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How to fill healthcare positions for on-the-go candidates

September 15, 2021
 
iCIMS Staff
6 min read

Healthcare staffing is a balance of hiring for high-volume roles like nurses where burnout is high and people leave for minimal raises and specialized niche roles, like surgeons. Regardless of the role, healthcare recruiters face challenges getting the talent they need to fill these positions. 

More than 90% of [hospital executives] believe that in the next 10 years they will experience a deficiency of specialists, generalist physicians, nurses and other clinicians that will hamper their ability to deliver high-quality care,” according to a survey The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted for Prudential.  

Those concerns are valid. The number of health care jobs in the U.S. is expected to grow by nearly 12 percent by 2028. That’s almost double the rate for all occupations. 

As recruiters tackle the talent shortage in healthcare, it’s essential to remember that most of the jobs they are recruiting for are deskless jobs. Additionally, the hours and shifts are long and often don’t follow typical working hours. If you want to entice healthcare talent, making it easy to find jobs, apply, and communicate with you is a must.  

Modernize your approach with text messaging 

Engaging healthcare talent via text message is a powerful approach that helps modernize communications. When candidates can send a code via text to begin the application process, it allows them to start the hiring process quickly and easily. For healthcare workers who may not use a desktop computer for days, the ability to text to apply directly from their smartphone is essential.  

“Nurses spend their day at the bedside. They also work different hours than a typical corporate job. So, texting has been crucial to communicate with them, especially because they might not ever check their email,” says Ivy Singley, Employment Services Manager for Infirmary Health. 

Recruitment texting doesn’t just benefit candidates. Thanks to text recruiting software, employers also reap the benefits of this modernized approach.  

How recruitment texting helps fill healthcare positions 

Texting works for faster responses. 

For on-the-go or on-the-floor healthcare professionals, it’s much easier to “chat” with a recruiter via text. SMS text messages have a 98% open rate and a 209% higher response rate than phone, email, or Facebook. Most SMS messages are read in just a few minutes, compared to the time required for a candidate to read an email or listen to a voicemail message.  

Texting removes unnecessary formality.  

Allowing candidates to text to apply to start the application process reduces pressure. Filling out a lengthy, formal application can feel like a burden. When candidates have the power to apply via text, they can start the process on the go. Decreasing the formality by offering a friendly way to apply helps healthcare organizations fill those high volume and high burnout roles, such as nurses and doctors.  

Texting is supported by tech. 

With the right text-to-apply software, you’ll be able to store every SMS sent and received. This provides records as well as candidate experience insights. You can also leverage the benefits of automation. When a candidate sends a text message, your texting application can send an automated response that takes them through the application process step-by-step on their smartphone. 

Why employers use texting software to recruit 

Texting software is helpful for almost any type of employer, but it is instrumental in industries like healthcare, in which employees typically don’t sit behind a desk.  

Healthcare organizations worried about talent acquisition challenges are looking for innovative ways to manage workflows and communicate with hard-to-reach candidates. Rather than playing phone-tag with mobile candidates, they find success by communicating with candidates through text messaging. 

Recruiters connect with candidates from a centralized place (rather than their mobile phone), which reduces data entry and can help support compliance efforts. Through a system, candidates can also schedule or reschedule interviews just by responding via text message. Organizations like Trilogy Health Services, LLC have seen significant improvements – their candidate response rate is 44%, and the average response time is 1 hour.  

If you’re not using text recruiting software as part of your healthcare recruitment, it’s time to consider how it can help you recruit for tough-to-fill and on-the-floor positions. For better or worse, most of us are constantly checking our phones – make sure that’s how the healthcare talent you need can easily communicate with you. 

Hiring demands in healthcare continue to challenge HR professionals as the industry requires new skillsets and organizations look to support consumerized patient experiences. You can learn how to tailor your hiring strategy to keep up with demand with this infographic, Fill Your Specialized Healthcare Roles (Fast). Download it here. 

Download infographic: fill your specialized healthcare roles fast

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