Practice Pointers: Five Hiring Tips

Recruiting and hiring competent support personnel is an on-going challenge in every medical practice. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Advertise using multiple sources. Different candidates will seek jobs from a variety of sources (on-line postings, newspapers, job boards, professional magazines/periodicals). Be sure to use all sources to place your ads.
2. Create an ad that will generate activity. If your ad reads as a generic job opening, you will have a lower response rate than writing an ad that includes descriptive phrases and outlines opportunities, benefits, and compensation package.
3. Ask for a handwritten response. You can ascertain a person's ability to put pen to paper, what they write, how they organize thoughts, the "neatness" factor, clarity, and presentation.
4. Check references. Call references provided, but also call all previous employers to validate dates of employment, positions, and responsibilities. While previous employers can only provide limited information, you should ask, "Would you re-hire this individual?"
5. Have more than one individual interview the candidate. Involve multiple individuals interview the candidate. Managers and supervisors are a given, but also consider involving co-workers in the process. Make a decision together.