As 2015 is just around the corner, this gives us a chance to take a look back at some of the most meaningful posts from 2014. With the economy continuing to improve throughout the year, hopefully your organization also saw an uptick in your own business prospects. With that in mind, hopefully you will find some insight in the following top posts from 2014.

What Unconventional Benefits could you provide Employees?

As the job market becomes more competitive with the improving economy, your organization needs to go the extra mile to engender loyalty from your current employees or to attract the best possible candidates. Leveraging unusual benefits helps to make your company stand out in the local market. This article looks at a few unconventional benefits to consider adding to your organization’s compensation package.

Tips on boosting Overall Workplace Morale

A happy workplace is an efficient workplace which is good for your company’s overall success. Keeping your staff’s happiness quotient near its maximum is a great way to improve your firm’s operational efficiency. This article looks at a few tips for boosting workplace morale in the hopes of improving your company’s bottom line.

Addressing the Importance of a Retirement Plan for your Employees

Maintaining a robust retirement savings account is vital for your employees. While your organization can help things as part of your benefit structure, it is also important for your staff to contribute to their own retirement plan. This article looks at the importance of talking with your workers about successfully planning for their own retirement.

Partnering with a top notch staffing agency is a good idea for your company. As one of the top employment agencies in the healthcare industry, Pinnacle Workforce is a great choice as a partner for your firm. Make it a point to schedule a meeting with us early in 2015.

With the new year about to dawn, it’s time to take a look back at our top three posts of 2014 focused on the medical professional. With the economy continuing to improve, especially in the generally recession-proof healthcare industry, hopefully your job prospects remained robust throughout the year. Check out these posts for some valuable insight for when it comes time to enter the job market again.

The Affordable Care Act and Temporary Employment

The introduction of the Affordable Care Act means that freelance and temporary workers have more options when it comes to acquiring health insurance. If your current employer’s insurance is what is keeping you from exploring the added flexibility of a freelance career, the ACA now gives you an easy option for getting health insurance. Check out this article for additional insight on how Obamacare affects the world of temporary employment.

Should Medical Professionals use LinkedIn?

Social networking continues to be a growing trend for the job hunter, and LinkedIn remains the most important social networking website for workers in any industry, including medical professionals. With busy lives both in and out of the office, networking with like-minded folks in your industry becomes more difficult. This article takes a look at how to best leverage LinkedIn to enhance your career in the healthcare industry.

The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace

Empathy is an important trait to foster in normal life as well as your professional career. If you work in the medical industry, the importance of being a caring, understanding professional becomes even more vital, especially if your job includes a patient-facing role. This article offers a look at how developing empathy inside yourself helps your career in the healthcare field.

If you need any additional advice on the best steps to improve your career prospects in the world of healthcare, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we can help grow your career to a new level. Make it a point to contact us today!

Even after the Great Recession, the job market remains very competitive. If you were lucky enough to be one of the few out of hundreds of candidates to get an interview, making an impression sometimes isn’t easy. Being sure to properly follow up with the company after an interview is a great way to stand out, earn a second interview, and then hopefully score a great job offer.

With so many in competition for so few open positions, it is important to shine before, during, and after an interview. Here are some additional tips for a successful post-interview follow up.

Always send a Follow Up Email or Letter

Sending a follow up email or letter after an interview is simply the professional thing to do. Use this opportunity to thank the person for the opportunity to interview for the open position. Additionally, leverage this chance to expound on some of the ideas discussed during the interview; consider it another window for you to sell the company on your abilities and personality.

Don’t be a Pest Regarding whether they’ve made a Final Decision

While it is important to follow up at least one time after an interview, don’t be a pest when it comes to finding out when and if they’ve made a final choice on which candidate earned the job offer. Never call back more than two times; if you haven’t heard either way, it’s best to move on to other opportunities.

Never get Discouraged by Rejections — Stay on Course!

Even if you didn’t get the job, it is important to never be discouraged when hunting for a new position. Competition for good jobs remains fierce, so don’t take the rejection personally. It is now time to focus on the many other open positions waiting for your résumé, interview, and professional follow up.

If you want additional advice on top notch résumé creation and interview preparation, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we can help you find a perfect new position. Make it a point to schedule time with Pinnacle today!

After vetting seemingly hundreds of résumés, you’ve picked a few top candidates to interview for your open position. Considering the cost incurred when on-boarding new employees, this hiring decision is one you absolutely need to get right. With that mind, are you sure the right questions are being asked to provide you the insight necessary to make the right choice?

With that in mind, here are some ideas about the right questions to ask when interviewing a candidate for employment.

Find out What is Important to the Candidate

A cultural fit helps to ensure a long relationship between an employer and their employee. You need to ask questions to probe into the things that truly matter to the candidate. Find out what is important to them on a wide range of subjects, including professional growth, charitable opportunities, and more.

How does the Candidate handle a Stressful Situation?

