The US unemployment rate recently hit a 48-year low of 3.7 percent.

What does this mean for your practice when it comes to recruiting candidates? It means that qualified candidates have more employment options than ever.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to set yourself apart from the practice down the road or any other employer the candidate may be considering, and it doesn’t involve rolling out a red carpet before every interview:

1. Preparation

From the moment candidates walk through the door, they should feel welcomed and comfortable in your practice. Make sure your front office staff is aware of the interview and gets the candidate settled, including if they want water or coffee and/or a quick office tour. All interviewers should have read the candidate’s resume ahead of time so that they’re not reading it during the interview for the first time. This shows the candidate that you are serious about their candidacy and also allows you time to write down questions specific to their background. You may also want to allow a 10-15 minute buffer in your schedule before the interview for any last minute accommodations and to make sure that you’re not rushing into it or arriving late.

2. Extending an offer

You just had a great interview with a candidate and want to extend an offer. You should strive to make that offer within 24-48 hours of the interview, if not sooner. My mantra: time is a deal killer when it comes to recruiting. Any delay in extending an offer may result in the candidate finding an opportunity elsewhere. What if it’s the first candidate that you interviewed? Don’t get caught in the mindset that you need to see more candidates! If your first candidate has the right skill set and will fit into your office culture, why would you need to see more? As for the details of the offer, besides salary, what are some perks that will distinguish you from another employer? Can you offer health insurance/monthly healthcare allowance? A generous vacation package? Bonuses? Spontaneous awards? Think outside the box to win over that candidate.

3. Branding

Every interview experience is a branding exercise for your practice. The candidate is evaluating you as much as you’re evaluating them. An employment decision for anyone has many implications for their professional and personal lives. Even if you don’t choose to hire a candidate, you want them to walk away with a good impression of your practice. They will tell their family and friends (i.e. potential patients) about the positive experience they had with your practice and in turn, will convey to them if they had a negative interviewing experience. Before I came to work for Consult YHN, I interviewed at a local college to work on their co-op program. At the end, the interviewer handed me a coffee mug with the name of the college on it which left me with a great impression of the school and the interviewer. Think about what you can do at the end of the interview to give that good last impression to the candidate.

Implement these suggestions to be any candidate’s number one choice, even in this increasingly competitive employment market!

Or, even better, let Consult YHN help.

Not only can our recruiters fill open positions in any functional area of your practice, but they’ll assist with the entire hiring process, start to finish.

Talk to your AM or give us a call at 800-984-3272, ext. 228 for more information.