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9 Interview Questions to Ask that Will Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Company Culture

For anyone considering a career change in healthcare right now, the landscape is your oyster. Candidates are exploring all kinds of opportunities with new hospitals, healthcare organizations, and private practices. But it’s still critically important to be diligent and thorough in your approach, including with your interview questions. Company culture matters, and you don’t want to trade one growth-stifling environment for another.

As you embark on new healthcare job opportunities and schedule interviews, be prepared to ask certain interview questions that can help you get a better understanding of the working environment and company culture. Here’s the checklist to help you get your interview questions ready for your next big interview.

1. Can You Describe Your Company Culture in Five Words or Less?

Don’t be afraid to be direct or to come right out and ask. How the hiring manager responds will be telling in confirming either way. If there is hesitation or the response seems rehearsed, keep digging. However, if the response is favorable or even enthusiastic with examples, it’s a good sign the company culture and workplace environment are positive.

2. Does the Organization Recognize Individual Achievements?

Asking an interview question like this, even if it doesn’t apply to the particular role you’re applying for, will tell you how the organization prioritizes individual growth. If there aren’t initiatives in place that support great achievements or acknowledge performance, it might not be the supportive environment you have in mind.

3. Does Your Healthcare Organization Contribute to Any Philanthropy Efforts?

This is the question that should initiate a response about corporate responsibility. Any healthcare organization that engages in charitable good works, local community involvement, and philanthropy, does make an effort to preserve a positive brand image and company positioning. Smaller practices won’t have the big budgets for huge initiatives. But even the small healthcare organizations can support local efforts in small ways and will if it’s a priority.

4. Are There Opportunities for Advanced Education and Training?

Even if you’re at the top of your game, with every required certification, distinction, and specialty training, this is a must-ask question. A health company culture will usually have ongoing training efforts and advanced education opportunities for staff across a variety of roles. The company that promotes individual betterment will also be staff-focused.

5. What Would Others in This Role Say their Work-Life Balance Is Like?

This is another interview question that seems fairly straightforward. But many healthcare professionals are hesitant to ask about it openly. Gauge the response, much like you did for the original question about company culture. Answers for a positive environment might include employee support efforts, like gym memberships, mental health days, or an on-site psychologist, depending on the field of expertise in the organization.

6. How Frequent Are Companywide Meetings Held?

Staff meetings always get a bad reputation, especially when they’re too frequent and unproductive. But a sign of a well-connected corporate body to the healthcare professionals on the front lines are regular meetings. Companywide meetings are necessary for efficient communication. But they’re also great arenas to raise concerns and challenges that the front line might need help solving.

7. What Is the Best Part of Working Here?

This line of interview questions will prompt a more personal response, hopefully. Get the hiring manager to open up with you about what they enjoy most about working for the organization. If the response is “great vending machines,” you know there’s likely a problem with the overall workplace environment.

8. Are You Proud to Be Affiliated with this Organization?

Use that last question to pivot and transition into this one. It’s skewed, again, for a more personal response from the hiring manager or team. But it will help you distinguish between canned responses about culture from authentic sentiments. You can also use this topic to springboard into your requirement of working with a healthcare organization you can be proud to represent, solidifying your candidacy.

9. If You Could Change Something, What Would It Be?

Get specific when you ask this question regarding the role for which you’re applying, the department, and the healthcare organization as a whole. If the responses are about improving schedules, more time off, or restrictive policies, it might be a red flag that the company culture isn’t as conducive as you’d prefer it to be. Additionally, if the hiring manager doesn’t have anything to offer, it could also mean there’s hesitancy to be transparent about the topic.

Remember, as you interview, keep the conversation flowing naturally and don’t feel obligated to force these or any questions. But do your best to incorporate inquiries that will help you better gauge the overall work-life balance and company culture. Those criteria won’t always show up in a job posting, and most hiring managers won’t volunteer information if it’s not good. And when you need help exploring your healthcare career opportunities, let InSync Healthcare Recruiters be your guide to navigating this dynamic healthcare hiring landscape!

