Any professional’s education doesn’t stop on the day they earn a degree or diploma, and the medical industry is no exception. A successful career means a lifetime of on the job learning supplanted by classroom education. For a medical professional, this could take the form of an advanced degree or acquiring any number of available certifications.

Frankly, your career growth in the world of medicine becomes supercharged when you make the effort to learn any professional certifications related to your line of work. Let’s take a closer look how.

Medical Certifications help your Earning Potential

If you feel stuck in your current position, with little room to grow financially or professionally, check into earning any certifications for your current job. Smart employers offer tuition reimbursement for any classes needed to help you study for the certification test. You should also check out any online or book resources to help you learn the material you expect to be on the test.

Once your certification is earned, make it a point to check into the possibility of a raise or an increase in job responsibility relevant to your new certification. If your employer isn’t willing — or didn’t even offer you tuition reimbursement — the time is ripe to look for a new position. Many employers appreciate employees who take the initiative to earn professional certifications, and they look great on a résumé.

Research the Professional Certifications relevant to your Medical Career

It is important to do the upfront research on any professional certifications relevant to career. A host of certifications exist for a wide range of medical professions, including medical transcription, medical coding, medical assistant, and much more. Your local recruiter is also a great source of advice on what certifications will help your career grow the fastest.

If you need any additional input on what medical certifications would look great on your résumé, talk to the industry experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s leading medical staffing agencies, we employ recruiters with the right business insights to ensure you enjoy a successful and rewarding career. Make it a point to talk with our team of recruiters today!

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Congratulations on landing that great job in the medical industry. Your hard work in crafting a winning résumé as well as your exemplary interview performance helped to show off your professional experience and accomplishments. Chances are you earned that position over potentially a hundred other qualified candidates.

But one person not to forget is your medical recruiter. They definitely played their role when first presenting you to your new employer. Maybe their insight into the company helped you ask a meaningful question or two during the interview?

Here are three reasons to stay in contact with your medical recruiter after starting your new job.

It’s Just a New Job, not a Full Career

Not to summon bad tidings, but you never know how long your new organization will be in business. Remember this is a job, not your full career, so you don’t know when you’ll again need the assistance of a recruiter. Developing a rewarding partnership with a medical recruiter helps ensure your career stays on the right path.

Recruiters understand their Industry

The best recruiters fully understand the subtleties of their industry, and those working in the world of medicine are no different. If you remain in regular contact with your recruiter, they are able to inform you of the hottest new technologies and treatment methodologies — things you need to be aware of for a full, rewarding career.

Recruiters have their Finger on the Pulse of your Local Region

The medical industry changes rapidly. Companies acquire other companies which may acquire the hospital you work at; let alone any changes due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. An in-the-know medical recruiter is invaluable when informing you of any changes that may affect your current position.

In short, partnering with a top notch medical recruiter is the smart thing for a healthy career!

If you are searching for that leading medical recruiter to partner with, then look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we employ recruiters with the proper industry insight to ensure your career remains on the right path. Be sure to schedule a meeting with us today!

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Overworked and overstressed employees are a risk for any company, but when you are in the medical field, issues of public safety come into play. It is vital to pay close attention to the signs that anyone on your medical staff needs a respite. When providing quality patient care is the prime directive of your organization, your employees need to be well-rested and able to do the job without fail.

Whether they are nurses, doctors, or other members of your staff, medical employees’ stress levels need to be managed closely. Let’s take a closer look.

Medical Worker Stress impacts Patient Care

According to studies from AFSCME and others, the stress levels of your medical workers directly relate to patient care. Overworked nurses and other medical staff can lead to job dissatisfaction, which can potentially cause them to make mistakes while on duty. Your medical organization can’t afford poor patient care due to worker stress.

Gerald W. McEntee, former president of AFSCME commented on stress among nurses. “Our nurses have said over and over again that they are weary and in some cases, ready to give up. (W)e urge the nation’s health care industry to recognize and compensate their most precious commodity. Our nurses are the glue that holds the health care industry together,” said McEntee.

Take steps to ensure your staff aren’t working too much overtime. Allow them to take breaks when on duty, while ensuring patient care isn’t adversely impacted. Reward them with extra time off as warranted to help manage overall work-related stress.

