Maintain your professional demeanor.

Don’t let yourself be unprofessional.

Professionalism above all else. 

Every job hunter has been given these instructions as well as a laundry list of other tips but rarely are job seekers told to let their personality shine through during an interview. Every individual has their own set of qualities and strengths they bring to the table but if they suppress their true self, the potential employer can miss their uniqueness. The last thing you want to be in an interview is forgettable. You want the employer to remember you, the positive things about you and everything you can bring to their company.

6 Ways to Balance Between Professional and Personal During a Job Interview

• Professional: Dress appropriately. This is not the time to wear a political pin or your favorite band tee shirt. You should look professional in attire that is suitable for the position and company where you are interviewing. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of overdressing rather than underdressing. Keep accessories to a minimum and steer clear of anything controversial in your attire, even if you feel that it is part of your personality.
• Personal: Tell simple stories. This can be difficult for some candidates but the key is to keep it short. Don’t elaborate on some crazy story from your college years but if the conversation goes to a vacation or funny family story, feel free to engage the interviewer with a story of your own. Always stay away from religion, politics, and money.
• Professional: Know your skills. Be prepared to share your successes professionally. Don’t divulge your latest diet willpower story or bar conquest but rather share your job accomplishments.
• Personal: Talk about relationships. No, not personal relationships but a boss that you really admired or how you led your team to reach their goals. The interviewer wants to know that you can work with others and relate to those in your organization.  Sometimes a funny story can help to break the ice during an interview but keep it clean and short.
• Professional: Keep a safe distance between the interviewer and yourself. Don’t run home and add them to your social networks or ask them personal questions during the interview. You want to get to know them but on a work-level to start.
• Personal: Don’t let the conversation wind up being a rapid-fire question and answer time. Do your homework ahead of time and try to find some common ground, professionally with the interviewer. Or at least be observant while in their office and exercise those conversational skills where you are engaging.

Interviewers need to remember you. Your skill set, your personality, and even your personality but if you remain strictly professional, you will probably blend in with the other candidates. You don’t have to be off-the-wall or even funny but you should aim for engaging and friendly. No one wants to work with a stuck-up, rude person and if you aren’t careful, your professional attitude may be perceived as stand-offish. Let your personal side shine while maintaining a professional demeanor at the core.

Looking for Employment in 2014?

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When summer hits, you may feel the temptation to slack off a bit and take a vacation from school, work, and even the job hunt. In spite of those feelings, summer can be the best time to find a perfect medical job that will carry you into the fall and even into a promising future. The summer job market is full of opportunities as companies have settled into their routine and know their staffing needs in a clear way. Current teams have identified their strengths and the gaps are obvious so the job search can be in favor of the candidates during the summer searching times. If you are on the market for a new job, consider putting in applications before the rush of summer but even if you missed that time frame, it’s never too late to send out your resume to companies or even to work with a staffing agency to find a perfect new position.

What to Look for in a New Job?

The summer may be warm but the job market in some cities is even warmer. Not only can you find a job that meets your salary expectations but also one where you can make a difference in the life of your patients. A summer medical job can have various components, making it an ideal position for those who are qualified. Here are some things to look for in a summer job:

1. Consistency. When you need steady work, a staffing firm may have just the right positions for you. You won’t need to keep applying to new jobs as you will be in their system and as summer medical jobs become available, they can present you to the potential employers.
2. Flexibility. With summer jobs often comes the ability to have a more flexible schedule. As patients take vacations, days off, and even spend time away from their homes, you may have the ability to work with other patients or to even have downtime for yourself.
3. Location. Have you ever considered taking medical jobs that require travel? A perk of the traveling medical jobs is you will have chance to see various parts of the country. It can be a fun way to sightsee while earning a living at the same time. You could have an adventure each and every summer with a new medical job that requires travel to provide care.
4. Permanent. Some of the summer jobs turn into full-time jobs after the three months and you could start the fall season with a permanent medical job. For those who may just be starting out in the medical field, a summer medical job is a smart way to learn, work with professionals, and work with real patients.

Your summer medical job can be the launching pad for a new career or even as a way to get your “foot in the door” at a new facility while still maintaining a steady job. While others are on vacation, take some time in the summer to further your education and apply for summer medical jobs that will take your career to the next level.

