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Recruiting Strategies: Don't Delay

It is an understatement to say that candidates are hot commodities in this current labor market. You certainly don't want to spend a lot of time making a decision, only to find out that the candidate you finally choose has taken another job, or isn't interested any longer. Healthcare is the hottest, most intense employment arena in our country at the moment, and it doesn't appear to be cooling off anytime soon! With baby boomers retiring and the life expectancy extending, healthcare providers will only continue to become harder and harder to find. So it's important that you act fast...

You can avoid losing a candidate due to delays by moving forward purposefully. Communicate the importance of selection decisions to everyone in your organization who is involved in the process. Hiring decisions should be taken as seriously as any capital investment. Minimize delays by keeping scheduled meetings. And don't let those meetings suffer from "analysis paralysis." Focus on what you know and make a decision. The decision may be to collect more data before making a final decision. Just make it as soon as possible, and then act on it!

Delaying a decision in the hopes of finding someone with lower compensation requirements will often backfire. As demand for these candidates rises, salaries may increase even during your search. Finding yourself in a bidding war for a top candidate because you waited too long is very frustrating. You don't want to be forced to start the recruiting process from scratch again when it could have ended in your favor if you'd simply have acted faster.

We have all heard the expression, "Haste Makes Waste" and I am not suggesting you rush into a decision only in the interest of time. Also, I am not recommending you settle for less than you need. Simply be mindful of the urgency produced by this marketplace and avoid missing out on a great candidate due to procrastination.

Source: Hiring Great People by Kevin C. Klinvex, Matthew S. O'Connell, Christopher P. Klinvex