The Care and Feeding of Recruiters

For some reason, many clinicians think working with a recruiter marks you as second-rate, that a good clinician would not need one.  That is not true for physician executive searches.  Even though 70-90 percent of all jobs come through networking, you will often be working with a recruiter during the job search process.  These people are not beneath you in the prestige hierarchy.  They can be your life-line when you are fired, downsized or if you can’t stand where you are working.  Here are just a few pointers I’ve received from recruiters over the years.

Be polite in all situations

A recruiter told me a story about a physician who was ready  for an interview.  The sitter arrived, the plane tickets were in hand, and he and his wife were heading out the door when the phone rang.  It was the recruiter. Something that never happens had happened:  The organization fell in love with the first person they interviewed and they offered  him the job.  The physician didn’t take it well and yelled at the recruiter.  I asked, “Will you recommend him for another position?”  The recruiter said, “No, if he will do that with me, he will do it on the job. “

Be honest

Tell a recruiter the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  At the end of a phone interview or a face to face interview, they will ask, “Is there anything else I should know?” That means it’s time to come clean.  If you don’t  fess up now about  the  affair you had that  caused you to lose a job,  you can be taken out of the running or even  lose your job if they find out. 

Don’t be litigious

Larry Tyler, CEO of Tyler and Company, tells physicians, “Do not sue your employer if you want to keep working.  You may win but no one else will hire you. “

Involve your spouse in your decision

Have that dreaded conversation with your spouse about moving before you start a job search.  You will be happy and challenged in your new job so you feel you can live anywhere (not really true).   If you turn down a good  offer because your spouse won’t move, that recruiter will most likely be  done with you.

There are options to consider.  Some families can manage commuter marriages.  Some marriages have split because the doc went ahead without the family.   You can easily move children under 12, although they may cry or complain.  Thirteen and older is much harder and some have stayed behind to finish high school. 

Recruiters don’t demand exclusivity

Recruiters expect you to be working with more than one firm.  They can only present you for one search at a time.  If you are hunting for a job, the more options you have, the better.  It makes you calmer in the process.

Don’t ignore a recruiter once you’ve found a job

Return phone calls when recruiters  call you for suggestions for  potential job candidates.You never know when you may need them.  It is not unusual to change jobs every 3-5 years.