After working for years in the same field, a sense of drudgery and negativity can begin to take over your daily attitude. This attitude can lead to a mid-career meltdown as you realize this may not be the exact path you always wanted or you are not fulfilling the dreams you had at the start of your career.  It is safe to say that it happens to everyone at some point or another in their professional life. Maybe you see a coworker who seems fulfilled or a family member who has changed jobs and claims to have a new lease on life. Sometimes a drastic change will work but for most in the healthcare field, you’ve worked too hard to reach this point to just throw it all away.

3 Ways to Reduce

the Risk of a Mid-Career Meltdown

1. Increase your education. You’ve heard the saying, “if you don’t like it, change it” and that applies to your professional life as well as in your personal life. As a nurse, you can choose to work in a certain area of specialty and for many nurses, this is an area in which they are truly passionate such as pediatrics, labor and delivery, or a variety of other departments but these take advanced education and training. Maybe you don’t need to change your career but rather find an area that feeds your passion and is part of the reason you became a nurse.
2. Network with others in your field. Sometimes when a nurse feels isolated at work, they can begin to feel depressed. After all, day in and day out with people who are sick can wear on your emotions and sometimes losing a patient can be difficult to process without the help of others who understand. Your non-nurse family and friends won’t understand yet you need to have the ability to vent and talk about work with those who understand. As you network, you may even see how other facilities operate and realize yours is better or worse and you can make an educated choice to change locations or change your attitude.
3. Do your best to improve. You may not be able to change your entire department but what if you made an effort with your immediate team?  The workplace can change and the results can be positive for your career. When the time comes around for a team leader position or other leadership option, you could be considered due to the changes you implemented. Your career can take an upward turn when you decide to stop being complacent and work on improving your surroundings.

Your career starts and ends with you and your attitude. While it’s normal to feel frustrated with the professional direction of your life, it is up to you to change it. It could something as simple as asking for a schedule change or something more complex such as transferring to another facility, but whatever you decide to do, meltdowns will not help your career and you should take the necessary steps to reduce the possibility.

All the hype surrounding the Affordable Care Act and the changes it has brought to the healthcare field have made providers worry about the effects it will have on their jobs, paychecks, and even their job security. The nursing field has always had a demand for qualified professionals but now with the ACA in effect, this demand has increased and nursing staff are in short supply. The negativity that is presented regarding this new healthcare bill is responsible for a lot of uncertainty within the medical field but in reality, there are positive aspects to the bill as well.

As a nurse, here are some of the possible impacts to your field that you may experience:

• Nurses will be working outside of the hospitals and within the community. One of the core elements of the ACA is to increase wellness and preventative care, which means providing care to those who need it before something more serious happens and to go to the patients who need help. Nurses will visit their patients and try to help those with chronic conditions not progress in a negative way. Smaller medical offices will be taking the forefront in care and guiding the public to a healthier lifestyle in order to avoid the major illnesses.
• Specialty nurses will be in high demand. The ACA is now providing money to support the development of nurse practitioners and for most nurses, the cost for further education was a deterrent but now, it doesn’t have to be.  A nurse who wishes to train in a specialty field won’t have to experience lost wages due to the downtime and upon completion, they will be heavily recruited.
• Overall care is being improved. The majority of nurses work in the field because they care about others and want to help them and will go out of their way to ensure quality care is provided. These nurses are rarely compensated extra for their long hours and excellent care but with the ACA, a pay for performance program will compensate providers based on the patient outcomes, instead of the patient volume. This means a nurse can work with a patient until they have recovered or achieved their desired results.
• The aging population is being embraced. Patients over 65 used to be dropped by their providers but now the opposite is happening and these older patients are being treated again. Doctors and hospitals are now able to train and specialize in geriatric care instead of running away from it.

The ACA has changed healthcare in many ways and for the nursing community, it carries a mixed reaction of positive and negative aspects. As the bill takes full effect and the changes remain fluid, learning how it can improve your field should be a priority to your facility. Rather than focusing on the negative or the problems it will bring, make it a point to learn the good it brings to the medical field and as with any new legislature, make it work in your favor instead of fighting the changes.