Are you Understaffed?

Ultimately, overstressed medical workers might be a sign that your organization is understaffed. Patient care shouldn’t suffer due to poor staffing levels. Take the time to research your firm’s staffing plan to make sure it meets the needs of your patients.

If you need any advice on proper medical staffing levels, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the leading staffing agencies in the country, wecan ensure your organization maintains a proper staffing level both now and in the future. Schedule a meeting with us today!

Sure, a well-crafted résumé is a vital part of any candidate’s job search arsenal, but be sure not to forget about the cover letter. A top notch cover letter is a perfect way to differentiate yourself from the other applicants for an open position. It allows you to go into more detail about your abilities and professional experience.

When you are on a job search, don’t skimp on the cover letter. Here are some tips to ensure you give the best possible first impression with your entire résumé package.

Tailor each Cover Letter for a Specific Position

It is important to personalize every individual cover letter for the open position in question. A form letter or something laden with boilerplate text won’t put you in the best possible light.

Make sure to use the cover letter to detail how your work experiences will benefit the company with which you hope to interview. This gives you the perfect chance to personalize the letter.

You can use a Template to save Time, but Personalize

If you are sending out tens of résumés at once, writing each cover letter from scratch could take some time. Use a cover letter template to save on your efforts, but don’t skimp on the personalization. Once again, you need to tailor each cover letter for every open job.

Don’t forget the Keywords

Any keywords related to your skill set or technical abilities should be used within both your cover letter and your résumé. Consider the person in HR responsible for doing the initial vetting of candidates.

When faced with hundreds of résumé packages to look through, HR staff usually skim the résumés and cover letters looking for keywords that stand out. If you use keywords, you raise your chances of getting called in for an interview.

If you need any more advice on authoring a top notch cover letter and résumé, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the country, we can help you put your best foot forward when on a job search. Schedule a meeting with us today!

The medical and healthcare industries remain a great career choice, considering that they are more or less recession proof. Still, when it comes time to look for a new position, it helps to partner with a knowledgeable staffing agency well-versed in the medical world. Additionally, a long-term partnership will ultimately pay dividends for your career.

What are some of the benefits from working closely with medical employment firm? Let’s take a closer look.

The Best Medical Staffing Agencies know their Local Region

Finding a top notch medical-focused staffing agency in your area needs to be a big part of your career development plan. The best agencies intimately know their area as well as the companies and organizations currently operating locally. In many cases, they learn about open positions before they are announced publically.

Remember that many leading medical organizations only work with a certain number of staffing agencies. It benefits your career prospects to partner with just such an agency. You might be losing out on a chance to apply for the best medical industry jobs in your area.

Top Medical Employment Firms understand how the Industry Changes

The medical industry is a river of constant change. New technologies, experimental pharmaceuticals, and treatment innovations combine to keep those working in this industry on their toes and always learning new things. You can easily get left behind in your career if you don’t stay on top of changes in the industry.

The best medical staffing agencies also stay abreast of the latest industry innovations, and are able to give you the right advice to ensure your career stays on the right track. For a rewarding life full of growth and opportunity, you need to take career development seriously. A partnership with a leading medical staffing agency helps to supercharge your vocational prospects.

If you are a searching for a top notch medical employment firm as a career partner, then look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the leading medical staffing agencies in the country, we can help take your career to the next level. Make it a point to schedule a meeting with us today!

Of course, salary and benefits aren’t the only ways to reward your employees. Applying a little creativity when it comes to remunerations goes a long way in engendering worker loyalty. The best companies seem a bit like family, so taking that angle when it comes to unconventional bonuses is a great way to reward a job well done.

Let’s take a closer look at some different and creative ideas for rewarding your staff.

Celebrate each Worker’s Birthday

Make it a point to have a special lunch with a birthday cake when it comes time for your workers to celebrate that special day. For small offices, this is easily manageable, but larger organizations might look at celebrating all the birthdays for that month on one day each month. Fridays generally work best for this kind of long lunch — with cake!

If your workers are in the middle of crunch time at the office, this monthly birthday lunch can be rescheduled, but make sure not to forget the event.

