What to Expect When You’re Working With a Recruiter

Healthcare recruiters work on behalf of facilities, including clinics, hospitals and other healthcare organizations in search of suitable therapists to fill a job role. In fact, it’s a little bit like matchmaking. The recruiter must have excellent communication skills, enjoy working with multiple people and spend time screening and interviewing job candidates. This is where you come in!

When you choose to work with a recruiter, you’re often able to access unlisted job openings and receive help preparing a strong professional resume — all at no charge! Your recruiter will help better prepare you for interviews and minimize the stress associated with looking for a new job.  When you work with a recruiter, you can expect to engage in a process that includes interviewing with the agency, an evaluation of your resume and an analysis of your potential to excel as a traveler. Each of these only help to increase your potential success.

In general, your recruiter will have specific expectations. While the recruiter’s primary allegiance is to the employer who pays the bills, they also recognize credentialed candidates are their bread and butter. Therefore, it’s almost as important to have polished interview skills with your recruiter as it is to present a professional appearance to your potential employer. There is a little bit of wiggle room with your recruiter, as they are less formal and more open to your exploration of the job market options.

While your recruiter is asking questions, be honest, straightforward and accessible in your answers. Recruiters don’t like surprises. Specifically, if you plan to work with more than one recruiter, that must be disclosed to all parties involved.  Your recruiter needs specific information to help place you in the right position. Although it will be an informal interview, you’ll still want to prepare. Some questions you may encounter include the following:

“Tell me about a time you were able to mediate a difficult situation at work.”

Interestingly, the way you answer this question may be just as telling as the words you use. It’s best to determine before entering the interview that you’ll be forthright and to the point. If you get flustered and vague in your answers, especially after difficult questions, it’s an indication you may have a difficult time dealing with challenging situations.

“What three traits would your previous employer use when describing your work?”

Whether the recruiter calls that person for a reference or not, it’s important to be honest in your evaluation of your skills. This tells the recruiter a little bit about your insight and your ability to evaluate your own work.

“Why did you leave your last position?”

It may be a hard question to answer, but your recruiter may ask for the reason you left every position, as the specific reasons often reveal patterns. Your answers and the pattern they reveal will help your recruiter understand what you’re looking for and help you find the best position.

“What did you like most about your last job and what did you like least?”

It can be easier to talk about the types of tasks you enjoy or don’t enjoy in your position at the facility. However, while easier, it also helps your recruiter to understand a little bit more about your personality and your interest in growing your professional career.

Remember, while it may be tempting to embellish an answer, your recruiter is asking these interview questions in order to help place you in the best position possible. It is in everyone’s best interest when you are matched well the first time.

Find Your Career Fit Here!

At Prime HealthCare Staffing, we work with you to find the best match so your travels are successful and you grow your professional experiences. Contact us today and we’ll get started helping you find your match.

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