Why Quick Decision-Making Is Key During the Hiring Process

When it comes to the hiring process, speed is of the essence. While you might feel the need to take your time when considering different candidates or wait to see if someone “better” will come along, the truth is the longer you wait the higher the chances are your ideal applicant will have already accepted another offer.

Quick-decision making is key. Slowing the hiring process only puts added stress on you and your staff, particularly those who are having to cover the position that remains unfilled. Slow hiring can also reflect poorly on you and your business. Did you know most applicants get extremely frustrated when they have to wait for an extended period before finding out the results of a job interview? While some may be willing to wait a week or two (at the most), others will quickly lose interest and go elsewhere looking for work if a decision is not made. Decisiveness is essential in getting positions filled.

You Are Not the Only Allied Health Employer Looking for Staff

You must keep in mind, you are not the only Allied Health employer looking for staff. Allied Health candidates continue to be in high demand and the qualified ones tend to get scooped up quickly. This is true in any field. If you find a candidate you think will be a good fit, don’t hesitate to make him or her an offer.

Wait Too Long and Your Applicant Will Be Gone

Be proactive. Taking your time to decide whether to hire a person could give the candidate the impression you aren’t really interested or you are simply not ready to hire. From our experience, we know these types of delays can cause candidates to begin looking for other options. If you like a candidate, act quickly before he or she has moved on.

How to Speed the Hiring Process Without Making Compromises

Streamlining the hiring process doesn’t mean you need to make compromises. As long as you are truly ready to bring a new person on, you should be able to decide. Before you begin conducting interviews, make sure you know exactly what you want in a candidate. Figure out not only what qualifications the ideal candidate should possess, but what interpersonal skills, aptitude and other dynamics he or she needs to have. For example, if you’re looking for a pediatric physical therapist, you’ll probably want someone who is patient, understanding and has a history of working with kids. While another applicant may have the qualifications on paper, not everyone has the ability to work well with children.

Matching Allied Healthcare Providers with Qualified Applicants

For more than 20 years, The People Link has been matching Allied Healthcare and Dental providers with qualified job applicants. We have close to a 98% success rate and take pride in helping our clients meet their hiring objectives.

To learn more about our services and the benefits of working with a professional recruiter, visit The People Link or call Mya at 888-773-0014. Ask for your free, no-obligation consultation today.

Job Seeker Tip: How to Outshine the Competition

We realize searching for a new job may be difficult at times. Not only can the competition be tough, but having to go on interview after interview might seem tedious or never-ending. You think you’ve found the ideal job and you hope you’re a good fit, then suddenly you’re passed up for someone else.

Don’t be discouraged. Maybe the job wasn’t as perfect as you might have thought. Did you know, nailing a job interview is more often about outshining the competition than anything else? Yes, being qualified for a position is important, but pedigree and experience isn’t everything employers look for in potential candidates. Even though one person may have a few more years in the field or a degree from a top-notch university, your enthusiasm, frame of mind and dedication could easily make you the leading candidate for the position.

As a job seeker, it is important to keep these tips in mind to help you outshine the competition:

Be Adequately Prepared

Do your research on the company ahead of time. Know what they do, their specialties, their objectives and goals, as well as the role you could play should you get the job for which you are applying. Don’t over prepare. You aren’t going to want to come across as stiff or robotic. Be ready to answer questions about yourself, your history and your future. Be honest and forthcoming.

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Focus on your strengths, but don’t be afraid to show your weaknesses too. We all have them. In most situations, a minor weakness can be easily outweighed by other strengths. For example, even if you don’t have years of experience in one aspect of the job, your commitment, drive and ability to get results could easily outweigh that. Experience doesn’t always make someone a “good fit”.

Highlight What You Bring to the Table

Make sure your interviewer knows what makes you the most ideal candidate for the job. Show enthusiasm, dedication, interest and willingness to learn. Highlight what you bring to the table, not just from the standpoint of your qualifications, but from you as an individual as well. Don’t be afraid to endear yourself with your interviewer. You might even want to use these 4 small talk tips that’ll instantly make your interviewer like you more.

