In this competitive job market, how are you positioning yourself for success? Whether you’re currently employed or actively seeking a new career, you’re still in the job market. Remember, even in a highly specialized field like Medical Management, many other nursing professionals are in roles similar to yours. Some candidates are very active in their search, while others only look at positions after a bad day, thinking it might be time for a change. Regardless, these are your competitors in your battle for a new position. It’s best to go to battle with a strategy that will produce successful results. Here are a few common strategies we’ve seen job seekers use.
The Shotgun Strategy: This one is very simple. You quickly create or update a resume and start posting it to every job board you can think of. You then begin to scan all the open positions by searching keywords. This gives you many results, and you start clicking the beloved APPLY button. Chances are you haven’t thoroughly reviewed the job descriptions, requirements, locations, or other vital information included in the posting. It’s pretty obvious when someone uses this approach because recruiters or HR professionals will receive multiple applications from the same person for wildly different positions. If you’re equally skilled and experienced in multiple areas, such as Case Management and Utilization Management, it might make sense to apply to both a Complex Case Manager job and a Prior Authorization Nurse position you find advertised with the same company. However, when a Medical Assistant (MA) experienced only in HEDIS reviews applies for an RN Utilization Review position, a Social Worker Care Manager, a Director of Hospital Services, and an internal position with HR, that applicant loses credibility quickly. When this happens, it becomes obvious that you didn’t really strategize for your job search.
The “Who Do I Know” Strategy: You’ve been working in your specialized discipline of Medical Management for a while now and know people in the industry from past jobs, school, friends, social media, etc. Now that you’re interested in making a job change, you decide to ask around if anyone knows of anyone hiring Quality Improvement Nurses, for example. Surely someone will be able to point you in the right direction, right? Maybe someone even has a connection in HR or the Quality Management department that could get you an interview? We’ve all heard the saying “it’s all about who you know,” but have you ever used that mindset to help you get a new job? It might be harder than you think and may take more time than you’re willing to wait. Unless you personally know the decision maker or hiring manager, such as the Vice President of Healthcare Services or the Director of Performance Improvement, you’re still just knocking on doors like the rest of your competition, even if you were referred to that door.
The Deliberate Strategy: This strategy takes thought and preparation. Have you ever heard the adage, “Looking for a job is a full-time job itself”? This is your career we’re talking about, and nobody else will put the needed level of effort into it for you. The first step is to decide what you want to do in your next position; you may be staying in the same field or changing it up completely, so this is a very important step. Do you want to continue doing Inpatient Case Management in a hospital setting, or do you want a more telephonic role, perhaps branching out to do Retrospective Reviews?
The next step is to identify companies where you feel you’d be happy working. Your research can be as extensive as you wish, considering location, benefits, company culture, and such, but you should start creating an actual list of these companies. Don’t worry if these hospitals or health plans don’t have any current openings for your background listed on their website. That doesn’t mean they don’t want or need you on their team. They simply need to be shown the value you would bring to the team. When you have a healthy list of 10-20 companies that fit your needs, you’re ready to move forward.
Begin researching recruitment firms that specialize in your field. If you’re a nurse in Medical Management, you should be looking for specialized Medical Management Recruiters, like CareNational. If you’re a floor nurse looking for the variety that comes with a position in a nurse pool, reach out to specialized recruiters in that niche. Generalized staffing and recruiting firms are not really in your interest if you’re in a specialized niche market. Contact the recruitment companies that work on the types of jobs you’re interested in, such as Reimbursement Management or Medical Claims Audits. Share with the recruiter the list of companies you’ve compiled and see if they have any contracts in place or other established relationships. By doing this, you’ve just opened up your network extensively and climbed past everyone using the two “strategies” listed above. Recruitment firms work directly with the decision-makers of companies in your field, and chances are, they have connections with at least one of the companies on your list.
Ultimately, it’s up to you which strategy to use, but remember: you don’t have to navigate this alone. At CareNational, we’re here to help you succeed. Send us your resume using our form, and let us assist you in your career search. We’ll provide pointers on your resume and connect you with great new opportunities. Let’s work together to find the perfect fit for your next role!
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