Medical Staff

Tip of the week: Use references to determine whether a hospitalist candidate fits in

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, July 13, 2011

When talking to a reference contact, the employer should describe the practice or specific elements of the practice to the reference and then ask how the candidate will perform in such a practice. This is particularly helpful when the employer suspects the candidate might be deficient in some areas or has concerns that the candidate might not fit in well with the practice.

The employer should not simply ask “yes or no” questions or only ask the reference to “rate” the candidate on a scale of one to 10. The reference should be engaged in a dialogue about the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.  The employer should keep in mind that the goal of the referencing process is not to simply avoid hiring an ax murderer; the goal should be to determine whether the candidate can succeed or even thrive in the practice. The referencing process can be a valuable tool not only in the hiring process but also in effective management of the candidate once he or she is hired.

This week’s tip is from A Practical Guide to Hospitalist Recruitment & Retention by Kirk Mathews.
 

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