Reward Cards are a Nice Perk

Hand out reward cards from a local retail establishment to mark each worker’s anniversary day at your company. Give one card for each year of service at your firm. While this bonus is really just another form of financial remuneration, depending on your tax laws the employee may not have to report the bonus as income.

Giving the reward cards out to everyone during the Holiday Season is another option instead of using the employee anniversary date.

An Extra Vacation Day is a Perfect Bonus

If your salaried employees worked extra hard to successfully complete a project on time and on budget, reward them with an extra vacation day or two. This is a great way to show that your staff’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Having a Project Completion Celebration Day at the office also helps to grow company spirit.

How Can Pinnacle Workforce Corporation Assist you?

If you need any additional advice on how to keep your employees happy, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the country, they provide you with the business insight to ensure your organization’s hiring needs are met. Schedule a meeting with them today!

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College is over and now is the time to find a new job. As a new college grad, knowing how and where to apply for a job in the medical field can feel overwhelming. Taking the right steps to know how to apply as a new grad will make all the difference in the world. The right application will get seen by the right people and you will have a better chance of landing that dream job in the medical field. Here are some tips for putting your best face out there with your application:

1. Customize your resume. A job in the medical field requires a great deal of skill and training and simply relying on the odds when submitting your resume isn’t a smart plan. Look at the job description and tailor your resume to that position. Many times the job requirements will be the same as the skills you currently possess but it could be stated differently. Look for keywords within the job advertisement and match them to your skill set.
2. Capitalize on your experience. While you may not have actual hospital experience, you may have worked as an intern or volunteer in a variety of capacities. Much of your job experience can be linked to you chosen career as you learn about time management, role delegation, teamwork, and other valuable traits.
3. Create a flawless resume and cover letter. Whatever you submit to a company, make sure there are no errors. Take your time when applying and ensure everything is as perfect as can be.
4. Follow up on the application. Submitting resumes to various HR departments and medical personnel, it can start to feel like you are just taking chances with your information. Do what you can to follow-up with the process. Email or call to ensure your resume was received and inquire about the next steps in the hiring process.
5. Network and apply before graduation. Even before you’ve graduated, feel out the job market. You may not be able to apply for the jobs until after graduation but network with the companies ahead of time to have an “in” with the right people. It will be beneficial to have email addresses and information about the company for an interview down the road.

Take advantage of every opportunity to grow and increase your knowledge. Not only will this help to land you your dream job but you will find the field and company where you can do the most good. Even as a new grad, your skills will be valued and called upon to help others.

You learned the right way to study through nursing school. You learned the right way to take your nursing school entrance exams. Finally, you learned the right way to succeed in your nursing certifications but did you learn the right way to find a nursing job?  Finding a good fit both you and your future employer is critical. Too many times, job seekers feel as though the only party that matters is the employee but in reality, you, as a job seeker, should feel comfortable in your new job as well. While there is always a learning and adjustment curve, it should be a good fit from the start. There is right way and a wrong way to look for nursing jobs after you finish school.

Right Way: Submit your resume to open positions. Follow up within several days to ensure they received the resume and have your correct contact information.  Be selective with the companies you submit your resume and apply to jobs for which you are qualified.

Wrong Way: Applying to every medical job within twenty miles of your zip code. This not only frustrates employers when they are sorting through piles of resumes, it can present you in a negative light for a future open position for which you are qualified. Always follow-up with an email or call to the hiring manager.

Right Way: State the truth on your resume. Use appropriate verbiage as well as correct statistics for the success you’ve experienced and the goals you’ve reached. Don’t be modest about what you’ve done in your life so far. Many candidates don’t want to sound boasting but you should boast on your resume. That’s how potential employers know what you can do for their organization.

Wrong Way: Fudge your credentials. In any field it is wrong but in the medical field, your dishonesty can cost people their lives. This is not a field where you can stretch the truth or misrepresent your skills. Lying on your resume will get you nowhere, fast.

Right Way: Be persistent. Once you’ve found a medical facility that you really like, visit it and get to know the staff. Ask about job openings and humbly share your qualifications. The network you create with the team members in this casual setting can be beneficial to you when the time comes for an interview.

