We all know those people who seem to land any job – regardless of what’s going on in the world around them. While some of this may be attributed to talent and charisma, there’s more to it.
Your ability to find and keep the perfect fit for your career includes developing key habits of successful job candidates. If you’re new to the world of non-clinical healthcare or if you’re looking to amp up your career path in areas such as coding, revenue cycle management, case management, or health information management, your first step toward cashing in on those good habits is to talk to a healthcare recruiter.
Setting the stage to stand out
Creating helpful habits for your job search gives you a solid foundation for impressing at interviews and landing the role with the healthcare organization you want. But nowadays, it can take a lot to get to that stage. Administrators and hiring managers have access to hundreds of resumes at their fingertips. That can make it a challenge to stand out.
But working with a healthcare recruiter can help you do just that.
Successful recruiters identify organizations and departments that are the right fit for each of their candidates and put their connections to work. Their skills in talent acquisition can help empower you and lead to a list of opportunities you’d never see posted on job boards and social media. They can also help you:
- understand the recruitment process within the healthcare community
- prep for interview questions
- understand why organizations make certain decisions in the hiring process
- identify how to become top talent in your specific field
- quietly search for a new position when you’re ready for a change
Working with a recruiter means she can focus on getting your foot in the door while you focus on aligning your habits with those of successful job candidates. What could be better for your job search than that?
Let’s explore 5 of those habits:
#1) Be the candidate they’re looking for
There’s a difference between having the right skills and being the right fit. Of course there’s overlap, but it’s important to remember that each healthcare organization has its own culture and that can guide its hiring decisions.
Take time to review the organization’s website, social media, and other digital or printed information. Get to know what its leadership team and the organization as a whole stand for and what they expect from team members. Maintain a list of the insights you have that can drive new success in these areas.
#2) Stay abreast of healthcare developments
Few industries change as rapidly as healthcare. Stay aware of the current environment in the community as a whole as well as within your specific field. Keep an eye out for developments that may be right around the corner.
While you don’t need to know every new regulation, taking time to read and interact with professional associations within your field can pay off immensely. Keep this up after you’ve secured your new role as well; doing so can help you stand out when it’s time to discuss promotions.
Research other healthcare organizations in the community. While you likely won’t have to demonstrate your team loyalty yet, knowing how your potential organization/team stands out can speak volumes about your candidacy.
#3) Get acquainted with potential colleagues
Nowadays, it’s common for healthcare organizations to spotlight their leadership team and other employees on their websites or social media channels.
Through a quick search, you can discover the colleagues with whom you’ll be working. Look at their LinkedIn profiles and employee spotlights to see how they position their experiences within the organization and within the healthcare community. This may help you guide conversations with interviewers and future colleagues right away.
#4) Know how to answer that question
As the candidate, you may expect to only answer questions. But there often comes a time when you’re prompted to answer a question with a question – or even with several.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
If a hiring manager asks you this, consider it a great opportunity to steer the conversation toward organizational culture and expectations. Think about questions you may have in these categories:
Questions about the position
- How would you describe the day-to-day schedule of the position?
- How do you measure outcomes?
- What is the key success factor for this role?
Questions about the company or interviewer
- Can you discuss organizational culture?
- What are the department’s main goals for this quarter? This year?
- What is something that makes you happy about coming to work each day here?
Questions about yourself
- Are there skills or qualifications you think I may be missing?
- Do you have any concerns about my candidacy? If so, what are they?
#5) Don’t be afraid to show off a little
“It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it.”
— Eeyore from A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh
We all appreciate modesty, but it’s not your best bet when a hiring manager needs to hear why you’re the best fit for a position. If you have the latest certifications, know the software inside and out, and helped your previous organization surpass targets, now is the time to let that information shine.
Successful job seekers know how to talk about their skills and experience. They know that only so much can be explained on a resume and that it’s crucial to their success to highlight their efforts with pride during interviews.
Open doors for your career today
The healthcare community continues to evolve, as do the roles needed to keep it thriving. Even with the bumps experienced this year due to COVID-19, the industry and career opportunities within it will continue to rebound.
Creating helpful habits now can help you open doors and enhance your success and impact on the community. Partner with Harmony’s recruiting team to amp up your efforts to solidify your place in healthcare today.
