Alas, the healthcare talent shortage is here to stay. That’s why proactive employers are finding new ways to appeal to candidates. Need ideas for upping your game? Consider these seven ways to attract healthcare recruits—and keep the talent you’ve already won.
1. Forecast Your Talent Needs
Knowledge is power. The better you can anticipate talent gaps, the more quickly you can fill them.
So, keep abreast of industry news and trends. What specialties are in greatest demand? What are industry turnover rates—and what’s driving them?
And track your internal activity closely. Use HR analytics to monitor headcounts, hiring time and turnover trends. Get your department heads’ insights, too.
Healthcare hiring doesn’t happen overnight. Sharpening your forecasting skills can shorten your timelines.
2. Turn Interviews into Courtships
Interviews are more than the chance for you to evaluate candidates—it’s an unmatched opportunity to win them over. To ensure that you provide a warm, impressive experience:
- Give them a hospital-branded welcome package: water bottle, scrubs, stethoscope cover, etc. Little things count!
- Structure hospital tours to hit all your highlights, from specialized units and technology to employee amenities. Personalize it by focusing on each candidate’s situation and interests.
- Arrange a coffee or lunch with the candidate’s department, so they can start imagining themselves as part of a team.
3. Go the Distance for Long-distance Candidates
Chances are, you’re conducting more national and even international talent searches now. That’s wise, but keep in mind: such candidates are extremely curious about your area. Not only does your organization need to win them over, your city does, too.
So, end live interviews with detailed local tours. Design them around candidates’ interests, whether it’s the local cultural scene or family neighborhoods and schools. Book them in a top hotel; encourage them to explore.
And be sure to reimburse them promptly for their travel expenses—an area where many employers fall short.
One solution: Candidate by UrbanBound, which gives candidates an impressive local introduction, while reimbursing them at top speed.
4. Offer the Coveted Gift of Time
If there’s one thing healthcare professionals crave, it’s better work-life balance. That translates to more free time. In addition to flexible scheduling and ample PTO, healthcare systems are exploring innovative ways to enhance flexibility. For example, offering sabbaticals or opportunities for remote administrative work can make positions more appealing.
Case in point: many hospitals are implementing unique approaches to time off by allowing candidates to customize their schedules within certain parameters. This strategy not only attracts a broader talent pool but also leads to quicker hiring for previously hard-to-fill roles.
5. Build a Talent Pipeline
Your current recruiting needs are intense. But if you start building a talent pipeline, things will get easier down the road.
So, establish partnerships with nursing schools and medical programs. Offer scholarships, tuition repayment benefits and residency programs.
And by all means, expand your internship program. Last year, 53% of interns were converted into full-time employees—employees who already know their way around and are a proven cultural fit.
6. Show How Much You Care
Healthcare professionals seek employers that genuinely have their best interests at heart. Make sure you tell candidates about all the ways you take care of your people.
Right now, popular above-and-beyond benefits include wellness programs, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement—not to mention onsite services like meals-to-go and massage therapy.
Rule of thumb: when you spot opportunities to enhance your benefit offerings, seize them. Often, they’re quite affordable—and they’ll boost retention, too.
7. Offer Wow-worthy Relocation Benefits
Speaking of benefits, one you can’t afford to skimp on is relocation benefits. When your goal is to attract long-distance candidates, one of your greatest hurdles is assuring them that you’ll ease their move.
What do great relocation benefits include? Well, we’ve relocated more than 10,000 healthcare professionals to date, and based on their feedback, here’s what they prize most:
- Benefits that not only cover their costs, but allow them to plan their move their way
- A network of top-performing movers, real-estate agents and mortgage companies that deliver as promised
- An easy-to-use online platform, complemented by personalized support from a team of pros
- Comprehensive information about their new area and organization—including tips from actual future coworkers
These add up to a positive relocation experience that only UrbanBound offers. It’s why leading healthcare employers turn to us for a compelling recruiting edge—and why you should, too.