Wrong Way: Submit your resume online and never interact with the hiring manager or other team members. Giving up when you aren’t hired for the first position that comes along. Even if you are qualified, there could be other candidates who are a better fit and employers want to find the best possible team member to join them.

Submitting your resume will take time and effort but when you find that company where you fit in well and can provide quality care, you will be glad you did. Employers and employees alike should be pleased with the fit within the team and then overall as a company.

Looking for an Employment Coach to Help You Land the Job You Desire?

Let us assist you in your job search! Contact the experienced healthcare recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce Corporation for job-search tips and best practices.

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the need for college degrees for various fields. Those in certain fields feel they aren’t necessary and rather job training and experience more than make up for the lack of a college degree. In the medical field, however, there are still plenty of factors that go into the reasons a degree is preferred. The majority of medical employees need a college degree and here are some reasons why:

• Medicine is a standardized field. It’s not a field where the results are subject to interpretation. Those who practice medicine need to have a high level of understanding and the ability to follow a method to obtain results. Results are either positive or negative and patients either recover or they don’t. A college degree helps to ensure everyone practicing a form of medicine has at least learned the basics and will approach a specialty field with a strong foundation.
• Medicine requires discipline. Finishing a college degree or even a certification plan within a technical school shows a higher level of determination and drive. The time and effort it takes to finish a program is commendable and medical professionals prefer to see that dedication over someone else who hasn’t completed a training program of any kind.
• Medicine is an evolving field. If a medical employee has been successful with a degree plan and juggling life, chances are they will be able to the medical field. In any given shift, a medical professional will have unknown variables presented to them and if they are unable to handle it, lives could be lost or recovery efforts compromised. When a medical employee has the ability to think critically, they are also able to comprehend changes to procedures and adapt to new methods.

Whether or not you agree that medical employees need to have degrees, there is no denying the fact that they should have proper training. For some, this may mean a technical degree or other sort of certification. On the job training is one of the best ways to ensure your staff knows exactly what to do but it doesn’t make up for the structure and learning that is done in an educational setting. Do what you can as an employee to help your team further their education whether by offering classes online or monthly seminars held at your offices. Even if this type of training doesn’t produce a degree, it can advance the knowledge of your employees and they can provide a higher level of care within your facility.

Looking for Additional Assistance in Your 2014 Hiring Initiatives?

Contact the experts at Pinnacle Workforce Corporation to learn how our team of skilled recruiters can positively impact the overall growth and development of your organization.

Some fields require little to no experience in any related field. Medicine is not one of those fields. Every aspect of the medical community requires training and some positions require work experience. As an employer, it is your duty to understand the importance of education and training for the candidates you interview and make the final determination based on their background. The question remains, should you hire an overqualified person or go with the one with less experience? The final decision will remain at the discretion of each organization.

Experience is a Great Teacher
There is a school of thought that subscribes to the idea of real life training being the best experience. Others believe that a formal education will prepare you for the variables thrown at medical professionals on a daily basis. Finally, there is a theory that both, experience and book knowledge will get you far in the medical community. When it comes time to hire, it is a wise decision to look at the role first and foremost and create defining criteria. Some positions are perfect for a new graduate to gain experience while other openings will require experience and education. Prior to the interview, know what each position is looking for to fill the opening.

Skill versus Education
No amount of reading or test taking can prepare a medical professional for some of the variables thrown at them on a daily basis. The education and skill set possessed by a qualified candidate is ideal for your organization but if they are overqualified, will they being to cause dissension with other team members or will they help to spur the others on to improve. These overqualified team members can be a huge asset but also a liability when they begin to question the routine and ways of doing things from their first day.

Hiring the Overqualified or the Inexperienced
For the overqualified employee, a less than stimulating job can be a stepping stone to something better and they can be a negative or positive asset, depending on how they are used. Both the overqualified and the inexperienced bring a wide range of positives and negatives to the hiring process and eventually to the workplace. Inexperience can be dangerous within the medical community but the overqualified employees can also be a threat as they can have too much confidence in their own abilities rather than work with the team. Each position will dictate the type of person you want to attract.

Looking to Hire in 2014?

Contact the experienced recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce for additional information on how we can benefit your organization.