7 Tips for Nailing the Virtual Interview

Today’s healthcare industry employers recognize the increased convenience of remote engagement tools available to them. Even if the job you’re applying for requires on-site reporting, you need to be prepared for virtual connections for meetings, collaboration, patient care, and even the interviewing and onboarding processes.

As you explore your healthcare career opportunities, you should be prepared for the virtual interview. Not shaking the hiring manager’s hand means missing out on that critical non-verbal connection. So, how can you make that incredible first impression from behind a screen? Today, we’ll share a few tips for nailing that digital interview.

1. Preparing Your Space Ahead of Time

Before your online healthcare interview takes place, take the time to prepare your space. Be mindful of what background will be visible to the hiring manager. Make sure everything is tidy and neat to reinforce your organization skills. Don’t hop online and realize after the fact that a cluttered counter or pile of laundry was visible the whole time. Instead, do a trial run to inspect what your environment might be saying about you. And if you want to go the extra mile, maybe display some of those awards and certificates behind you.

2. Testing Your Connection Stability

Consider conducting a few trial calls with friends and family to sample new earbuds or to troubleshoot any microphone interference. Make sure your home internet connection is stable for more than five or ten minutes at a time. And if you feel your home connection runs the risk of glitching during your virtual interview, consider going somewhere else with a stronger signal. Just be mindful of limiting any distractions, regardless of where you decide to set up for the call.

3. How to Stand Out on a Webcam

If you were sitting directly across the desk from a healthcare hiring manager, you’d know to make great eye contact. So how can you make that non-verbal connection with a webcam? Look at it! Often, candidates make the mistake of focusing their gazes on other aspects of the screen or downward. Instead, routinely look directly at your webcam, especially when the hiring manager is speaking. And if you do look away to take notes or jot down questions, mention that’s why you’re doing so.

4. It’s Still a Professional Interview

Even if you’re hopping online for a virtual interview from home, remember that it’s still a professional engagement. So dress the part and conduct yourself the same way you would if you were meeting in person. Fix your hair. Put on the tie. If you normally talk with your hands, make sure your hands are presentable on camera. And even if you don’t anticipate a need to stand up, go ahead and look professional below the waist, too. It would be all too embarrassing for you to stand up during the interview, to grab a nearby document, and your sweatpants show up on the screen.

5. No Robots Allowed

It’s definitely recommended that you do a practice run of your interview before the big day. Rehearsal, either alone or with someone else, can help you get the marbles out of your mouth and prepare yourself for delivering answers to tough questions. But what you don’t want to do is perform a monologue during your virtual interview. This isn’t the time for a soapbox presentation, and healthcare hiring managers don’t want to interview robots. Instead, be prepared for a conversation by rehearsing ways to spark dialogue. Be prepared to answer those questions, of course. However, have a few conversation starters in your back pocket as well. It’s the natural flow of discussion that will allow for a more authentic connection rapport-building.

6. Have Your Questions Ready, Too

To piggyback on the previous tip, have your own questions prepared to keep the conversation flowing. The hiring manager may be interviewing you. But remember, you’re interviewing the healthcare organization, as well. And you’ll want to know specifics about company culture, office expectations, and hospital or patient care policies that matter to you.

7. Interview Follow Up & Next Steps

As with any in-person interview, be sure to inquire about the next steps in the hiring process so you can prepare a follow-up strategy. Depending on the nature of the healthcare position you’re interviewing for, you may not be able to stop by for a follow-up visit, for example. Ask as though you’re confident you’re the ideal fit for the role, and then deliver accordingly. If you say you plan to touch base if you haven’t heard back by Thursday, then you need to be calling or emailing a follow-up inquiry on Thursday.

When you’re ready to consider a healthcare career change, let InSync Healthcare Recruiters help by taking the guesswork out of the available positions in your area right now. And take advantage of these tips for nailing the virtual interview.

11 of the Most In-Demand Healthcare Jobs Available Right Now

In today’s healthcare industry, every role is essential. As a healthcare professional yourself, you know that the market right now is leaning in your favor as countless organizations race to attract top talent. Physician’s offices and clinics nationwide are desperately seeking to fill critical roles and vacancies, so keep an eye on the workforce trends in the health and wellness space. There are a few specific positions that seem to be in the highest demand. Today, we’ll highlight those particular much-needed and highly sought-after healthcare jobs.

