With the economic uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it may seem counterintuitive for healthcare organizations, hospitals, and clinics to be thinking about hiring staff.

However, with a historic number of potential new hires looking for employment – from recent graduates to seasoned professionals – now is a great time to focus on making smart hires. The fact is, during an uncertain employment period, healthcare organizations can hire talent that may have been overlooked or were unavailable before.

And that means employers have an unprecedented opportunity to build stronger organizations by taking advantage of today’s hiring realities.

Think Strategically

Prioritizing hiring can make the difference between a great team and an exceptional one. It can also boost the morale in your hospital, clinic or practice during these stressful, uncertain times.

Despite the importance of building strong teams and great cultures, a surprising number of organizations take an ad hoc approach to hiring. Instead, healthcare employers should be strategic about hiring and regularly take inventory of their human resources.

Far-sighted leaders recognize that during a recession, it’s crucial to build the strongest team possible. In fact, experts have stated that recruiting may be even more important in a down economy where companies need any competitive edge to weather the storm and be ready for success after it.

Tapping into Available Talent

It wasn’t long ago when most hospitals and practices were having trouble finding qualified candidates.

But largely due to COVID-19-related hospital turmoil or some long-simmering personnel crisis that came to a boil during the lockdown, those days are over. Today, large numbers of qualified candidates are on the market who could be a perfect fit for your healthcare organization or practice.

That means today’s healthcare employers can use the pandemic to cherry-pick professionals with the special skills they need to contribute to long term success. For many, utilizing a proven health-related search firm is an excellent way to quickly find the best available talent to streamline the interview process.

Aspects of interviewing candidates won’t change – like holding the initial phone interview to narrow down applicants. However, due to COVID-19, in-person interviews after you’ve honed down your list are no longer viable. Virtual interviews using Skype, Facetime, or some other app make it easy to have face-to-face contact with an applicant without having to bring them in.

During the virtual interview, concentrate on evaluating their communication skills and on addressing any red flags or concerns that you noticed in their application. Establish their minimum skill set to ensure they’re the right fit. That means having a clear sense of your needs so that you can fill your crucial roles with the best talent.

While technical skills remain important, the pandemic has shown the added importance of hiring agile, adaptable employees, possess a willingness to learn, and offer great communication skills.

Final Thought

As COVID-19 continues to impact the world’s economy, it might take some time before business bounces back. However, the current pandemic could be your chance to snag the perfect employee or employees to strengthen and build your long-term team. By taking steps now to tap into today’s large and qualified talent pool, you can ensure your organization will be well-positioned as the economy inevitably bounces back.

At GHR Search, we specialize in matching a wide range of healthcare professionals with highly rated fulltime and temporary positions. From staff level clinicians to executive leadership, our focus is on finding the most qualified professionals to meet your needs.

For more information, visit our website today!