As with most careers, obtaining a position in the nursing field is based not only on skills and education but also timing. Being in the right place at the right time to be placed into the position you really want is about who you know and your network.  Top-notch medical facilities rarely have a need to advertise for their open positions as they have an established candidate base from which to pull, and sometimes they will hire internally from their existing staff or request referrals from within the teams. If you know someone at the facility, there is a strong chance you will hear about the open position but if not, the position may be filled within a short amount of time and with no outside advertising.

As a healthcare professional, you may not think of networking as an important part of your job. It is a common misconception to assume networking is only critical for jobs in sales or marketing but every professional should have a personal network that they continuously grow and manage.

4 Ways to Ensure You Have the Necessary Connections in Your Industry

1. Social media.
   More than just for personal connections, social media can connect you to others in your field without the awkward mixers and business functions. Healthcare professionals usually have sporadic schedules so making time to meet others in a physical setting can be difficult but connecting online is fast and easy. Use sites like LinkedIn and search specifically for those in your field with whom to connect.
2. Stand out.
   While you are at your job, go above and beyond what is asked of you to be noticed. Stellar employees stand out and networks are put into place as your name begins to be recognized and you are referred to better positions within the organization. You may be asked to join other teams on special projects and your network will grow quickly. Don’t turn down the chance to make a lateral move within your field to learn more as a nursing professional as well as increase your network.
3. Be nice.
   This may sound simple but those in the nursing field should be friendly to their co-workers. Not only to increase their network but also to be a more effective healthcare provider. As your fellow team members become friends rather than just acquaintances, they will be more likely to alert you to a better position or be available as a resource for a recommendation.
4. Help others.
   When you help others network and achieve a new position, you are paying it forward and they are more likely to remember you if something comes up that would be a good fit for you. Giving to others is a great feeling and it can increase not only confidence but also your network.

Networking is not difficult when you work with people on a daily basis such as in the field of nursing. You have a continuous opportunity to make a positive impression and change lives, which is something people don’t forget quickly. As a nurse, you should make the effort to maintain a network of professional references and friends so you have the chance to move up in your career as the opportunities arise.

Looking to Grow Your Network?
Contact our team of professionals today for more information on the benefits of partnering with our team when applying for a job in San Antonio.

Regardless of where you are in your medical career, you can always learn and become a more efficient provider.  In the healthcare industry, there are ways to daily ways to improve, so you can consistently ensure each patient has the best possible outcome for their needs. The healthcare field is ever changing and without support and knowledge, you may feel lost or even be on the receiving end of misguided career advice.  A career mentor is someone who can guide you through tough choices and be the sounding board you need when faced with difficulties in your professional life. Sometimes your family or co-workers won’t understand your work conflicts, or you simply cannot discuss sensitive issues with them as they are too close to the situation. Having an objective mentor you can call will make a big difference in your future career choices.

How Can a Mentor
Assist Your Career Growth?

An objective third party may seem more like a personal benefit and not one that will help your career but this type of mentor for your professional life is different than just a friend. Choosing a mentor who is familiar with your field and even an authority of their own in the field can prove to be beneficial. If you are contemplating working with a career mentor, here are three ways a mentor can help you in your career:

1. Knowledge resource.
   A mentor should have more experience in the job field and more years in the industry than your average co-worker. Their knowledge stems from more education and real life situations, with an emphasis on the day-to-day decisions that are made in the healthcare industry. Your career can be improved through their knowledge of new procedures and trends within the industry and you can become a stronger provider, possibly leading to better positions in the field.  You can always learn about your field and possibly through their varied viewpoints, you will become better educated.
2. Honest opinions.
   Criticism can be hurtful but what if you could hear something constructive about your career from someone you know and trust? Honesty is critical to the foundation of a mentor relationship and this person can give you career insight so you can improve, not just to be mean. Think of your mentor as holding up a mirror to your career and you are able to see the flaws and problems clearly in order to change accordingly. It is not done to belittle you but rather reveal your shortcomings in the spirit of improvement.
3. Safe zone.
   How many times have you resisted the urge to vent about your job to co-workers or even your family to avoid causing more problems? A career mentor will listen to the problems and offer advice. You may feel on the verge of leaving a medical facility due to mismanagement or other internal problems, only to get the advice from your mentor to stick it out. The mentor can help you decide if it is time to move on or make a lateral career move based on the information you provide, which can be as detailed as you want to share. After all, they are usually not involved with your organization.

