Healthcare Careers Resource Blog

By Michael Calhoun 

In today’s competitive job market, it’s more challenging than ever to land a position. Having the education, experience and skills are a great start, but what else should one consider to stand out from the competition? Exactly how does one land that perfect job?  By following these three things: 

1. Know exactly what you want 
2. Stand out from the other candidates   
3. Be ready and able to back up your strengths 

1. Know exactly what you want: Most people head into the job market and have an idea of what they would like in their next position. Others know what they want and know what type of company they want to represent.  Spend some time researching the company prior to an interview and make sure it’s a good fit for you. Take the time to understand the history, current news and future objectives of the organization. Sharing this information during an interview is powerful!  Try aligning the company’s vision or mission with your goals or strengths to demonstrate that you plan to be involved with the success of the organization.   

2. Stand out from the competition:   Start with confidence! Being confident about your ability to do the job well is crucial. Most of us aren’t comfortable tooting our own horn, so an alternative is to quote something a former boss or colleague once said about you. Here are two examples: “My last manager, Brian, used to say that I was the glue who held the department  together” or “my co-worker, Marcy, often thanked me for being the one who would help out whenever they were in a jam”.  Notice how this shows a fair amount of confidence yet still comes across as humble? 

Also, it’s good to show your enthusiasm for the position–recruiters and hiring managers want to give the job to someone who really WANTS the job. Tell them you want the job (if you do!) 

Finally, show them that you have a personality and let your sense of humor shine through a bit. While you want to remain professional, it’s nice to sprinkle a little humor into the conversation at times. It shows that you can connect on other levels. This is especially important when venturing into a team environment or a position where you will be working with different personalities. 

3. Back up your strengths and your deliverables:  If you say you can do it, prove it by backing it up!  Have an example ready for every success.  When asked about your past positions, don’t  just list the job duties. Instead, talk about the outcome – what was the end result of your work? Did the work schedule you created reduce overtime hours for the organization? Did your suggestions become policies that improved processes? Did your service-minded ways result in fewer complaints or a higher level of patient satisfaction? These types of accomplishment statements create a better dialogue with the recruiter and demonstrate that you can back-up your strengths.   

Last, have references available who will sing your praises. The most effective form of advertising is word of mouth.  This holds true when advertising oneself. You may want to call your references and ask them if they would be willing to support you as you find your next career.               

In summary, to land a position in today’s job market, conduct the research, stand out from the others and back up your strengths.  You have a great story to tell, and these tips will help you tell that story better!  

By Andrew Pendleton 

You are at a point in your career that you want to make a change. Sure, there are job boards out there to help. However, the position you are hoping for doesn’t seem to be out there. What do you do? 

Let me ask you a question: what are some of the most satisfying and enjoyable aspects of your life?  Hopefully one of your answers is “relationships.” 

Keep in mind that you have many relationships in your life- family, friends, co-workers (both present and past), neighbors, members at your place of worship, just to name a few. The list goes on. These are people with whom you speak daily or weekly or when you see them at the grocery store.  

When I think back to the jobs I’ve had in my career, most of them have come as a result of a referral (via friends or former co-workers). Try this: take-out a pad of paper and write down the names of some people you know who might be helpful with your search. Your being  connected to them can be a key stepping stone in finding a job. 

So, you’ve written down a few names, but there are more people out there! If you have a Facebook account, you have many “friends” (some of whom you might even have met!). Whether it is Facebook, or LinkedIn or Twitter or Pinterest, being connected via the Web is a wonderful way to expand your connections! Of these four, the one you might be least familiar with is LinkedIn. It’s been referenced to the “Facebook of the professional world.” That’s because here you can post your resume, search for jobs, and most importantly, get advice from people who are best qualified to help. There are groups on LinkedIn for virtually any type of profession. Groups may involve discussions, polls, even job postings. Find the right groups, and you have another resource for your search and you are expanding your connections. 

As a recruiter, I’m happy to give career advice to anyone, even if I have no chance of placing them in a new position. The reason I do this is to expand my reach. Plus, if I direct a person to the right job, they will probably refer me to a friend. That friend might be YOU. The right recruiters will help you as best they can, because in the long run, helping people is what we do and being connected is how we get it done. 

By Ami Wolfe

It is a real process and a challenge to relocate for a new position. There are many imperative steps to take along the way and you need to cover all your bases. Be sure and research the city, state and county by using all your networks.  Your personal and professional  networks include family members, friends, coworkers, linkedin and facebook contacts, etc.  Do not disregard your dry cleaner, banker, or babysitter. You never know who everyone may know. Be sure and go online to use a salary calculator to estimate your cost of living expenses as well as the state tax structure. This also includes looking into rent estimations, utilities, gas, food expenses, etc. You want to do a complete cost analysis on everything you can think of. 

 -Be open minded and flexible with employer expectations

 -Decide if you are mobile to leave family members such as ailing parents or a any special needs your child may have that are not offered in the new city

 -Consider renting current home rather than selling and postpone buying a new home until you are more familiar with locations within the new city

 -Budget for deposit on apartment or rental. Have a couple of months expenses and an emergency fund set up

 -Go through belongings and downsize, sell, donate have a garage sale to reduce. Be sure to label your boxes so you will know where to locate your possessions.

 -Research and go through a reputable large moving company. There are many scams out there and this will avoid any bad experiences.  Get a few different quotes as well.

 -Research school districts and neighborhoods if you have children. Think about pets as well and the pet deposit requirements.

 -Consider commute time, convenience of shopping in relation to where you want to live.

 -Stay organized and create a file and timeline for the process. Keep important documents, jewelry and valuables with you at all times. 

 -Keep in mind the climate when moving. Take old photographs and candles with you as they can be damaged in high heat conditions. Sometimes the truck may sit for a few days in the move process.

 -Save all receipts as final travel expenses may be deductable.

 -Make sure you are a fit for the new company culture before making such a huge change. Log into social media sites and google the company to find out any information.  

 -Make a pro and con list to make the right and final decision.

 -Prepare yourself for a counter offer from the current employer.

By Katie Molloy

When you go to your mailbox and pull out a few bills, some print ads, and a hand-addressed envelope, which do you open first?  Exactly! That hand-addressed envelope wins every time! We do the same thing at work. That little envelope gets our attention before most other mail. So why not stand out in the crowds of e-mail note writers and get your note opened first?  Here are a few tips on how to do it best:

Why bother? Thank-you notes demonstrate that you have good manners, an attribute that employer’s value. It also shows that you’ve thought about the position and you are still interested enough to follow up.

What to include?  This is your opportunity to follow up on the interview and share your enthusiasm for the position – hiring leaders want to hire someone who really wants the job. It’s also your chance to reflect back on the interview and build on that conversation to strengthen your candidacy.

When to send?  Whether you decide to mail a note, as suggested, or email one, it’s best to get that into the mail the next day. On the other hand, if you know a decision is going to be made within 48 hours you will want to e-mail your note the same-day. Keep in mind that it can appear less genuine if you send it from the car, minutes after the interview, so find the balance that makes sense for you.

How important is the thank-you note? The thank-you note holds more weight with some managers/recruiters, and less with others.  Why not put in that extra few minutes of effort to say “thank you”, and do something that could positively impact your chances?  I’d say it’s well-worth it!