How to Hire the Best of December’s New Grads

January 24th, 2017

The new year brings a fresh supply of recent graduates; usually earning degrees from nursing or medical school in December. The success of any healthcare organization depends on employing the best talent. Finding – and hiring – these candidates needs to be part of your company’s staffing plans. Other medical firms feel the same way, so expect the competition to be fierce.

With the best possible medical team in mind, here are a few ideas on how to hire the most talented candidates out of December’s graduation class. These insights are sure to help your organization’s chances of success in 2017 and beyond.

Search for Candidates Already With Medical Industry Experience

Finding recent graduates who already boast some professional experience at a hospital or medical office makes it easier to integrate them into your team. Maybe they served as an LPN before heading back to school to become an RN? A sometimes difficult onboarding process becomes easier when someone has previously worked in the field.

Leverage Technology as Part of Your Hiring Process

New medical candidates from the millennial generation are well versed in technology and social media. Make it a point to use social media networks as a source for talent. Additionally, ensure your website is mobile friendly, so potential new employees are able to research your firm using their smartphone.

Find out What Millennials Truly Want From Their Employers

Millennials have a different set of hopes and dreams when compared to earlier generations. Sure, they want a competitive salary and good benefits, but more importantly, younger workers need a chance for advancement and to grow as medical professionals. Ensure your organization provides these opportunities – especially a meaningful training program and tuition reimbursement policy.

Emphasize a Welcoming Company Culture

The office culture of your medical organization also plays a role in convincing new graduates to come onboard. The best healthcare workers are empathic by nature, but they still want their employer to go beyond a typical medical company. A community focus – including charitable activities – helps to attract these kinds of workers.

Offering a generous time-off policy along with other perks geared for a quality work-life balance also factors in to a new candidate’s decision to accept a job offer.


When you need further assistance on building a great team at your medical organization, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we provide the great candidates able to make a difference for you. Connect with us soon!

Why You Can’t Get Lazy in Your Job Search

January 17th, 2017

Whenever you are looking for a new position in the medical industry, you need to treat the job search as your full-time job. This involves everything from to creating a résumé, a cover letter template and interview practice, to finding interesting opportunities with a variety of healthcare organizations. Patience, fortitude and a positive attitude all help you achieve a successful outcome.

With an eye towards finding the medical job of your dreams, here are a few tips on how to stay productive throughout a job search. Becoming lazy is simply not an option. Good luck in your efforts!

Start off With a Plan – and Stick to It!

Make a schedule detailing the time you need to spend looking for opportunities, personalizing cover letters, practicing interview techniques and researching companies where you are to interview. Creating a plan and following it closely puts you on the right track to success.

Use a Spreadsheet to Track Your Progress

A spreadsheet is perfect for detailing your plan as well as tracking its progress. Consider using either Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. The latter application is freely available online – cheap and convenient!

Use the spreadsheet to detail the medical companies where you’ve applied, interviewed or are merely interested in. This helps make sure you don’t repeat any tasks, keeping you efficient and productive.

Leverage Alerts to Be Notified About Open Positions

Some healthcare organizations allow you to sign up to be notified when a position becomes available. Subscribing to these alerts may give you a leg up on the competition, allowing you to quickly apply and submit your résumé. Track the companies you’ve subscribed to in your spreadsheet.

A Job Search Buddy Keeps You on Track

If one of your friends is also looking for a job at the same time as you, pair up your efforts to keep each other focused and productive. This “buddy” concept serves people well when it comes to physical exercise, and it also works for a job search. You can proofread each other’s résumés and cover letters and serve as each other’s hiring manager when practicing your interview techniques.


When you need any additional tips and tricks of the medical job search, talk to the knowledgeable recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s top healthcare staffing agencies, we can help take your career to a higher level. Connect with us soon!

Want to Retain Top Millenials? Here’s What They Want

January 10th, 2017

There’s no denying the growing influence the millennial generation is exerting on the world of business. The healthcare industry is no exception to this trend. Their sheer numbers mean your medical organization probably employs these younger workers right now, and keeping their talents in-house plays a big role in your success.

Let’s take a closer look at a few strategies aimed at retaining millennial healthcare workers. Understanding what this generation needs is the key to satisfying their professional hopes and dreams. Hopefully, these insights ensure your medical office maintains its optimal staffing level.

