For years, the best way to get noticed by a Hospital, Staffing Company or Private Practice Group was to send your CV directly to them, but ever since the explosion of the recruiting business, times have changed. Now, the advantages of using a "consultant" instead of a recruiter or recruiting company are impressive, mainly due to the sheer numbers of opportunties out there, Even job boards once the darling's of searching for a new position are becoming somewhat in-effective. Mostly due to the overwhelming responses from recruiters that target these sites. Would you like to get 20 plus calls or e-mails a day about positions that do not meet your requirements?, And who do you trust to look out for your interest and your interest alone? Using a "personal consultant" can maximize your chance of getting an interview by ensuring that the right person sees your CV, Not to mention working with just one person that has your personal interest at heart! And with no fee's being paid by the Hospital, Staffing Company or Private Practice Group to the consultant, All opportunities are available to you. What a deal!
But what should you look for when selecting a Consultant? Which qualities are important?
- Trust - You must trust the consultant to be accurate with all of the information that he presents. As soon as you notice a discrepancy in what the consultant states and what actually subsides, it's time to end the relationship.
- Knowledge - A consultant has to have sound knowledge in their field. If you feel that the consultant does not understand your credentials or practice responsibilities, there is no reason to use that consultant.
- Availability - Many times a consultant is under heavy time pressure to contact opportunties on your behalf and needs you to be responsive to thier calls. In a similar vein, if you feel the need to speak with your consultant, they must be constantly available. If the consultant does not return your call or email within 48 hours, They are not doing their job and it should be your prerogative to establish a new relationship with a different consultant.
- Hard work - The success of a consultant is directly related to how hard they work. You have to be sure that your consultant is constantly searching for opportunties on "your" behalf and keeping you updated on all new available positions. If you notice that your consultant is not giving you weekly or even daily reports on your search, then it is time to find a different consultant.
- Creativity - The consultant's process is not always smooth, and it is the consultant's responsibility to figure out creative solutions to problems that arise. If you notice that your consultant is incapable of thinking outside of the box when dealing with various bumps in the road that occur, then the consultant is not doing thier job.