Is there a secret to getting a promotion? We interview professional Medical Management nurses (that is Case Management, Utilization Management, and Quality Management) on a daily basis and often candidates express interest in moving from staff-level positions to management opportunities. We recently published a paper entitled “The Road to Medical Management Leadership” that addresses the key components for getting promoted into leadership roles such as that of a supervisor, manager, or director. In this document, we aim to shed some light and share our professional perspective as well as insight from leaders who have successfully transitioned into roles of increasing oversight, demand or responsibility. Below we expand on the first item addressed, “They provide great references from managers to which they had directly reported.” Download the full white paper to read more about these 5 key steps to success.
They provide great references from managers to which they had directly reported.
Lack of solid references when applying for leadership positions outside of your present employment can be a deal killer. More often than not, people that apply for positions without a solid list of four to five management level references leave a suspicious trail that good employers are hesitant to follow. After years in the recruiting business, we have found that some of the reasons candidates say they cannot provide references is generally telling of a not-so-spotless employment past. Providing solid references at the earliest stages of consideration demonstrates your ability to be proactive and that you have had a solid work past that allows others to brag about your value.
We recently had a Registered Nurse (RN) candidate under consideration for a Supervisor of Utilization Management position with a Managed Care Organization that specializes in Medicare & Medicaid contracts. She was one of several candidates that our client was considering through their interview process, but was the last candidate from our firm that was still being deliberated. Fortunately she was able to provide strong references from her prior employer, a very similar type of health plan. She did not simply offer a peer reference that worked with her in the Prior Authorizations department, but she also listed her Manager of Utilization Review, as well as the Director of Medical Management. In order to strengthen her candidacy, we chose to secure references from these leaders in advance of her being offered the position. Once we had the actual employment reviews from her references, we immediately shared those with our client. That tipped the scales in her favor, and put her ahead of other candidates. Prior to that the hiring manager had only resume information and interview performances on which to base a decision; the past work performance of each candidate remained a mystery, until we provided those reference check results. She is still there today, and serves as living proof of the power of strong references.
As always, you can contact one of our representatives at 800-974-4828 to get strategic advice on your career search and the types of references a professional nurse in medical management should be gathering throughout their career. CareNational provides superior career consulting support, and there is never a fee charged to candidates for any of our services.