Be Yourself

Whatever happens, be yourself. Your potential employer wants to know the real you. Trust me when I say your career depends on it. If you think you want the job and would like to work for the company, then it’s vital you be yourself. Don’t waste their time or your own, if you aren’t sure. Being yourself is one of the easiest ways to outshine the competition.

Matching Qualified Applicants with the Right Allied Healthcare Providers

For more than 20 years, The People Link has been successfully matching qualified job seekers with Allied Healthcare providers. To learn more about our services, please visit The People Link or call Mya at 888-773-0014 to obtain a free, no-obligation consultation.

Qualities Employers Want in Allied Healthcare Professionals

Allied Healthcare is a thriving field. The demand for professionals in this industry shows no sign of slowing down. Hospitals, medical offices, healthcare clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health services, assisted living facilities and long-term care centers are all in search of allied healthcare professionals they can hire just to keep up with the demand.

While the number of individuals obtaining their degrees and seeking employment continues to rise, not all applicants will have the qualities Allied Healthcare companies seek. An applicant can improve his or her chances of getting hired by knowing and exhibiting the traits employers want. Employers will have a much greater chance of building a successful team by hiring applicants with certain characteristics.

5 Key Traits of a Successful Allied Health Employee

As a professional in Allied Healthcare, building lasting relationship with patients will be key to your success. These relationships are also an intrinsic part of the rapport and trust which must exist between an employer and his or her employees. If an Allied Health employee has these 5 characteristics or traits, he or she is well on the way:

1. Great communication skills: Communication is one of the most basic, yet essential traits of any healthcare professional. Regardless of whether you’re a PT, PTA, OT, COTA, SLP or SLPA, you must be able to speak clearly and be upfront with your patients, listen to what they have to say, allow them to voice their concerns and understand how to work together to achieve the most optimal results. Without an ability to communicate well, success will be limited.
2. Social skills: In addition to communication, basic social skills are a must. Being polite, saying please and thank you, asking about someone’s well-being, being on time for interviews or appointments, good eye contact and appearance are social skills healthcare employers hope are exhibited by all their employees.
3. Empathy and compassion: Patients tend to be more willing to work on improving their health when they know their healthcare provider is empathetic to their situation and condition. Showing compassion and empathy often indicates trustworthiness.  
4. Professional: Professionalism should be a given, but it’s still worth mentioning. Employees who are professional and knowledgeable in their fields will have much higher levels of success. Patients expect a certain demeanor in the individual they entrust with their care.  
5. Passionate with a strong work ethic: Being passionate about your job is a trait most employers want to see in their employees. This, combined with a strong work ethic, can make for a long-lasting and successful career. Dependability, respect, dedication, determination and accountability are all elements of a strong work ethic. Exhibiting these traits goes a long way.

Matching Allied Healthcare Providers with Their Ideal Candidate

The People Link is a professional recruitment service that has been successfully matching Allied Healthcare providers with their ideal candidates for more than 20 years. To learn more about our services please visit The People Link or call Mya at 888-773-0014 to obtain a free, no-obligation consultation.

Allied Healthcare Applicants: Don’t Pass Up a Great Opportunity

Are you looking for a job in Allied Healthcare? Well, you’re in luck! Now is a good time to be job hunting in this particular field. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language-pathologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others are all still in high demand. Many small and large medical offices are seeking individuals with experience in Allied Healthcare in order to meet a growing demand. New grads are welcome in numerous places as well.

One thing applicants do need to watch out for, however, is unintentionally passing up on a great opportunity. It’s always nice to be wanted and sought after. You do have to be careful to not get overly-confident. Believe it or not, it’s not uncommon. We’ve seen applicants turn down extremely good positions in search of something better. When in fact what they wanted was right in front of their face. Sometimes a quick review of what’s most important to you, or little negotiation with a potential employer, is all it takes to get the last piece of the puzzle to fit.

Finding the Right Fit in the Healthcare Industry

If you’re currently looking for a new job, you know finding the right fit is not always an easy task. One company may have a job with the salary range you’re interested in, whereas another is closer to home and offers continuing education opportunities. So how do you decide?