Looking for Employment in San Antonio?
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In any industry, landing the job means standing out from the other applicants and doing what you can to make a positive, lasting impression throughout the process. The healthcare world has always been highly competitive and in an economy where one job will sometimes have hundreds of applicants, standing out is not just a goal but a necessity. How are you different from the others in your field? Are there things you can do stand out from other healthcare professionals?

Skip the Song and Dance
In some industries, the more charismatic and fun you appear in the job interview, the stronger your chances are of landing the job. Professionals in the healthcare industry have a bit more of a challenge as it is their skill set and qualifications that are under scrutiny. Questions like:

• Where did you go to school?
• What are your medical specialties?
• Where was your internship?
• What was your GPA?
• What are your specific certifications?

The ability to stand out from the others vying for this particular position will depend on these answers and more. Your personal choices will hold a great deal of value to your healthcare career such as if you volunteered to help others whether in a medical capacity such as reading to children in the cancer wing of the hospital or playing games with the elderly on Tuesday nights. Your job in healthcare is based on your qualifications first and foremost as you can’t fake your way through the tasks at hand like inserting an IV tube or prepping someone for surgery, but you will stand out when you can regale the interviewer with examples of how you served others throughout your life.

The Whole Package
While the employers want to see your skills and certifications, they also want to know about your personal reasons for choosing this particular field. It is not an industry that is suitable for everyone so chances are you had an experience or desire from an early age to study medicine. Here are some of the top areas employers will look at on your application:

1. GPA and test scores. This provides a basis for your intelligence and ability to handle the tasks that will be thrown at you on a daily basis. Clinical experience. Do you have any added specialties? What made your clinical experience unique to you or your desired job title?
2. Personal statement. Why do you want this job, in this field, in this facility? You will have to personalize each application but it will be worth your time to land the job you really wanted.
3. Research authority. Were any of your papers or ideas published in a medical journal or other medical publication? Now is the time to bring that up in your interview.

A future employer wants to know that you are a well-rounded individual with the brain to know how to care for patients but also the heart and sensibility to know the best course of action for the welfare of each patient.

The workplace isn’t always the most kind or sympathetic place to be. In fact, some team members and co-workers can sometimes treat each other rudely, but in the medical profession, there is no place for that kind of attitude or treatment. Empathy should be the rule for every workplace but especially for those in the medical field. The foundation for every medical facility, large or small, should be one of compassion and respect, starting from the top and spreading to each and every patient who enters the building.

Positive Bed-Side Manner
Those in need of medical care are feeling vulnerable and helpless, but the right words, demeanor, and attitude can put them at ease. This is accomplished through a staff of individuals who understand this and work hard to create that environment. It is a fact that happy and calm patients will heal faster and achieve the desired results of recovery. During the course of the day, medical personnel can find themselves worn out and in need of positivity in their immediate surroundings, and this is where empathy in the workplace comes into play. Here are some simple steps you can take to show your co-workers that you care and when you give to them, they are more likely to pass it on to their patients.

1. Smile at those around you. Even if there is nothing funny or you’ve seen that person ten times in the past hour, give them a smile and see how it lifts their mood.
2. Help when you can. If you have some downtime, look around and see who could use some extra assistance with a difficult patient or in getting caught up on a task.
3. Show up early for your shift. Relieve the previous shift or at least give them time to close their logs and be on their way earlier than usual.
4. Bring in goodies. You don’t need to buy anything expensive but consider baking something and taking it to work or even take in some fruit and granola bars.
5. Pull your weight. While this may seem like more of a team building attribute, you should always do your job and help others on your team complete the tasks at hand. This demonstrates your respect and value for their work and time.

As the employer or employee in a medical facility setting, it is important to continue the circle of care and empathy. Without that, you become a facility where patients feel like a number and many will search for better options for their care. Not only will you lose patients but your reputation and job satisfaction will decrease and it can be difficult to rebuild. Avoid the unnecessary problems with simple actions of treating others how you want to be treated.