1. Physical Therapists & Assistants

According to the data captured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare professionals can expect to see increased job growth. And of the approximate 1.9 million new jobs added already, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may be experiencing one of the highest rates of job growth at 26 percent.

2. Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants and Aides continue to be in high demand right now for a number of reasons. Some suggest that in addition to the surge in general employment opportunities, the number of MA completions is on the decline. Currently, these roles are growing at a rate of 23 percent, therefore making them one of the most in-demand healthcare jobs out there right now.

3. Home Health Aides

Home Health Aides perform a variety of duties for patients in the home. Some prepare and serve meals, while others tend to medical needs, including prescription management and doctor visits. With more Americans, over the last year, staying home because of the pandemic, the need for these services and personal care is skyrocketing. So, Home Health Aids continue to be one of the most essential roles for those who are homebound.

4. Phlebotomists

Current demand for Phlebotomists remains high as the industry heavily relies on the much-needed bloodwork, analysis, and diagnosis these roles perform. Based on current estimates, the need to fill these healthcare jobs will grow steadily over the next few years. Some suggest Phlebotomy demand will surge 17 percent through 2029, making it much more significant than the average growth of all medical occupations.

5. Licensed Practical Nurses

All nursing levels continue to experience growth, with Licensed Practical Nurses high among the ranking of highly sought-after roles. Employment for LPNs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to increase by 11 percent from 2018 through to 2029.

6. Occupational Therapy Assistants

Occupational Therapy Assistants represent another growing healthcare job in today’s market. These professionals are responsible for a host of responsibilities that many patients continue to need routinely. A lot of the demand for these healthcare jobs correlates with how patients pay for services, either through a health insurance plan or out-of-pocket. But projections point to a 16 percent growth expectancy through 2029. So anyone trained in OT can expect to be in high demand in the years to come.

7. Respiratory Therapists

Given the nature of the pandemic and still unknown long-term effects of contracting the disease, Respiratory Therapists are highly sought-after across many hospital organizations, physician’s offices, and clinics. The current growth rate for these available roles is a staggering 21 percent. And there aren’t signs the need for these professionals will let up anytime soon.

8. Registered Nurses

The need for Registered Nurses has long been recognized and understood. Also, demand has been even intense over the last year because of the effects of the pandemic and is expected to continue to rise. The aging population has already created a shortage of RNs, and demand will only continue to increase. As a result of the pandemic strain, hospital and long-term care facilities are desperate for qualified RNs right now. The current growth rate for RNs positions is roughly seven percent. However, current conditions warrant a potential surge to 12 percent in the coming years.

9. Healthcare Managers

Healthcare and Medical Services Managers continue to be in high demand as organizations seek overall operations management professionals. The current growth rates demonstrate a steady increase of 18 percent over the past year, with continued need and growth in 2022. And healthcare organizations can’t operate with them.

10. Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists represent one of the many healthcare jobs on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data points to a 16.9 percent employment surge, beginning in 2019 and lasting through 2029. Responsible for designing and fitting a variety of devices, these professionals continue to be in high demand.

11. Audiologists

Responsible for diagnosing and treating patients with hearing or balance concerns, Audiologists can find employment in a host of healthcare settings, including hospitals and physician’s offices. These healthcare jobs continue to be in high demand, with a projected growth rate of 13 percent through to 2029. Some states, like California, have already been experiencing shortages of Audiologists. Additionally, other potential shortages across other states are anticipated in the coming years as well.

It’s a jobseeker’s market right now, especially if you have the skills to fill one of these highly sought-after positions. And there are many other healthcare jobs with growing demand, too, foretelling an overarching need for health services related in the months and years to come. When you’re ready to explore new opportunities in any of these fields, let InSync Healthcare Recruiters be your guide. We can pave the way for your new career path in these or other healthcare fields and help you navigate this saturated applicant market. As a result, you can find the best-fit role to meet your career objectives.