Successfully dealing with on the job stress is an important attribute for any employee. Make sure to find out how the candidate would handle working with a know-it-all co-worker or one who doesn’t pull their share of the weight. Ask them how they would handle a long, over budget project — one getting a lot of attention from management.

Ask the Candidate about their Last Mistake on the Job

This is another way to find out how a candidate handles stress, with some additional insight into how they view themselves. Easily admitting a mistake in judgment or performance might mean the candidate doesn’t sport the kind of ego that can hamper teamwork in the office.

How will the Candidate add Value to your Organization?

The best candidates are ones that understand how your business functions as a whole. This question probes into a candidate’s ability to hit the ground running on their first day, while offering some insight into their comprehension of your business operations.

If you need any further input on building a winning team for your organization, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare industry staffing agencies in the country, we can help insure the success of your business. Schedule a meeting with our team of experienced recruiters today!

The ideal organization is one where everyone is on the same team, working together to achieve a company’s short-term and long-term goals in an efficient manner. Unfortunately, not all organizations are ideal. Office politics and hidden agendas sometime hamper operational efficiency and adversely affect the company’s bottom line. Don’t think that the healthcare industry is immune from this issue.

You needn’t let office personality issues impact your job performance or the operation of the company as a whole. What follows is a closer look at navigating the water cooler and succeeding at work by using office politics to benefit both you and your employer.

Always remember what the philosopher Plato said: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”

Finding Out the Influential at your Workplace

Sometimes analyzing who’s the most influential at your company doesn’t necessary follow an organizational chart. At your organization, it is vital to find out who are known for mentoring others; who are considered to be your firm’s intellectual leaders, and who are looking out for their own interests at the expense of the company’s.

Your ultimate success depends on building good relationships with everyone at your company, without becoming too attached to a clique or one group to the detriment of another. Be sure to listen closely when hanging out with your co-workers, instead of saying something gossipy that might harm any future prospects for additional responsibility.

Always remain Positive

Remaining positive while navigating the world of office politics is a great way to ensure you don’t get bit in the end. Stay above the fray; focus on performing above expectations, and learn how to use your growing influence wisely. Remember that honesty and integrity always serve you better than otherwise.

If you need any additional input on career development, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we employ the top notch recruiters to help ensure your career stays on the right track. Schedule a meeting with Pinnacle today!

The stressful environment of healthcare leaves many of your workers on the edge. Overstressed employees lead to inefficiency, or worse yet, dysfunction and poor performance — issues that can adversely impact patient care. With more at risk from worker tension than simply your organization’s bottom line, it is time to take steps to rectify the situation.

Taking a day for team building is a perfect way to improve morale, lessen employee stress, and ultimately foster team loyalty. Blowing off some steam out of the office is one of the “costs” of doing business, and it can be fun. Here’s how.

There are Many Options for Fun and Meaningful Team Building Days

The need for team building goes far beyond the healthcare industry, as a veritable cottage industry has arisen around the practice. Thankfully, this leaves you with many options to choose from when deciding on a theme for your team building exercise. Of course, not all options may be available in your local region.

Many of the companies that provide team building activities to businesses — including those in healthcare — design them to be both fun and to foster teamwork. While it is important to allow your workers to blow off some steam, a little foresight in choosing an appropriate activity can also positively affect your team’s performance when back in the office.

If your daily office work is too important to forego, many team building activity providers also offer half-day and evening activities. These activities run the gamut from treasure hunts to making a music video to simply a day out on the golf links — all with a focus on building effective teams that also thrive in your healthcare office.

Remember that a dysfunctional team brings the potential of adverse impacts to patient care and ultimately your organization’s reputation and bottom line. Consider a fun team building day to develop a top notch office staff.

If you need additional input on building the right team for your healthcare organization, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the medical industry, we can help ensure your company’s current and future success. Schedule some time with Pinnacle Workforce Corporation today.

Getting your first job after school doesn’t mean your education ends. Personal growth and development are essential requirements throughout your career, especially in the medical industry where new technologies get introduced on a yearly basis.

If you want a personally rewarding and financially lucrative career, continuing your education is a must — both on the job and in the classroom. Let’s take a closer work at why professional development is an essential part of career success.

An Advanced Degree puts you on the Fast Track to Management

If you hope to move into management at some point in your career, earning an advanced degree definitely helps your prospects. If hospital administration is your ultimate goal, consider acquiring a MBA. The best employers offer tuition reimbursement to support the professional development of their employees, so take advantage of this perk if it is available to you.

Nurses need to consider following a development path from LPN to RN to potentially earning a Masters degree in Nursing. There are many Masters degree programs suitable for nursing, so do some research and express your interest in acquiring a degree to your managers at work.

On the Job Professional Development is a Must in the Medical Industry

With all the new technologies regularly introduced in the medical world, it is important to embrace these new concepts or risk being left behind in your career. The increased use of electronic medical records also offers many opportunities to learn new software and equipment.

Displaying a flair for new technology helps you to get noticed by your bosses. If you pick things up quickly, consider stepping up to the plate to train or tutor your co-workers. Showing leadership in this manner is another bonus for your career prospects.