In an economy where the qualified candidates outnumber the others, you have to stand out. How is this accomplished without seeming obnoxious or arrogant in a job interview?  Putting your best foot forward doesn’t mean compromising who you are or even acting a certain way but rather being true to yourself. If that doesn’t work for the interview, it won’t work for the new position and both parties should be comfortable with their true person. Usually if you have made it to the in-person interview, you meet the basic qualifications so there should be something about you that sets you apart. There are several actions you can take in order to help sway the interview in your favor so that you are remembered for your abilities, personality, and how well you would fit into the role.

1. Engage the interviewer. Don’t just recite answers back to their questions but go one step further by adding some personal information to your answer or even ask them a question after your response. If you are asked about your education, take a couple extra seconds to explain why you went to that school or how a certain class really changed your life. Don’t ramble but try to answer with more than just one sentence.
2. Be personable. From the receptionist who greets you to others in the parking lot vying for that one open spot, show a friendly, positive attitude, because these are potential co-workers and no one wants to work with a grouchy person. While they may not conduct the interview, their input could be heard and you want it in your favor.
3. Know facts about the company. When you’re answering questions about prior work experience, you can tie it to the current interviewer. Use common connections in the industry, clients, and even experiences to show the interviewer that you know exactly who they are and the position they are trying to fill.
4. Exude confidence and knowledge. If there was a new development in your field, talk about it and explain the facts. The interviewer may or may not know about it but it is a win-win either way. You can share some new information with them or you can partake in a lively conversation about what happened. This gives you a chance to connect with the interviewer and for them to realize you know the industry.
5. Common courtesy rules the day. Be on time, don’t chew gum, turn off your phone, keep the cologne/perfume to a minimum, and speak clearly. Treat the interview seriously and you will be viewed as a viable candidate.

Not every interview will be the same but the small details are what will set you apart. These principles can apply to all job interviews you may have, regardless of the field.

Have Additional Questions?

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Social media connects people from all walks of life and professions with a simple invite from one profile to another. It has brought together long-lost family members, rekindled friendships, and even helped network for professionals to find better jobs. The variety of social media outlets continues to increase but the one that stands out for professional use is LinkedIn. With over 1.5 million identified healthcare professionals, it is a site geared for use by those who want to increase their career network, find a new job, or those who want to find new candidates for their open positions. LinkedIn has a distinct emphasis on professional connections and updates, in contrast to other social media sites that promote random thought and personal information sharing. Medical professionals can benefit greatly from using LinkedIn to connect professionally with others for a variety of reasons:

1. The busy schedules of medical professionals can make it difficult to meet others in the same field and even those in the same facility. While you may prefer to keep the relationship professional, you can still have a connection with them. Many times doctors and nurses will not fraternize but there is a benefit to connecting outside of the workplace, in a professional way.
2. Information sharing is invaluable in healthcare. LinkedIn allows users to hone in on updates that are important to them and then have the opportunity to share what they’ve learned. For example, a healthcare professional learning about a new facility or treatment can share it with their network and not only provide that valuable information but become a resource for those in similar fields.
3. It’s fast and easy to connect. Some social media sites are complicated and full of spam but LinkedIn strives to be a site where users will connect with those they actually know or have a common connection. Rather than signing in to a mailbox full of spam, healthcare professionals can connect with people they actually know and a network that will be beneficial to them.
4. Legitimate opportunities can be shared and found by medical professionals. As in any job field, there are those who offer non-existent jobs or ones that may not pay market standard and it is a waste of time for professionals. When a job is offered on LinkedIn, it is not free for the job poster so the scammers are properly vetted through the LinkedIn channels.
5. A high number of medical groups are on LinkedIn and your network can grow by leaps and bounds. The next time you need to find a registered nurse or bio/pharm professional, it will take a minute to search through your chosen groups and find real people with the right credentials.

As a professional in any field, it is wise to have a network of others you can turn to but this is especially the case in the world of healthcare professionals. Trust and privacy are the cornerstone for those working within the medical field so proceed with caution when  finding new staff or suppliers.

Have additional questions on how to find qualified candidates for your organization? Contact our team of recruiters today to learn about the benefits of partnering with us!