Ready for a Change? 6 Tips to Begin Your Healthcare Job Search

As a healthcare professional, you likely began your career with the intentions of helping others, expanding your knowledge, and growing with an organization. But when you find yourself on a path that no longer checks those boxes, you realize it’s time for a change. If you’re considering a career shift, here are a few tips to help you begin your healthcare job search.

1. Tidying Up Your Resume

There are countless nuggets of advice out there about how to structure and what to include on your resume. It can be confusing to decipher which suggestions make the most sense for your healthcare-based CV. What you can do, however, is look for unique ways to enhance your resume in a way that allows your name to stand out from the rest. Be concise about your previous work experience and healthcare credentials. But also consider customizing explanations, introductions, and cover letters to each organization you connect with when applying. Keep things brief but select those adjectives that best describe your work ethic and areas of expertise. Be open about what you’re looking for in an employer as well, including company culture, diversity, and science-leading technology efforts.

2. Do Your Research within Your Niche

You’ll dust off your CV and make the necessary updates, of course. But before you send it anywhere, it’s best to do a little homework first. It’s a job seeker’s market right now, and you might be surprised to see how many openings are available right now. Research your market and explore what particular job postings fit your niche. You’ll want to be familiar with what others are offering in terms of pay and benefits. These up-to-date details will come in handy when it comes time to interview and negotiate later. It will also be important to know your worth before you begin your process.

3. Leverage Your Referral Network

Before blindly submitting your resume, consider reaching out to your network of colleagues and industry connections. You might not be able to talk with anyone you currently work with, but you probably have a network of industry acquaintances who might be a great referral resource for you. Confide in those you trust about your plans to explore new healthcare career opportunities and ask them for intel. Your referral network might be able to connect you with healthcare jobs you wouldn’t otherwise find online. And you can ask for letters of recommendation from those within your network who are in a position of authority, as well.

4. Organization and Preparation for the Healthcare Job Search

If it’s been a while since you last applied, interviewed, and negotiated a new job, you’ll want to make sure you’re organized and prepared. Create goals for yourself and list what you absolutely must have in a new role. Use these goals as a benchmark for your job search, and don’t entertain any inquiries or offers that don’t meet those objectives. You don’t want to trade one dissatisfying job for another. Consider keeping a calendar, too. You can track which healthcare organizations you’ve applied to and manage your follow-up timelines accordingly. It’s easy to lose track of hiring manager names and timelines when you’re sending your CV in response to several different job openings.

5. Where to Find Healthcare Jobs Today

You can begin your healthcare job search online, browsing some of the more general job boards. Indeed, CareerBuilder, and Zip Recruiter tend to be popular places to start for advanced practitioners. Physicians should search physician job boards like physemp.com or physicianjobboard.com, working with your residency coordinator is also a good place to start. Some candidates find success on LinkedIn and within local social media healthcare groups. In today’s market, it won’t hurt to reach out to those hospitals, private practices, or healthcare organizations you’re interested in most, either. Even if there aren’t specific job postings for the healthcare profession you want, most hiring managers are considering any resumes that come across their desks. Research the websites and identify key decision makers. Even if you don’t receive an immediate interview, you’ll have your foot in the door.

6. Let InSync Healthcare Recruiters Do the Heavy Lifting

Job searching, following up, and scheduling interviews can be tedious. Consider working with a professional recruiting firm like InSync Healthcare Recruiters. Having a recruiter partner for your career journey means having someone in your corner, providing access to nationwide job openings, and facilitating interview scheduling on your behalf. Our team specializes in recruiting exclusively for the healthcare industry and has a deep understanding of the various roles and nuances that accompany those positions. Work collaboratively with our experts to find only those openings that meet your long-term goals, skill sets, and healthcare niches. And the best part is there are never any fees or costs to you as a potential candidate.

When you’re ready to begin your healthcare job search, consider these tips before you start. Connect with an InSync Healthcare Recruiters professional today and explore additional options, as well. Changing your career trajectory is a big step, and you’ll benefit from having the expertise of InSync as a partner.

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