By: Shari Dalton
As a recruiter in healthcare staffing, you’re no stranger to losing candidates to a competitor. It happens, it’s life. But, the great thing about our industry is that you have a shot at catching them 2-3 months from now. This is the only industry I can think of that gives you a second shot so quickly! So be sure to capitalize on it! Here are 3 steps you can take to ensure you don’t miss out next time.
1. Don’t take it personally! It’s tough, I know. We invest in getting to know our candidates and when they take a job with another recruiter, it feels a lot like rejection. The truth is, your candidates likely work with 2-3 other recruiters, so it should be no surprise if they do end up traveling with someone else for 13 weeks. PS-if you’re asking the right questions, this will definitely not come as a surprise to you!
2. Regroup-why did you lose the candidate? What could you have done differently or better to avoid this next time? Were you too hyper-focused on a specific area and didn’t take the time to open them up to other options? Did you gloss over a little nugget of information that could have helped your search? Take some time to self reflect.
3. Consider it a win! Now you have 13 more weeks to build a stronger relationship with this candidate. Treat it as if they accepted that assignment with you and be sure to stay in good contact with them. Send them a congratulations card. Be there when their current recruiter isn’t! Focus on getting to know them better so you can nail the job search next time around.
We either win or learn in our jobs if we’re doing it right, there’s no such thing as a loss. Figure out what didn’t work, why, and then make sure you set yourself up for success next time. Have a success story about a candidate you won over the second or third time around? We’d love to hear it!
