In today’s constantly evolving healthcare landscape, there are a plethora of challenges organizations face on the recruitment front. On average, it takes 48.3 days for hospitals and healthcare facilities to fill an open position – with specialized and executive-level roles taking even longer.
The culprit? Everything from provider shortages to a lack of urgency in the recruitment process are fueling time-to-hire rates and, subsequently, revenue loss for healthcare organizations. In order to maintain a competitive presence in the candidate marketplace, hospitals and healthcare facilities need to adopt hiring practices that are both strategic and agile. Here are 4 ways to effectively reduce your time to hire.
Keep Your Hiring Process Data-Driven
Tracking internal metrics and staying updated on benchmark information is a valuable way to identify gaps in your recruitment process and opportunities for improvement. For instance, let’s say your facility’s time to hire is normally aligned with the benchmark average of 48.3 days. However, a recent data analysis reveals a notable increase in that rate over the previous three physician openings. By having this information available, you can investigate the root cause of the issue and implement new processes to rectify it.
You can also leverage data to determine which recruitment channels are yielding shorter time-to-hire rates. Healthcare recruitment agencies, for example, are notorious for decreasing time to hire. Why? Recruiting firms have a vast network to tap into and utilize a thorough vetting process to ensure potential candidates are qualified, interested, and can add real value to your organization. What’s more, they can assist with, or assume the responsibility of, reference and background checks, credentialing and relocation details to truly drive efficiency.
Lastly, tracking conversion rate data as a candidate progresses through each stage of the recruitment funnel can help expose process inefficiencies. Whether it be low onsite interview conversions, leading you to reevaluate your prescreening tactics, or a lack of communication with a potential hire, prolonging the time it takes to move them into the onboarding phase, conversion data can provide invaluable insights into key trends impacting your time to hire.
Improve Your Job Listings, Career Page & Branding
Improving the quality of candidates coming through your applicant tracking system is another effective way of decreasing time to hire rates. Creating consistent messaging and a strong brand presence will maximize the efficacy of your recruitment efforts.
Your job ads and listings, for instance, should communicate the full scope of the opportunity you’re presenting – from daily tasks and expectations to your culture and benefits. Being direct and detailed about each position will help accomplish two things: attracting talent and helping potential applicants better understand if they’re a good fit for the role. This also leads to a better overall candidate experience, which is a vital part of maintaining a strong reputation.
Leverage Employee Networks with a Referral Program
Whether you’re a large hospital system or a private healthcare practice in New York City, your current staff can serve as a powerful referral source. They have first-hand knowledge of the working environment and understand the skills needed to fulfill the needs of the role. Ensure you’re tapping into this network by offering referral bonuses and sending regular internal communication to keep openings top of mind for current employees.
Referral programs are a win-win for all parties involved. Your facility reaps the benefit of decreasing your time to hire and gaining a new, qualified employee, while your staff feels valued and engagement remains high.
Partner with an NYC Healthcare Staffing Firm
Urgency and speed are vital in today’s economy. By partnering with a staffing agency experienced in healthcare recruiting, you’ll be able to leverage their expertise to reduce your time to hire. After all, dealing with the vacancy of a key position can negatively impact revenue, staff morale, patient safety, and more.
At Polaris, our experts serve as an extension of your team, helping devise a recruitment strategy specifically tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help shorten your time to hire and improve your overall recruiting initiatives.