Differences Between an In-House Physician Recruiter and a Recruitment Agency

If you are a doctor or healthcare worker, it is important to understand the difference between dealing with an in-house recruiter from a medical establishment and an independent specialist recruitment agency. 

While you are looking for a job, you will probably be contacted by several people interested in your skills or previous experience, be they in-house or agency physician recruiters.

Be aware of who you are dealing with

Many doctors who are job seeking are familiar with recruitment websites, which are ideally suited to identify employment positions according to your career and professional goals, geographical and lifestyle preferences.
 

But it is also important to be aware of what to expect if you respond to a particular job advertisement. How well can the person help you in your career goals? Knowing this can help you make good job-hunting decisions.

What difference does it make?

The crucial difference between an in-house recruiter and an external specialist is that a recruiter is an employee of the hospital, clinic, or other healthcare organisation where they work. Their job is to find and hire doctors to fill vacant positions within their organization. 

Reach

Doctors and other healthcare workers employed by an in-house recruiter might be contacted through their networks and are often approached through the family and friends of the recruiter.

Also, for recruiters, having a long-term commitment is crucial and they are normally residents in the geographical area where the work opportunities are. They normally have in-depth knowledge of the local area. 

Fees

When a doctor is hired directly by an in-house recruiter, no fee for the placement is paid directly to the recruiter by the candidate.  

On the other hand, with a physician recruiter agency, they normally receive fees from both the employer and candidate when the medical establishment hires a doctor. The placement fees are a direct consequence of the employer's decision to hire a doctor through the agency.

Responsibilities

The in-house recruiter will want to learn about the candidate and try to meet their needs and wants, to find suitable accommodation for them, and their family, if necessary. 

On the other hand, many hospitals and other healthcare organizations hire specialist medical recruitment agencies to mediate between candidates and the establishment. 

The agency receives payment for finding the right candidate, but it is the hospital or clinic, etc. - not the recruitment agency - which is responsible for the candidate's relocation and well-being after the hiring process is finalized.

Scope of recruitment

A good recruitment agency will have an extensive network and access to many more professionals than a single in-house recruiter.

It is common for large recruitment firms to deal with thousands of jobs across the country. Agencies offer numerous and diverse options, as they are located in different parts of the country.

Final thoughts

By understanding the differences, you can decide which type of recruiter might suit you best, based on your career goals and personal needs, when you are looking for a job. 

Whichever option you choose, the recruiter should make sure you are a good fit for the position in question, and make it easy for you to deal with this important transition in your career. 

The right recruiter should enhance the quality of your job search and the outcome.

This is a guest blog entry.