By: Mitzi Kent, RN, BSN | mkent@barlowmccarthy.com
If you are like me, you have already started that “list” you know which one I am talking about—the obligatory New Year’s resolution list. Many of you are likely creating personal resolutions, for me those are often losing weight, exercising more, and reading 2-3 non-work-related books. But how about a few resolutions for your work life? The new year marks a fresh start, so here are five ways to boost your recruitment efforts and start 2023 off with a bang.
- Take time and look back. A great first step is to find some uninterrupted time to look back on where you had some excellent hires. Take some of those great hires and examine what worked well and what didn’t. Ask questions of yourself like, where did I find those candidates? What tools gave me the most significant success? How did I prepare for the new requisition, and what questions did I ask to get the best job posting written? Reflection is a powerful tool, and the answers to these questions will help you improve your process for how you will recruit for your openings in 2023.
- Begin with a new habit: “Map out Mondays.” At the beginning of your week, invest 15 minutes checking your week’s activities. This will help ensure you are prepared for your week ahead. Make sure you plan out some of those tasks that often get lost in the shuffle or skipped. As you do this week to week you will find patterns and improve your efficiency.
- Nurture your relationships with key stakeholders. Your ability to recruit the best provider for your open positions often requires a village. How can you strengthen the relationships in your “village,” so your candidates have the best experience. Be proactive, your first meeting of the year should not be when there is a new requisition. Instead, you should establish a solid relationship to prepare for when the two of you will work together when there is an opening in their department. One option is creating regular informal meetings- such as coffee breaks with service line leaders. Try to find ways to keep the lines of communication open and the relationships warm and inviting.
- If you’re a recruitment leader, invest in training. If there’s anything we’ve learned this past year it is that the provider recruitment industry is constantly changing and getting more competitive! In such an evolving field, recruiters must stay on top of the latest industry challenges and trends. One of the best investments you can make this year is establishing a regular training program throughout the year. New recruiters can benefit from learning early what will make them successful. Even recruiters with years of experience can benefit from taking their skills to the next level.
- Boost your presence on the web – This is the time to look at those open job postings and begin to update and refresh content with an eye to creating differentiation for your organization. Review postings and correct them to align with best practices. Additionally, because this is the time of year when many candidates make New Year’s resolutions of their own, like finding a new job, it’s the best time to boost your presence and ensure candidates see your opportunities first.
Every year, 38.5% of adults set a New Year’s resolution, but on average, only 9-12% of people will keep their New Year’s resolutions. Let’s together make a commitment to stick to our resolutions. These strategies will help create new habits, increase your productivity, and assist you in starting your year off with a bang!
Training and recruitment strategies are our specialty. Email me if you want to discuss your team and approach, and we can set up a complimentary call. Reach me at mkent@barlowmccarthy.com.