Take Our Survey!

The landscape for recruiting new talent at Tanner Health System is constantly changing.  Expanding services, shifting technology and changing demographics all play a role in keeping the challenges high for finding and hiring competent, caring team members.

We are constantly exploring new ways of communicating with potential new team members.

In recent years, we have established a small footprint in the area of social media with the addition of this blog, a Twitter site and the occasional job posting on the organization's Facebook site.

Now we need your help.

As we attempt to evaluate our current practices and determine the best strategy for our future, we ask you to take a moment to complete the following survey. 

Tanner Social Media Survey

The survey only takes a few moments to complete and your responses will help us figure out how to better craft our social media messages.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey !

Take Our Survey!

Missing Something?

So you've gone through the grueling exercise of completing an application for employment and are about to click the "submit" button; before you do, ask yourself this question:  "

"What's missing?"

Often otherwise competent candidates will hurry through the application process in an effort to "throw their hat in the ring" only to discover later that they have left out a lot of important information.

The Complete Picture
Since the application is really the only picture of you that your prospective employer will see at this stage, it is a good idea for the application to reveal the most complete picture possible.

Providing all the details requested on the application may take more time and research, but it could mean the difference between landing an interview and sitting out the process.

Even if the fully completed application does not earn you a spot on the employment roles, the process itself can be very beneficial to you in helping you to determine your own strengths and weaknesses, and what your responses say about you.

Here are just a few examples of omissions:

• Gaps - if your recent employment history contains a gap of more than 60 days between jobs, you should account for that time and your information should - at best - be verifiable.  If you spent some time performing volunteer work, list that along with contact information for the volunteer organization

• Contact information - Sometimes applicants will be lax in completing contact information for former employers.  This can result in substantial delays in the hiring process, since recruiters will have to do research to find out who to contact to verify your employment.  Giving complete contact information shows that you have nothing to hide.  Additionally, you will want to be sure the application contains your own most current contact information.

• Credentials - Complete information on credentials earned is very important - especially in health care - it proves you are competent to do what you say you can do.  Your competency is vital to your patients, your co-workers and to your organization.  This is especially important if the certification, registry or licensure is part of the requirements for the job.

• Schedule availability - It is a good idea to list all the schedules and shifts that you are willing and able to work.  Sometimes schedule requirements change after a job is posted and you may not be considered if you didn't indicate that you were available for the new schedule.

 In short, your application should fully demonstrate that you are qualified for the position and meet every requirement.  It should provide as much information about you as possible in a neat and concise manner.

It should not leave a lot of unanswered questions.
When it comes to the job search, missing information could result in missed opportunities.

Missing Something?

Fresh Start

It's January and by now many of the New Year's resolutions have already been broken and fallen by the wayside.
Here in the Southeastern United States, we are digging out of an unusually persistent winter storm that served to slow everything down for a few days.

If you are in the job market, perhaps now is a good time to revisit the ways you are currently marketing yourself to potential employers.

What is your target?

To paraphrase one stand-up comedian: If you do not know where you headed - how will you know when you get there? 

Is your target too broad?  Are you just looking for a  job - no matter what the responsibilities or schedule?  If so, that aimlessness will likely come through in your resume or application and will be evident during your interview.  Most employers are not looking for someone that just wants a job; they are searching for someone with passion and commitment - someone who knows what they want.

Location. Location. Location.

It is not only important that you have a good idea of what you want to do; you should also know where.  
What organizations offer the type of work for which you are suited?  Where are they located?  Are you willing to go there?

Inventory

After all the bustle of holiday shopping, most retail stores take inventory.  It is not very exciting. 
However, the mundane task of counting every item is crucial; it is the only way retailers can truly know what they have to offer.

It is a good idea to revisit your resume periodically, but that event should be preceded by a time of taking inventory.  What do you have to offer to potential employers?

To Market, To Market....

Now that you have re-evaluated your aim, identified potential targets and taken stock of what you have to offer - it is time to look at how you are marketing yourself.

The job search is very much a process of sales and marketing as you seek out prospective employers and sell them on your ability to best fill their needs.

What does your resume/application say about you?  Does it reflect neatness and order? Is it too broad?  Too narrow?  Does it leave unanswered questions (like ambiguous dates and unexplained gaps)?  Is it concise? Does it effectively portray how your experience matches the requirements for the position of interest?  Does it include any negative statements about previous employers?

Finally, how are you communicating to potential employers?  Are you tapping into the potential of social media?  A lot of employers are reporting higher usage of Twitter and LinkedIn and other social media tools.  Are you effectively using the tools available on the employers' career center website?   Are you using volunteer and social opportunities to network and learn about potential openings?

So here's hoping 2011 will find you stepping back a moment in order to start fresh with your job search!

Fresh Start