ASTSA Fall 2017

According to data from CareerBuilder.com, surgical technologists are in high demand, with 1,000-2,000 positions posted each month around the country. Health care systems often turn to recruiting com- panies to help them find candidates and fill these positions. AST asked Christen Bonn, recruitment strategist for Ascension, to help you understand how to work with a recruiter. AST: What does a recruiter do and how do they work with a hospital or healthcare system? BONN: Recruiters are utilized by hospitals and healthcare systems to be the fulltime search partner for the facility. They are focused 100% on attracting, vetting and assisting candidates through the applica- tion process. Great recruiters will proactively search for candidates based on their in-depth knowledge of the position, manager and facility needs. A recruiter will often go beyond a resume or profile and take time to get to know the candidates they are working with to determine their true potential for success in a role. A recruiter can act as your ally, part- ner and voice before, during and after the interview- ing process. Relying on the recruiter’s recommenda- tion and influential abilities on the hiring managers can help great people get into positions. However, while recruiters can influence hiring managers, the hiring decision will ultimately fall to the manager. AST: How will I know if I’m talking to a re- cruiter versus the hospital? Does it matter? BONN: First, there are generally two types of recruit- ers that work for hospitals and healthcare systems. A corporate recruiter works for one hospital or health- care system. These recruiters are generally employees and recruit only for that healthcare company. An agency recruiter, works for a staffing firm that may have a variety of clients and potentially has a broader variety of positions and locations to recruit for. In either circumstance, the recruiter will typically identify themselves as the recruiter for that position or healthcare company. If either type of recruiter is speaking to you about a particular position and help- ing you through the application process, then chances are good that your information will be seen by the hiring manager. AST: If I work with a recruiter, will I earn less in salary than if I apply directly with the hospital? BONN: Generally speaking, working with a recruiter does not have an effect on salary range. AST: I heard recruiters only work with experi- enced techs. Is that true? BONN: Absolutely not! With the demand for surgical techs being extremely high around the country, hos- pitals and health systems are willing to hire surgical techs straight out of school. A Complimentary Quarterly Publication from AST for Students of Surgical Technology AST SA STUDENT ASSOCIATION Association of Surgical Technologists N E W S ASTSA Fall 2017 Volume 24 Number 2  See who was inducted in the National Honor Society in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Read about the surgeon who performed the first total cardiopulmonary bypass. INSIDE More on page 4 one  Don't scare away employers. Learn tips for building a professional online presence. How to Work with a Recruiter REALITY