step below):
- List your wants and needs in a healthcare recruiter and agency.
- Find healthcare recruiting agencies that fit the bill and select several to contact.
- Formulate questions you’ll ask the recruiters to determine whether their agencies meet your wish list.
- Contact the agencies and speak directly with recruiters (keeping in mind that they may be interviewing you soon).
- Narrow your list to your top healthcare recruiting agencies and tell them you’re interested in working with them (and are excited about the next steps)!
What Are My Wants and Needs from a Healthcare Recruiter and Agency?
Take some time to consider what you’re looking for in a recruiter and a healthcare recruiting agency:
- Do you want a company with opportunities that are close to home, in certain states, regions or nationwide?
- Are you looking for an agency that has connections with large health systems, small hospitals, outpatient centers, private practice, government agencies, academic institutions, college and university clinics, community clinics, etc.?
- Do you want a recruiter with positions in general medicine, specialized medicine or both?
- Do you want to be able to work at one particular type of facility or to have choices, such as rural hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health, telehealth, emergency department, medical transport, etc.?
- Do you want an agency that offers benefits, training, professional development, bonuses, etc.?
How Can I Find the Best Healthcare Recruitment Agencies?
Once you’ve considered your general wants and needs from a recruiter and agency, you can start looking around. Here are a few ways to find the best agencies and recruiters:
- Ask your colleagues
- Reach out to mentors
- Check with your alma mater
- Find out what agencies healthcare facilities use
- Search online and through social media
- Browse job boards
- Check with industry groups and professional organizations
- Post your resume and wait for recruiters to find you
- Dig into healthcare recruiting agencies’ websites to read more about what they offer
- Look for agencies with years of experience, awards, recognition, and a strong reputation
What Should I Ask a Healthcare Recruiter?
Once you’ve brainstormed what you want to get out of a relationship with a recruiter, it’s time to generate some questions to ask when you reach out. Here are some to get you started:
- What types of positions does your agency place?
- How many opportunities do you typically have available for my role (physician, advanced practice provider, nurse, allied health professional,non-clinical position)?
- Do you specialize in permanent positions? Locum tenens? Travel? Per diem?
- Do you work with just a few large clients or many smaller ones?
- How long have you been recruiting in this specialty?
- Are your positions mostly local or nationwide?
- Do you have testimonials or recommendations from clients and providers?
- What level of interaction do you have with candidates?
- Will you negotiate on my behalf?
- Will I be employed by you or by the facility?
- What benefits are typically available? Malpractice, healthcare, 401k, relocation, bonuses?
- Do you provide candidates with career advice or resources?
- Can you assist me with licensure if I work out of state?
- How long does the interview and placement process typically take?
- Is there a charge for working with you, or are you paid by the client?
- What is your preferred method of communication?
- What information will you need from me to get started?
What Makes a Great Recruiter?
The best healthcare recruiters and agencies:
- Are effective and reliable communicators
- Know the recruiting ropes
- Are personable and friendly
- Have extensive connections
- Are highly organized and efficient
- Are strong negotiators
- Know who to contact for answers
- Work closely with credentialing, travel team, etc.
- Maintain high-quality pools of candidates
- Provide candidates with guidance on interviewing, resumes, CVs, etc.
- Take the time to listen and find jobs that fit your needs
- Keep clients happy and well-staffed with skilled, qualified healthcare providers
Is It a Good Idea to Work with a Recruiter?
Yes! We think so! But it really depends on your personal and professional goals. You may be the type of person who prefers to search independently. If so, beware of falling down the rabbit hole. You can lose hours of precious time searching for jobs online, only to find they’re not a match, or the number of applicants makes securing a position impossible. An expert recruiter can help you in more ways than just finding opportunities. Here’s a sampling of the advantages of working with a recruiter versus searching alone.
A highly skilled healthcare recruiter and agency can:
- Simplify the search process, saving you time, energy and money.
- Tap into a vast network of available positions, many of which you may never see online.
- Have insight into an organization’s culture, work environment, leadership and more.
- Easily match your preferences with available jobs.
- Help walk you through credentialing and licensing processes.
- Negotiate with employers for great pay and benefits on your behalf.
- Give you feedback and advice on your resume, cover letter and CV.
- Guide you through interviewing.
- Help make your move to a new location a smoother process.
- Assist you with onboarding and getting prepped, so you have a great first day!
Best wishes on your journey! To start now, connect with a Cross Country Search consultant.