Start with clearly defining what matters most to you. Would you rather work in a smaller medical office or be part of a large team? Are you willing to commute or do you need to work close to home? Is career advancement and continuing education a deal-breaker? Does salary outweigh other advantages and would you be willing to negotiate? It is only once you know what you want can you begin to find the right fit for you.

Job Interview Checklist for Those Seeking Jobs in Allied Healthcare

Prior to going into a job interview in Allied Healthcare, go through this simple checklist. This will help you not only identify if you’re a good fit, but allow you to determine what aspects of the job are most important to you. You don’t want to waste either your time or that of a potential employer.

Review the job to determine:

• Do you have experience in this type of position? For example, you may be applying for a job at a skilled nursing facility, whereas your experience lies in home health or outpatient.
• Do you meet the qualifications necessary to fill the position? If the employer specifically asks for someone with 5+ years of experience, a new grad would probably be turned down point black.
• Is the facility within a reasonable commute?
• Is the offered salary within the range you want?
• Does the company offer continuing education? How important is this to you?
• Does the company seem to be expanding and have room for advancement?
• Are you willing to negotiate on any aspects of the job, or would that just be compromising too much?

Should you need assistance with any aspect of your job search, the People Link is a professional recruitment service specializing in finding and placing qualified applicants with Allied Healthcare companies throughout the United States. To learn more about our services, please visit The People Link or call Mya at 888-773-0014 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Hiring in Healthcare: Meeting an Urgent Demand

Despite the large number of people graduating with associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in key fields of the healthcare industry, many employers are still finding themselves struggling to keep up with an urgent hiring demand for allied health professionals.

You may not realize it but, the healthcare industry is one of only a few industries where the demand for skilled professionals like Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists continues to steadily rise. In fact, jobs in the healthcare sector are rising at a much faster rate than the average for other occupations and fields. So, even with all these new professionals attaining degrees, numerous positions remain vacant. In addition, many of the healthcare professionals who have years of experience and extensive training will be approaching retirement age in the not-to-distant future. These positions, as soon as they become available, will also need to be filled.

So, how can you meet the urgent demand for experienced, skilled allied health professionals? How can you find the perfect fit for your clinic, office or medical facility? How can you replace an intrinsic part of your team without missing a beat?

What to Look for in a Healthcare Applicant

Not all applicants are alike, even when they have the same degrees and level of training. What you see on paper isn’t necessarily what you see in real life. For this reason, it is important you know what you are looking for in a healthcare applicant. Keeping these qualities in mind when conducting interviews can help you narrow your search and meet your demand:

• Consider the long-term. Does this person strive for advancement opportunities? Is he or she interested in furthering skills through continued learning? Is professional growth important? Does the person have a strong commitment to his or her profession?
• Is the applicant passionate about the job and ambitious? Does he or she have a real drive to help improve patient wellness, injury prevention and overall health promotion? Those who are passionate about their job and the company they work for tend to stay longer.
• Is the individual a self-starter? How is the person’s confidence? Can he or she perform basic tasks required of the potential for which you are hiring? Not all people can put their knowledge into action. Does the person demonstrate problem-solving skills? Ideally you want someone who can work well under pressure as well as strive to succeed.
• Does the person work well within a group? Most healthcare offices must function as a closely-knit team to achieve the high-quality of service to which their patients have become accustomed. While individual initiative is a positive trait, being able to follow instructions and operate as part of a team is essential too.
• Never disregard your first impression of an applicant. While an individual’s resume and interview will weigh heavily on your hiring decision, a first impression goes a long way. How did the person dress? How were his or her communication skills? Did the individual have a positive attitude? Was he or she on time? Each of these gives you an insight into the person and how or she may act in the future, so don’t ignore your first impression.

Healthcare Hiring Made Easy

Healthcare hiring does not have to be as complex as it is often made out to be. As long as you know what you are looking for in an applicant (which I recommend you take some time to figure out ahead of time or you could be missing out on excellent candidates), you know what mistakes to avoid in your hiring practices and you have a source of qualified applicants, you should have no problem meeting your urgent demand.

The People Link is a professional recruitment service specializing in finding and placing qualified healthcare candidates and allied healthcare professionals in positions throughout the United States. To learn more about our services please visit The People Link or call Mya at 888-773-0014 to obtain your free, no-obligation consultation.