Deciding Between Two Stellar Medical Candidates

November 28th, 2016

Well, your healthcare establishment’s hiring process was long and arduous, and now a difficult final decision is imminent. You have to choose between two excellent candidates, both with the medical industry experience and skill set to benefit your organization. In fact, you’d easily hire both if the budget allowed it.

A choice between the two is required, however, so you need some insights on how to pick between two top-tier medical candidates. What follows are a few tips on ensuring you choose correctly when faced with this dilemma. Good luck!

The Best Fit for the Open Position

Perform a detailed analysis of the skill set required for your open position and compare those requirements against each candidate’s experience and capabilities. It’s likely they will be essentially equal, but there may be a differentiator deep within the data. When in doubt, add extra weight to the candidate with the more relevant and tangible experience.

Additionally, take into account any office culture considerations. Sometimes a new hire becomes more productive if they fit in better with your current staff.

Compare Each Candidate’s Enthusiasm Level

Remember, the hiring process is a two-way street, and your chosen candidate might not accept a job offer. Try to determine which candidate seemed more enthusiastic about working with your medical firm; you may need to ask for additional insights from your interviewing team. Also, consider the candidates’ long-term goals and whether or not they mesh with your organization’s future outlook – you don’t want to rehire for the same position in a few months or a year.

Reference Checks Can Help Separate Two Equal Candidates

Checking each candidate’s references – including a detailed conversation with each – offers a great chance to separate two otherwise equal candidates. Pay close attention to how well they functioned under pressure earlier in their career. Any insights into their interaction with others are especially relevant to a medical office.

Use this opportunity to verify the accuracy of the contents of their résumé – especially their work history. Any discrepancies or exaggerations by one of the candidates might help you make that important final decision. This extra effort ensures your choice contributes to your organization’s success for years to come.

If you need any additional ideas on the hiring process in the medical industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, we offer great candidates able to make a positive impact on your team. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

Connection Etiquette on LinkedIn

September 12th, 2016

As the preeminent social network for professionals, a LinkedIn profile is a must for anyone working in the medical industry. Your profile essentially serves as an online version of your résumé, plus you gain the additional benefits of networking with others working in healthcare and publishing content with an eye towards becoming a thought leader in your field. However, you still need to follow a certain etiquette when connecting with others on LinkedIn.

With building a robust professional network in mind, here are a few ideas for connection etiquette on LinkedIn. The benefits of online networking for your medical career are immense. Good luck!

When sending a Connection Request — Personalize It!

It’s important to personalize every cover letter you send when looking for a new job. In the same manner, make sure you personalize each connection request on LinkedIn, especially if you don’t know the person. Using the default message is simply poor form!

The same rule applies when asking for a recommendation from one of your connections. Make the effort to personalize it while keeping these requests to those you know.

A Professional Profile Photo is a Must

Having a professional looking profile photo is essentially a requirement on LinkedIn. Don’t bother to send any connection requests — even to your coworkers — until you’ve uploaded a photo.

Regularly Interact with your LinkedIn Network

Your LinkedIn professional network needs to be nurtured to be ultimately successful for your career. Make it a point to like other posts by your connections while including meaningful comments when appropriate. Additionally, be sure to endorse the abilities of those in your network; in most cases they will return the favor.

Don’t hide your Connection List

Some LinkedIn users restrict others from seeing their list of connections. In a sense, this defeats the purpose of being on a professional social network in the first place. Parsing through the connections of others in your network is a great way to find new contacts; allow others the same courtesy by never hiding your connections.

Never Spam your LinkedIn Network

Don’t use LinkedIn as a repository for spammy content. Keep your posts to a minimum of one per day. Sharing personally authored content is great for your LinkedIn wall, but tread lightly when posting this material in a Group.

If you need any further advice for leveraging social networking to help your medical career, talk to the insightful recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we can help you reach new plateaus. Contact us as soon as possible!

Avoid Compassion Fatigue Before it Takes a Toll

September 7th, 2016

While an empathic nature is a vital trait for all nurses to possess, you need to tread carefully when it comes to caring for your patients and their families. Simply put, too much time spent handling the needs of others can lead to a condition known as compassion fatigue. This kind of stress adversely affects your productivity, job satisfaction, as well as your emotional and physical health.

Don’t let compassion fatigue result in a negative impact to your nursing career. Here are a few tips aimed at dealing with this important issue facing the nursing industry today.

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

The symptoms of compassion fatigue are similar to other work-related stress disorders. Emotional issues include mood swings, anxiety, and depression, which combine with physical ailments like fatigue, muscle tension, and chest discomfort. You may begin to take more sick days, in addition to feeling less empathic towards the patients in your care.

If these symptoms tend to be chronic, especially combined with a loss of empathy, talk to your supervisor about potentially undergoing an assessment for compassion fatigue. It is important to handle this issue before it adversely impacts patient care and your career.

