The demand for healthcare workers is increasing in the medical field. The market is getting more competitive and if you are a healthcare recruiter you need to work on your recruitment strategies. Here in this blog, we will discuss tips for recruiting healthcare professionals.
What is a healthcare recruiter?
A healthcare recruiter or medical recruiter is a professional who hires qualified professionals for the healthcare industry. Their job is to find, evaluate, and hire suitable individuals for their jobs.
What is the healthcare recruitment process?
The process for recruiting healthcare professionals includes sourcing and attracting candidates, interviewing them, and hiring them for their jobs. These healthcare professionals are doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists, etc.
Tips for Recruiting Healthcare Professionals
To become the best at your job for hiring healthcare professionals you must follow these healthcare recruiting tips.
Accurately assessing the candidates
Different healthcare positions require different qualifications, certifications, and experience. It is important to assess your candidates accurately according to their roles. For example, a registered nurse needs a BSN or ADN degree, whereas specialized surgeons need more qualifications and experience than RNs to do their jobs. Make sure that you are hiring the right healthcare professional for their role.
Use niche job boards for healthcare recruitment
Recruitment strategies in healthcare include utilizing specialized job boards. Post your jobs on platforms that are specially designed for healthcare workers. This will increase the chances of the recruitment process. People looking for healthcare jobs are already visiting these sites so this will increase your chance to be seen. Examples of specialized healthcare job boards are Nurse.com and Health eCareers. The advantage of using these platforms is time-saving and you can find the candidate you are looking for with ease.
Meeting in person
How do we recruit healthcare professionals? Networking in healthcare is another powerful strategy for healthcare recruiters to find high-quality candidates. By attending seminars, conferences, and meetings, you can find the candidates who are looking for better opportunities. Meeting them personally will also help in building trust and they might consider your job over the jobs that are available online. With this strategy, you can also get high-quality referrals.
Offer competitive benefits
Recruiting in healthcare is one thing but keeping them is another. The other strategy that healthcare recruiters must use is to offer competitive benefits to retain their healthcare professionals. No doubt, salary is an important attractive element in the job but sometimes the healthcare professionals will also look at the benefits you are providing such as healthcare insurance, dental insurance, education opportunities, and much more. Make sure to stay ahead of the game to hire the best healthcare professionals and keep them by highlighting and offering these benefits.
Flexible work options
Offering flexible hiring options is another healthcare recruiting tip. Many healthcare professionals are seeking work-life balance and seeking flexible work hours. Make sure that you are offering flexibility in the form of contract, per diem, and travel roles. Healthcare professionals will be more attracted and remain in the job if you offer flexibility in work schedules.
Assessing soft skills
In recruiting healthcare professionals, soft skills play a significant role in providing enhanced patient care and promoting a positive work environment. Therefore, it is important for healthcare recruiters to assess healthcare professionals’ soft skills. These soft skills include empathy, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork. Make sure that soft skills are highlighted in the job description so that the candidates know their importance.
Creating powerful employment brand identity
To attract and retain top healthcare professionals, a strong employer brand is important. Here are the tips to boost your employment brand:
- Identify why your industry is different and better than others.
- Highlight employee experience and feature work environment.
- Promote employee benefits and rewards.
- Share patient success stories.
- Highlight your achievements.
- Use social media platforms.
- Encourage employee advocacy.
Stay updated on money trends
A crucial healthcare recruiting tip is to stay updated on market trends. The key to gaining and retaining skilled medical professionals is providing wage comparisons. Use salary surveys, industry reports, and research to highlight your salary against the other industry. This will help attract skilled professionals. Stay up to date on the demands of the job and its salary so you can accommodate accordingly. For example, if the demand for ICU nurses increases their salary per hour may increase too. So, to compete in the market and to attract and retain your healthcare professionals, you should also increase their pay.
How to be successful in healthcare recruiting?
To be successful in healthcare recruiting you must invest in automated recruiting solutions, post stronger job descriptions with details, highlight your company achievements and awards, and offer competitive salaries and benefits.
How do you retain healthcare professionals?
To retain medical professionals’ healthcare recruiters must provide flexible work hours and opportunities. Health workers seek work-life balance and providing them with flexible schedules will help both the medical professionals and healthcare recruiters.
How do health recruiters find healthcare professionals?
They can find them online or by using niche job boards for healthcare workers, in person like at conferences, seminars or meetings, and other gatherings.
Is healthcare recruiting difficult?
Healthcare recruiting is challenging due to several reasons but to become the best at it is important to follow the healthcare recruitment strategies.
Why are recruitment strategies important in healthcare?
By following the recruitment strategies, you can attract and retain highly skilled medical professionals and enhance productivity.
Conclusion
Recruiting healthcare professionals for the jobs and retaining them is quite challenging. Therefore, every healthcare recruiter must follow strategies and tips to become the best at their work. From posting strong job descriptions to assessing the qualifications and soft skills of the candidates to providing competitive salaries and benefits.
