Whether you are fresh out of school or an experienced medical professional, it helps to understand what skills recruiters and hiring managers are hoping to find among potential nursing employees. Armed with this knowledge, you are able to tailor your candidacy — including your résumé and cover letter — to ensure a chance at an interview. If you decide to work with a medical staffing agency, their recruiters can prepare you for a successful job search process.

With a great new medical industry job in mind, here are the things recruiters want to see in a nursing candidate. Good luck in your efforts!

In-demand Technical Nursing Skills

There’s no denying the impact made by technology in the healthcare industry. Because of this, recruiters remain on the prowl for nursing candidates comfortable with computers as well as a whole host of specialized medical equipment, including dialysis machines. Familiarity with electronic medial records (EMR) software and quality assurance programs is another important ability for nurses.

Consider becoming certified in any of these technical nursing skills to add some heft to your résumé. Showing practical application of these abilities in a cover letter or during an interview definitely increases your chances at a job offer.

Soft Skills are also Important

Softer skills are also vital in the world of nursing. An empathic nature is a must; arguably being the most important trait for any nurse to possess. Leadership ability, especially with experienced nurses, also holds weight with many healthcare recruiters and hiring managers.

Bilingualism continues to grow in importance, and can be a requirement in certain areas of the country. Consider taking a language course to improve this part of your skill set. If interested in relocation, this ability simply gives you more options for potential employers.

Being Flexible is a Plus

Flexibility is important for all nursing candidates, but especially so if you are fresh out of school. Many hospitals or medical offices typically want nurses who are willing to work different shifts as well as regular weekend schedules. Once again, being open in this regard simply shows you are willing to help a potential employer.

Hopefully, these insights into what nursing recruiters hope to find in a candidate helps your job search end up successful.

When you need additional advice on looking for employment in the healthcare industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we can help take your career to the next level. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

Finding talented new medical employees remains the lifeblood for most companies in the healthcare industry. The hiring process can be difficult, however, especially considering the costs incurred and the time spent. Making the wrong decision on a candidate requires your firm to repeat the entire process — expenses included!

In short, an informed choice is a necessity when considering entry-level medical candidates. Here are a few ideas on what to look for in potential employees new to the healthcare industry. Good luck during your hiring process!

Internships to go along with a Medical Degree

Sure, a great performance at school hints at the possibility of a talented medical professional in the future, but check a candidate’s résumé to see if they held an internship in additional to their schoolwork. Spending time as an intern gives a recent graduate the exposure to real world situations in a hospital or medical office that could prove invaluable when on the job.

Sharon Roth Maguire MS, RN, GNP-BC, the Chief Clinical Quality Officer at Brightstar Care commented on the importance of an internship for recent nursing graduates. “Internships of significance — more than just a ‘clinical rotation’ — during their education experience can help demonstrate that they have had practical experience. Working as a nursing/personal care assistant during summer or semester breaks is also helpful,” said Roth Maguire.

In-Demand Skills in the Medical Industry

The best medical candidates offer potential employers a myriad of skills to go along with the healthcare knowledge they learned in school. Empathy goes without saying, especially concerning nursing candidates. The ability to use specialized medical technology also helps, which is another good reason to look for candidates with internship experience.

Bilingualism can be important, depending on the region of your medical establishment. Critical thinking, computer skills, and leadership potential are all attributes to look for in new medical candidates.

Professionalism in Emerging Medical Candidates

Candidates displaying professionalism as their career is starting out are definitely worthy of your notice. Look for a polished résumé, a well-written cover letter, as well as an exemplary interview performance. A sense that they are team-player is also important, considering the collaborative nature of most hospitals and medical offices.

Hopefully, these few ideas offer some insights when you are in the market for an entry-level medical professional.

When searching for the best new talent in the medical industry, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we offer great candidates able to make a positive difference at your organization. Schedule some time with us at your earliest convenience.

Workplace diversity is vital in many business sectors, but it remains especially so in the medical industry. Considering the importance of providing quality healthcare to the public — including racial and ethnic minorities — employing a diverse medical staff helps to ensure everyone gets equal access to medical services. Medical colleges also need to step up their efforts at fostering a diverse student population to ensure healthcare providers enjoy a robust supply of quality workers.

Let’s look more closely at some of the reasons a diverse medical staff is a must at your healthcare organization.

The Healthcare Industry must keep up with Changing Demographics

A 2004 study by the Sullivan Commission commented on the importance of the healthcare industry matching the demographic makeup of the public they serve. The overall health of the nation simply depends on it. “The fact that the nation’s health professions have not kept pace with changing demographics may be an even greater cause of disparities in health access and outcomes than the persistent lack of health insurance for tens of millions of Americans,” reported the Commission.

One of the entities hoping to change things when it comes to a diverse medical workforce, the Healthcare Professionals for Diversity (HPD) Coalition is made up of over 50 different organizations hoping to foster the growth of minorities in both medical educational institutions and the profession itself. The Coalition’s main goal is to promote diversity across the entire medical community.

Why Diversity matters in the Healthcare Industry

The Chief Diversity Officer of the American Association of Medical Colleges, one of the leading organizations in the HPD, Dr. Marc Divet commented on the importance of a diverse workforce in the American medical world. Obviously, this diversity begins at the nation’s medical colleges. “This is a defining moment for health and wellness in America. The combined forces of health reform, demographic shifts, continued economic woes and the projected worsening of physician shortages portend major upheaval for the health care enterprise in the near future,” said Dr. Divet.

Expanding healthcare access to the underserved, including better treatment services in these regions of great need, is only one of the main reasons to increase diversity across the medical landscape. Ultimately, providing equitable medical care to everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity, remains an achievable goal. Promoting diversity at both the educational and professional levels will help it be reached.

When you need further insights on the medical industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce, as one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we provide great candidates able to make a positive difference in your medical office or hospital. Contact us at your earliest convenience.

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!