Steps to Assess and Manage Compassion Fatigue

If a formal assessment reveals you are suffering from compassion fatigue, your employer will likely make available a variety of resources to address your problem. In many cases, talking about your problems with a trained counselor is a great first step in developing an action plan to manage the stress and fatigue. This plan generally includes classwork focused on managing daily stress and fostering a better work-life balance, which helps to mitigate the adversity caused by compassion fatigue.

Other steps to handle nursing stress include reducing the number of overtime hours you have to work, a change in assignments, and possibly even scheduling you on a different shift. Having a mentor at your medical establishment to turn to for advice or simply to listen to your problems also helps immensely in managing the adverse effects of compassion fatigue.

Smart medical organizations are able to prevent compassion fatigue from taking hold in the first place by providing many of these same resources — especially the classwork and mentorship.

If you need additional insights on a rewarding career in nursing, talk to the knowledgeable team at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s leading medical staffing agencies, we can help you in a myriad of ways. Contact our staffing experts as soon as possible!

How to Handle Medical Interviewer Personalities

July 11th, 2014

The job interview is both exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. While you’re excited to have the in-person interview, you will be nervous about the possible questions and if your answers are on-target. This is the perfect time to show your professional personality and showcase your skill set and do your best to convince the interviewer that you are the best possible candidate for the open position. If you are prepared for the meeting, your interviewer will be the major variable; they could be difficult to talk to, cranky from interviewing all day, or annoyed they are responsible for this hiring process. How do you get through medical interviews when you encounter a difficult personality in the interviewer?

3 Tips to Help You With Your Next Interview.

  1. Know the company.
    Just because the job is familiar to you, the company may do things differently and you should know this information. Not everything will be available online but you should be able to hold a conversation about what you know regarding the company history and their target patients. When the interviewer can see that you have prepared, they are more likely to take you seriously.
  2. Prepare for the questions.
    They may ask the routine questions and you should be ready to answer them, even if you feel the questions are dated. Medical interviews are sometimes conducted to see how you handle pressure, less than comfortable situations, and even how well you interact with others. The interviewer may be feigning difficulty to test your interpersonal skills.
  3. Remain professional.
    In spite of being nervous, flustered, or even upset by the attitude of the interviewer, stay calm and answer politely. You will never regret handling a difficult medical interviewer with courtesy. It is possible that person is simply having a bad day and they are not their usual, friendly self. When you react politely and with confidence, you are showcasing your ability to work well with others, even difficult patients.

As with any job interview, don’t let your nerves or initial impression dictate how you handle yourself. Think back to a situation with a difficult patient that you worked through and they eventually became your favorite patient. It happens in life situations so it can happen in an interview but you have the ability to make a positive outcome even with the most difficult personality.

Looking for Additional Interviewing Support?
At Pinnacle Workforce Corporation, we understand the importance of a successful interview. Contact our team of skilled medical recruiters today to learn how a partnership with our team and positively impact the growth and structure of yours!

Finding the Perfect Summer Medical Job

June 27th, 2014

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.

The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace

March 28th, 2014

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.

Should Medical Professionals Use LinkedIn?

March 7th, 2014

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!

Reasons to Stay in Contact with Your Medical Recruiter (After You Have Been Placed)

February 21st, 2014

The job is yours and a sense of relief washes over you. Now it’s time to start the next chapter of your life, working in a career you love and in a company where you can grow. After sending a quick ‘thank-you’ email to the medical recruiter who placed you, you embark on this exciting journey and time spent on resumes, interview prep, and your recruiter’s phone number become a thing of the past. Before you forget about that recruiter and stop updating your resume, you may want to reconsider at least staying in contact with the person who got you the job. Even though you are happy with the new job, it is never a smart idea, in any economy, to be closed to new opportunities or neglect networking with those in your field.

Increase your Circle
Your personal network is one of the most valuable assets you have in your life. Some are there for you in personal ways while others support you professionally but regardless of their role, they are your circle, your connections. These are the first people you turn to when you need help or to share good news and your medical recruiter should become part of your professional circle. While it’s not necessary to talk on a daily basis, regularly checking-in with them will prove to be beneficial for several reasons:

  1. They are your advocate. This is one person in your professional life that wants to help you and will do what they can for you to achieve success.  They have proven their abilities to you by placing you in the position you currently have so it is safe to assume they have your best interest in mind for future placement.
  2. Increase your personal network. It’s important to keep in mind that as you grow in your career, you’ll meet new people and they may come back into your life again at some point so you should treat everyone well. If you have connections at other medical facility it doesn’t mean you are switching jobs but you can learn from their situations and practices to improve yours. There may be a time in the future when you need to change jobs and having the people in place to help ahead of time can be a time and stress reliever.
  3. You can give back. It feels good to assist someone else and your medical recruiter is no exception. They got you in a great job so why not send friends and family to them when they need to be placed? If you stay in contact with the medical recruiter, you’ll see their available jobs and can send business their way.