Timely Performance Feedback is Important

Millennials increasingly feel the venerable annual review simply wastes their time. Any criticism – even if it’s constructive – isn’t helpful when received months after the fact. Regular and ongoing feedback is a large factor in employees steadily improving their performance over time.

Many companies now provide commercial real-time employee management applications to help leaders give the feedback that millennials desire. Fortune 500 companies, like GE and Accenture, leverage these tools instead of annual reviews. Consider researching and implementing a similar system at your medical office instead of a formal review process.

A Chance for Professional Growth Is More Important than Salary

Traditional perks like a high salary and robust benefits package aren’t as important to this younger generation compared to earlier times. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can low-ball them when making an offer – a competitive salary is a must. Millennials are more interested in professional growth, and will look elsewhere for other opportunities if they feel a chance at promotion isn’t available with their current employer.

Spending money on a training program and offering tuition reimbursement helps to maintain the loyalty of your younger workers. Consider requiring anyone receiving assistance to sign a contract agreeing to stay with your organization for a period upon graduation. This helps give your staff professional growth while ensuring your company maintains a high rate of retention.

Transparent Channels of Communication

Millennials grew up in an age where technology and transparency are commonplace. They want an employer who’s open about communication and where opinions are shared freely and honestly. Fostering an environment of mutual trust is a great way to retain your younger talent.


When you need additional insights on building – and retaining – a great medical team, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we provide the best candidates for your organization. Schedule some time with us at your earliest convenience.

Did You Blow Your Nursing Interview? Here’s What to Do Next

January 3rd, 2017

So, you felt your performance during a recent nursing interview was less than impressive? This is never a good reason to lose hope and give up looking for a new position. Staying positive throughout the entire job search process is vital to ensure it finishes with a happy ending.

Here are a few ideas on how to handle a poor interview. Remember – all is not lost, simply brush yourself off and get back into the game. Good luck in finding the nursing position of your dreams!

Don’t Give up – Keep Focused on Your Success

The important thing at this point is to not give up. Send a thank-you note to the interviewer and mention you are still interested in the position. Restate an answer you feel you flubbed during the interview, and mention you are still interested in the position. Ultimately, your performance might not have been as bad as you originally thought.

If they decide to choose another candidate, express a desire to be considered for their next opening, provided you are still looking for a new job. Once again, keep a positive attitude until you receive your first job offer. Don’t fret – you’ll ultimately succeed!

Review Your Résumé – Educational Background and Medical Work History

Perhaps you didn’t spend enough time reviewing the work history on your résumé? When asked about this information during the interview, you fumbled your words trying to remember the details.

The night before your next interview, spend some time going over your educational background and the details of your professional experience, as this helps you feel less nervous when faced with those questions while in front of the interviewer.

Practice for the Next Interview

Maybe you didn’t practice enough for the previous interview? A dress rehearsal is important so you feel more comfortable with your body language, eye contact and speaking in a direct, clear voice. Try to get a friend to serve as the interviewer, and treat it as the real thing – dress professionally, etc.

Use these tips to ensure you keep your eyes on the prize, while staying focused for the next opportunity. A little research and interview practice helps ensure you end up with a job offer the next time.


If you need additional advice on navigating a job search in the medical industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we also know the top companies looking for nursing talent. Connect with us soon!

Interview Prep to Boost Your Medical Career Confidence

December 28th, 2016

The interview plays an important role in ensuring you are either called back for a second time or – better yet – gain that coveted medical industry job offer. It takes practice to hone your interviewing techniques for an exemplary performance. The right preparation also helps stave off any jitters, potentially leading to a poor interview.

With a successful medical job interview in mind, here are a few tips on preparation and technique so you’ll shine when under the gun. Good luck and go get that job offer!

Practicing Your Interview Is a Smart Strategy

Practicing your interview with a friend or even a recruiter helps you fine-tune your “presentation.” Work on speaking clearly and making natural eye contact while watching out for poor body language like slouching or fidgeting. Make sure the practice interviewer asks a few tough questions, especially about details of your medical work history.

Treat the practice interview as a “dress rehearsal” for the real thing. Professional attire and good personal grooming is a must.

