Tips from a Recruiter – By Kelsey Muldoon, Recruiter at PRN Home Health and Therapy
When it comes to the correct way to apply for jobs, everyone has an opinion. In my view, there are no hard rules for job seekers. No hiring process is going to be exactly the same and it’s impossible to appeal to every single person. Currently, I am the sole recruiter for PRN Home Health and Therapy, and I previously specialized in tech recruiting. My advice is based off of things I’ve seen in both healthcare and tech recruiting.
- Do not overcomplicate your resume. The resume is probably the most discussed piece of the hiring process, and the truth is, it’s hard to say how valuable it really is. Some recruiters will only consider polished, descriptive resumes. Others, like me, skim a resume for key details. I look for a few things: credentials, years of experience, the kind of roles they’ve had, and how long they’ve stayed. To appeal to both camps, I recommend keeping your resume under 3 pages, ideally 2, and being clear and concise in your role descriptions.
- Communicate with the hiring team/recruiter. Bad communication can cost you a job offer. You should always respond to any inquiries/follow-ups within 24 hours, even if it’s a quick text to say you’re out of town for the next few days. If the team likes you, they will schedule around your availability. If they don’t know you’re busy, they will assume you aren’t interested and move on. You can follow up with your recruiters for updates as well, but keep it to once a day or less; anything more could come across as unprofessional.
- Keep it professional. I love getting to know candidates and their personalities, but there is a level of professionalism that you should maintain. Here are a few easy rules to follow: don’t use curse words, dress business casual or nicer, and only tell stories that you would be comfortable telling your grandparents. I have seen candidates be taken out of the running for all 3 of these mistakes
- Be honest about money. Talking about pay expectations and other financial incentives isn’t fun, but it is important. If you are not honest about it, you can cause issues for yourself later in the process. If you give a high number you might miss out on opportunities. On the other hand, if you undervalue yourself, you may be wasting your time going through a process with a company that can’t meet your actual expectations.
Finding the perfect job isn’t easy, but showing yourself in the best light possible should be! Keep these tips in mind while you move through the process and remember, you are your own best advocate.