If you need any additional advice for the best methods to achieve the personal growth needed for a successful career, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top American staffing agencies in the medical industry, weknow the best ways to ensure your career development stays on the right track. Schedule a meeting with Pinnacle today!

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2014 is almost finished, and the holiday season is approaching, that means it is time to take stock of your company as it gets ready to transition into 2015. Continuous improvement is the ultimate goal of many organizations, but achieving it takes both planning foresight and determined execution of the plan.

Improving your overall operational efficiency in 2015 is an easier goal to achieve. It’s also a good first step on the path to continuous improvement. Let’s take a closer look at how.

Upgrade your Technology — Hardware and Software

Improving the technology your organization uses is a great way to make your daily operations more efficient and potentially save money. Consider leveraging a Cloud-based solution that allows your workers to focus more on your core business compared to having to deal with on-site servers and networking equipment. Expect that your competitors are also in the process of implementing Cloud technology and enjoying the cost savings benefits as a result.

Also remember that you stand a better shot of retaining your best employees if they get the chance to work on the latest technology and software.

Implement an Employee Retention Plan

Losing your top workers is a great way to ensure your organization won’t improve in 2015 and beyond. Employee retention is a key factor in the success of the best companies.

Take steps to improve compensation and benefits; implement the latest technology as mentioned earlier, and make sure your top performers are rewarded with the added responsibilities commensurate with their worth.

Partner with a Local Medical Staffing Agency

Choosing a local staffing agency as a partner helps your organization in many ways. They provide the right insight to ensure your employee hiring and retention plans are top notch. They also offer keen analysis about competition in your local region and throughout the country.

Pinnacle Workforce is a great choice as a staffing partner in the medical industry. As one of the leading medical staffing agencies in the country, Pinnacle offers your organization both the business insight and vetted, qualified candidates to ensure your company’s success in 2015. Schedule some time with Pinnacle today!

To keep a healthcare team operating efficiently and proactively, quality management is vital. A great manager combines the best qualities of a coach, psychologist, and traffic cop. The healthcare industry brings its own unique management issues, but many of the same principles suitable for other industries also apply.

Many books have been written on how to successfully manage your workers, so trying to fit all that knowledge into a blog post is an impossible task. Even so, here are some great ideas to make managing your healthcare team a success.

An Open, Collaborative Management Style works Great

Leveraging an open management style helps to foster collaboration amongst your team members. The world of IT is home to the Agile management principle which allows teams to accomplish more by relying on strong teamwork. These concepts definitely apply to the world of healthcare and warrant further exploration.

Your team members need to understand that their opinions are valued and that their input is desired. You give them positive and constructive feedback, while they do the same to you. Everyone needs to feel they are a valued member of something larger.

Display Empathy, Expect Empathy

If your healthcare team is directly responsible for patient care, displaying an empathic nature is a must. As a manager, you need to lead the way by showing empathy to your own workers. Leading by example is a major aspect that separates the best managers from those who just hold the title.

Research the Latest in Healthcare Management Techniques

One’s education never ends, and that tenet especially applies to the healthcare manager. It is important to make the effort to consistently learn new management principles and techniques. Additionally, consider acquiring an advanced degree if you don’t already hold one, as it helps your career path in addition to improving your own management abilities.

If you need additional input on building and managing your healthcare staff, talk to the knowledgeable people at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the United States, we can help you develop a top notch healthcare team. Schedule a meeting with Pinnacle today!

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Sure, professional experience and technical ability are important attributes for your employees to have in the medical industry, but what about empathy? Providing quality healthcare is a prime directive for most companies in the medical field, and employing empathic workers is a key aspect of your organization fostering the right patient care.

But how do you quantify empathy? Is it something that can be learned by offering professional training to your staff? Here are some ideas for ensuring your employees display the caring attitude necessary to thrive in the medical industry.

Empathy Assessments Remain Difficult.

Assessing the empathy of your employees remains a difficult proposition, as it isn’t something that is easily tested. The skill generally relates to a person’s emotional intelligence and social awareness. It’s especially important, since medical employees need to establish a connection with patients when placed in a direct patient care role.

Training Your Employees to be Empathic.

Displaying empathy to your employees on a daily basis is a great way to set a positive example. Additionally, your organization can explore a variety of training programs to instill those same values in your staff. If you don’t already employ someone well-versed in empathy training, bring in an outside consultant to conduct a training session.

Your employees should learn how to effectively use communication and body language to connect with those under their care. They need to be able to understand and relate to the wide variety of situations typically found in healthcare. A positive, caring attitude definitely helps to foster the kind of empathy that will earn your staff accolades.

If you do bring an outside consultant to train your staff in empathy, have them modify your own training programs so future employees can access the same material. Moving forward, your employees will display the right kind of empathy necessary for success in the medical industry.

If your organization needs additional input on creating an empathic staff, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we offer the business insight to ensure your organization’s ultimate success. Schedule a meeting with us today!

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