Throughout your job search, your recruiter probably became your friend and someone who provided objective advice to you on a regular basis. They are someone you want to keep in your life for the long haul not only as someone you may need but as someone you appreciate for the work they did for you.

Looking for employment in San Antonio? Pinnacle Workforce provides an array of staffing services to clients across the nation, in 37 states. Contact our team of experts today for more information!

Hiring Millennials (And What that Means for your Organization)

January 29th, 2014

Certain generations come with stereotypical characteristics and misconceptions. The Millennials are one of the most misunderstood generations in the workforce today. They are categorized as lazy, entitled, and even media-obsessed but in reality, they are ambitious and want to leave a positive mark on the world. Millennials care about their work environment and making friends at work is important to them. Certain perks at work have a higher priority to this generation than to others. In the past, pay and benefits were the cornerstone for happy team members but this group prefers to enjoy their work and to be recognized for what they do.

Characteristics of Millennials
Is your organization interviewing and hiring Millennials? In order to understand the candidates and what they bring to your company, you should take the time to understand their viewpoints and their ideas.

  • They want to be part of a company, embrace the culture, and understand what makes it work. They may ask questions about the break room, lunchtime, and the social perks of the workplace; it’s not because they are selfish but rather this is an important factor.
  • This is an educated group of candidates. Many have some form of higher education and may even strive to complete more within the next several years.
  • Personal development is a factor in the final decision regarding the job acceptance.
  • They would prefer social media freedom, device flexibility, and work mobility over a higher salary. While this seems strange to the older generations who will work overtime to obtain more pay and the culture isn’t an issue, this is a necessary element to the hiring package for a millennial.
  • Recognition is important to these team members. They prefer to be praised in public rather than to be given a performance review at the end of a quarter. It is also important to have open lines of communication with your team either by email, text, or even a quick online chat hangout.
  • You don’t need to hand out large rewards to Millennials. A simple lunch, afternoon off, or even the ability to come in late after a big project is completed, will be motivation for them and convey your appreciation.
  • Millennials are ambitious and want to achieve personal success. Their own goals are something they work towards. Not only in their personal lives but also at work.

There are some companies who shy away from hiring this generation but without good cause. You can hire Millennials and have confidence in their ability to perform the functions you require and more. This generation doesn’t shy away from sharing their life with those at work and forming close bonds. Their desire to build morale and a team spirit can create a strong cornerstone for your company.

If you have further questions contact expert medical and healthcare recruiters Pinnacle Workforce today!

Tips on Boosting Overall Workplace Morale

December 20th, 2013

Without a competent staff, your business would likely cease to exist. It’s no secret that a strong company starts with the leadership and how they inspire their teams but how do you do this in your everyday work habits? Your company may not have the funding to offer lavish parties, catered lunches, or even new computers but there are many ways to boost employee morale without overspending. The fact that you are reading this article speaks volumes about your good-heart and desire to improve the lives of those in your organization.

Here are 5 simple steps you can implement today and watch your employees respond in a positive way, without having to change the budget:

  1. Take time to celebrate accomplishments.
    Being acknowledged at work is one of the keys to boosting employee morale. When hard work is recognized such a new client gained or a successful pitch was made, your team should know how much it is appreciated. You can go for a big celebration or a quick email sent to the entire company will be sufficient for most people. No one wants to work hard and be ignored.
  2. Allow flexible scheduling for your team to attend family activities.
    There is nothing worse for families on your team to know they are missing out on a school play, first dance, or championship soccer game because they have to work. You know your team and they would work over the weekend or late into the night to make up the time and work, so why not let give them the flex-time to attend this once in a lifetime event for their family?
  3. Have fun.
    Yes, have fun at work. You don’t need to install game tables, lounge chairs, or a theater room but consider inviting a food truck to sit in the parking lot. Have employees dress up for the holiday of their choice. Create competitions for work incentives with prizes. Rent a popcorn machine to put in the office for a day. Give out candy from a local shop. Offer cookies or treats for no reason.
  4. Think of team building activities.
    Contrary to once popular belief ,your employees won’t enjoy a day at the local obstacle course, especially on the weekends when they’d rather be home. Team building doesn’t have to involve physical activity but can be something as easy as a food or toy drive, volunteering, or sales incentives, anything that involves working for a common goal.
  5. Lead by example and influence your staff.
    Staying positive during the day will inspire your team to do the same. If you walk around with a bad attitude and upset with every small problem, that negativity will permeate throughout the entire company. It starts at the top.

As a leader, you have the responsibility to ensure the staff at your facility has the tools they need to perform their jobs but you are also the key component to their morale. Without a positive work environment, your team will stop caring and your business will suffer. You care your staff and your business and improving their morale, you can be a strong leader for both.

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