Three Ways to Look Beyond the Resume

When hiring an employee for your practice, you will hire the best applicant if you look beyond what is listed on their resume. While a resume provides important background on a potential hire, it may not tell the full story of what that person brings to the table. When you want to hire the best of the best, be sure to:

• Create an informal online application. Ask questions about what qualities make them a good candidate, examples of how they practice good patient care, etc. This process will help you get to know the candidate beyond what is listed on their resume, as well as eliminate applicants who cannot communicate in a professional manner. Taking this step before reviewing dozens of resumes will help lead you to the best candidates for an in-person interview.
   
• Look for character. When you call to schedule an in-person interview, ask questions that will help you see attributes of the applicant’s personal character. Behavioral questions about their past experiences will help you understand how they handled situations in the past. Screening carefully for character is important, as employees are ambassadors of your practice to your patients.
   
• Call references. One of the best ways to know if a candidate will be an asset to your practice is to talk to people who know them through past work experience. Impressions that these candidates leave behind are huge. You do not want to skip this step. And, ask those references if there are any others you could speak to who know the candidate.