Study the Contents of your Résumé

Spend time going over your résumé, especially the sections on your professional experience and medical industry abilities and skills. You can expect quite a few pointed questions on these areas throughout the interview. It helps to have that information at the front of your mind so you can answer confidently without stammering over your response.

This is also why it is important your practice interviewer covers these topics in your prep interview.

Research the Company You Are Interviewing With

Deeply research the company in question, especially their history and current leadership team. When prompted to ask a question during the interview, show off your research with an enlightened query. Hopefully, it leads to a meaningful discussion of the company, including the culture of their medical office.

Select Appropriate Attire for the Interview Day

Be sure to dress appropriately for the interview, and spend some extra time on your personal grooming. Make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed before heading to the site. Try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin; it helps to make a practice drive to the location to ensure traffic issues (or even getting lost) don’t cause you to be late.


When you need additional advice on looking for a job in the healthcare industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we can take your career to a higher level. Connect with us soon!

How to Turn Your New Hire Into a Successful Employee

December 18th, 2016

Congratulations on a successful hiring process which resulted in a qualified candidate joining your medical establishment. Now, the real work begins as you transition your new hire into a valuable and productive employee. A well-considered onboarding process – among other things – remains a key factor in making sure new employees are properly integrated into your team.

What follows are a few ideas on turning a new hire into a successful employee. These insights can help your medical organization become more efficient, with better patient care as the result.

A Well-Defined Onboarding Process is Vital

Your healthcare company needs to implement a well-defined and repeatable onboarding process to ensure new hires come up to speed quickly. This process needs to include a variety of action items ensuring the new employee has everything they need on their first day – insurance forms, payroll information, organizational chart, computing equipment, and other medical technology.

The training program of your medical office needs a section on ensuring new hires get the equipment and procedure training they need soon after they begin work. It is important a brand new employee gets to see how organized their new employer is on the first day at the office. This helps them feel confident they made the right choice in accepting your job offer, while also illustrating the organization they’ll need every day for success on your team.

Involve Your Entire Staff in Onboarding New Hires

An onboarding process also needs to include time spent with you and other senior-level members of your team on their first day. Make sure they are introduced to everyone in the organization – co-workers and managers. An introductory lunch serves nicely as an icebreaker.

Encourage your team members to help any new hires by making sure the right procedures are followed and they are comfortable with the medical technology and equipment used at your establishment. Pairing them up with an experienced co-worker is another good way to boost their comfort level and subsequent productivity as quickly as possible.

Hopefully, these insights turn your new hires into contributing assets faster than ever before. Good luck in your onboarding efforts!


If your healthcare organization needs additional advice on managing your staff, talk to the knowledgeable team at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the industry, we offer a robust supply of previously vetted candidates able to contribute to your office. Schedule some time with us at your earliest convenience.

How to Screen Candidates for Ethics and Honesty

December 11th, 2016

Hiring honest and ethical employees is important no matter the industry, but it is especially vital in the world of healthcare. With quality patient care as the primary goal of your organization, your staff needs to be trustworthy and empathetic in nature. Trying to determine whether a candidate possesses these attributes from a résumé or during an interview takes a measure of effort.

With a medical office team known for its honor and morals as your goal, here are a few tips on how to screen candidates for ethics and honesty.

Consider an Integrity Test Before Interviewing Candidates

When combined with a thorough vetting of their résumé, this early screening allows your HR team to focus on interviewing a smaller set of applicants. Most integrity tests feature a collection of ethics-based scenarios with questions asking how someone would react in a certain situation.

Since a dishonest person can simply answer falsely on their test, the interview process plays a more important role in truly screening candidates.

Verifying Honesty During the Interview

The interview offers the best chance to gauge a candidate’s ethical standards. Behavior-based questions – including hypothetical scenarios similar to an integrity test – offer a great chance to analyze their honesty in real-world situations. It is important to observe their body language when answering these pointed questions.

Ask about any ethical training or coursework in their career. Was it a requirement or it this an area of interest to them?

Additionally, pay attention to how they answer when asked about their work history. Are they embellishing their accomplishments? Do they seem less than forthright? Body language along with their manner of speaking offers insights.

