Secrets of Successful Physician Recruiting - An Effective Process

Successful physician recruiters work with an efficient,establishing a good rapport with the individual, the
consistent process to find and place the bestrecruiter matches their credentials with the job orders.
candidates. They know that a recruiter must performThe way a recruiter presents an opportunity many
many roles: sourcing, marketing, client management,times will determine whether or not the candidate will
documentation, and retention, as well as specificaccept or decline an interview. By conveying
recruiting activities. To manage this process effectively,excitement about the opportunity, and by sharing all the
they follow specific steps proven to achieve success,details about the job, the candidate becomes
and closely monitor their activity.enthusiastic about an interview with the company.
The best recruiters perform well on both sides of theAt the end of the day, successful recruiters do one
business: finding top-notch recruits and cultivating andthing...get candidates in front of decision-makers. They
managing clients. They excel at matching the rightdo this by identifying the hiring manager during the
candidate to the right position, which leads to furthermarketing process, and by enthusiastically presenting
business through referrals from happy clients andthe potential candidate. The hiring manager must learn
physicians, as well as a client base that is pleased towhy the recruiter feels a particular candidate is ideal
do business with the recruiter again.for the job, and this goes beyond credentials and work
Through cold calling, referrals, and industry specificexperience. The manager also wants a person with
websites, a recruiter finds candidates for placement.the personality and culture to click with his or her new
First the recruiter determines their level of interest: ifco-workers. They want to know what the physician's
the candidate is interested in someday making areferences have said, and what the physician's goals
career change, but is not open to it right now, theand strengths are.
recruiter saves the prospect's information and checksThe next step is key...the prep. The most successful
back periodically to see if the situation has changed.recruiters prepares both the physician and the client for
If the candidate is ready to make a move now, thethe interview. The day before the interview, the
recruiter conducts a preliminary information-gatheringrecruiter should spend some time with the candidate
interview and logs the data for later use. He or shesharing any further information discovered about the
obtains the curriculum vitae (CV) and references, andhiring organization and the decision-maker. Role-playing
performs a background and credentials check. Thewith interview questions are a great way to prepare
information collected from the candidate is analyzedthe physician; the recruiter can then give the candidate
for any issues, such as insufficient credentials orsuggestions for improvement and teach any needed
negative feedback from references. In this case, theinterview skills.
recruiter must decide whether the issues are significantLikewise, the recruiter will spend time with the client to
enough to stop the process, or whether the issues areensure a smooth interview process.
merely noted for future reference.After the interview, the best recruiters will always
At the same time, the successful recruiter is alsofollow up with both the candidate and interviewer. He
identifying clients and cultivating relationships withor she must find out not only whether the candidate
hospitals, organizations, and physician practices. Thehas any concerns, but also what went right. Next the
same techniques of cold calling, referrals, and web andrecruiter talks with the client to address their concerns
media searches can provide many leads to practicesas well. The information is vital to complete the
and organizations with open positions. In addition,placement and start the process of making a job offer
cultivating good relationships with organizations thatand negotiating terms. If it just will not work, the
don't have a current opening will pay off when arecruiter receives valuable information about what the
position is available - the hiring manager will contact themanager and candidate are looking for, to fine-tune the
professional recruiter first.search process.
Good recruiters prepare several scripts that they useSometimes a second interview and usually a site visit
to make marketing presentations to potential clients.is necessary. The recruiter builds good relationships by
This ensures that they say all they mean to say, in thecoordinating any travel and itinerary arrangements that
way they mean to say it. On a marketing call, theare needed. If the physician will need to relocate to
recruiter explains the benefit to the client in workingaccept the position, it is helpful to put together a packet
with their company, and responds to any questions orof information about the new area. The recruiter must
objections. A good recruiter knows there is only onealso coordinate obtaining a state license and any
objection that can't be countered: maybe!credentialing needed for the job.
Once the new client agrees to work with the recruiter,A good recruiter's job doesn't end when the candidate
an agreement is signed. The recruiter obtains all detailsis placed. He or she should follow up with both the
about the job, the practice and the location. Aphysician and hiring manager to be sure all is going well.
workable job order is one in which three criteria areDuring the first month, a weekly call can head off any
present:potential problems and ease the transition not only with
1. There is evidence of cooperation. The client is willingthe candidate but also with their family. Then the
to respond to the recruiter in a timely manner.recruiter should contact both parties on a month
2. There is a sense of urgency. The client "feels theschedule for the first six months. At the one-year
pain" of not having this position filled.anniversary mark, the recruiter should check again to
3. It is a marketable position. The specialty is in thebe sure the placement is satisfactory.
recruiter's area of expertise.Successful recruiting is a rewarding challenge.
Recruiters maintain a searchable database of theRecruiters can change people's lives, for the better or
open positions and records the activity made on eachfor the worse. If they do the right things at the right
job order.time, listen to wisdom, and perform the job properly,
Matching physicians with open positions is as much anthey build a satisfying career. In addition, they provide a
art as it is a task to be done in the recruiting process.vital resource to client companies and candidates.
After working hard to recruit a qualified candidate, and