Reference Checking is Vital

Don’t skimp on checking a candidate’s references before any job offer is extended. Verify the accuracy of their educational and professional history – any discrepancies are a red flag. Consider performing this task after the initial integrity test and before interviews begin to further narrow down your candidate list before interviews start.

Implementing these ideas helps you employ an honest and trustworthy medical team.


When you need additional tips on building a great medical staff, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s top healthcare staffing agencies, we also provide great candidates able to make a difference for your organization. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

Graduating in December? Use These Tips to Land a Nursing Job

December 4th, 2016

Well, all that hard work is soon to pay off with your upcoming graduation from nursing school. Even when graduating in December, your chances of landing a great nursing job are good. After all, most healthcare organizations don’t shut down during the holiday season!

What follows are a few tips to help you out when hunting for a nursing gig during the holidays, or any time of the year. Hopefully, these insights place you in a new position as soon as possible. Good luck in your job search!

Preparing to Search for a Nursing Job

Your first task is to create a résumé and cover letter. Highlight any relevant medical industry experience on your CV, even if there isn’t much due to your schooling. Personalize every cover letter for each position you are applying for – a cover letter template makes this process faster.

Research Every Medical Company Before an Interview

Once you’ve earned an interview with a medical establishment, research the company before your big day. When prompted to ask a question or two of your own during the interview, take this opportunity to show off your research by asking a meaningful question. Hiring managers will be impressed you did your homework!

Interviewing Practice Helps You Get a Job Offer

Practice your interviewing techniques beforehand with a trusted friend. Pay close attention to your body language (no slouching or fidgeting!), speak confidently and make eye contact with the interviewer. This helps lessen any nervousness, ensuring you will perform great when interviewing for real.

Dress for Success on the Big Day

When the day of the interview arrives, be sure to dress professionally, paying close attention to your personal grooming. This also helps boost your confidence when face-to-face with the interviewer. Give off a confident air throughout the interview without being arrogant.

This is where all your preparation and practice pays off – hopefully with a job offer! Whatever the result, stay patient and focused while keeping a positive attitude. Additionally, consider working with a staffing agency experienced in the world of healthcare to boost your chances of landing a great new job.


When searching for the right staffing agency for your emerging career, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s top medical employment agencies, we know what top healthcare establishments are looking for talented professionals. Connect with us as soon as possible!

Risks of Giving Medical Advice Off the Clock

November 7th, 2016

Medical professionals are by nature empathic people. If someone close to them – possibly a friend or family member – wants insight on their health, they want to help. If you are ever faced with this scenario, consider any possible liabilities or legal risks due to giving medical advice outside of your job.

What follows is a look at some of the potential issues you may face by offering any recommendations regarding someone’s health when off the clock. Sometimes, it is best to stop and think before helping out.

The Legal Risks for Off-site Medical Advice Are Real

Unfortunately, simply giving a medical recommendation when not at work – and under the umbrella of malpractice insurance held by your hospital or doctor – carries a legal risk. Providing any sort of medical advice, education or care in an informal setting means you can be named in a lawsuit. Having someone sign a quick disclaimer notice isn’t realistic in most situations.

The only scenario where offering advice may be considered okay is if you trust the person in question. Even in that situation, your legal risk isn’t zero.

Check the Medical Laws in Your State

It is important to note the laws regarding off-site medical advice vary by state. Do a little research on your own, and ask a trusted supervisor at your employer to see if they can offer any insights.  When in doubt, the wisest move is to tread lightly on offering any medical recommendations unless you are on the clock.

The Same Liability Risks Apply on the Internet

Not surprisingly, you are subject to the same legal risks for providing medical advice over the internet, in an email or by text messaging. Consider writing a quick disclaimer along with your recommendations to lessen your liability, but the risk of a lawsuit still remains. There are even some cases of state licensing boards contacting people offering dietary and nutritional advice over the internet without a license.

The bottom line is simple – tread lightly whenever giving any kind of medical advice if you aren’t on the clock. Tell the person in question to make an appointment to see a doctor, or visit an urgent care facility or emergency room if the situation warrants it. You don’t want to put your career and financial situation at risk.

Whenever you need additional insights on your medical career, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we know what medical establishments are looking for talented professionals. Connect with us as soon as possible!

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