Bobbie Kavanaugh-Reif

Interview Tips from the Med-Scribe Pets

Here at Med-Scribe, we love our furry friends! It’s important to us that our employees are able to care for their pets, so we even offer pet insurance and welcome them into the office on occasion. Just like our team, the Med-Scribe pets have amazing qualities that make them special and a pleasure to have around. Some of these qualities are so good, that we decided to document them in this blog as interview tips. Keep reading for advice from our paw-fessionals.

Tip #1: Make eye contact

According to Leia, one of Laura’s cats, making good eye contact with your interviewer is key! It shows that you are engaged and ready to join the team. It’s also a great way to build a connection with your interviewer. The goal is to be memorable in the best way possible.

Tip #2: Smile!

Alyssa’s Labrador Retriever, Tully, insists that you can never go wrong with a smile. Interviewers want you to feel at ease and excited at the prospect of joining the organization. Showing enthusiasm early on is a great way to start off on the right paw! Every team wants someone positive and ready-to-go to join them.

Tip #3: Have good posture

Like Ellie, Laura’s Boxer Mix, having good posture is a must. Slouching can come off as unprofessional and unenthusiastic. When interviewing, sitting upright and leaning forward will help to show that you are engaged, convey confidence, and even help you feel more confident.

Tip #4: Dress to impress

Interviews are a great opportunity to pull out those clothes you keep in your closet for more formal occasions. While each interview may have slightly different expectations, Laura’s cat Cheeto recommends erring on the business casual side, such as khakis or a nice skirt or dress, and dress shoes. As far as interviews go, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Tip #5: Come prepared

Tamra’s Yorkshire Terrier, Jameson, is a pro at this one – always come prepared to your interview. This includes having gone over potential questions, reminding yourself of previous experiences that might apply, and bringing your resume. It’s also a good idea to research the company ahead of time so you can bring some background knowledge to the table. Interviewers love when a prospective employee shows this level of interest!

Are you ready to put these skills to the test? Check out our online application to get started!

5 Reasons Why Summer is a Great Time to Job Search

There seems to be a common misconception that summer isn’t as great a time to job hunt due to more frequent vacations and fewer openings. However, summer can actually be an ideal time to begin your search for numerous reasons. Here are five reasons that stand out.

Summer Lulls

Many companies experience what’s called a “lull” in the summer, meaning they might have less busy schedules than usual. This of course depends on the company, but especially private practices that welcome patients by appointment might experience this as many folks go on vacation during the summer and travel. These lulls can present a time for employers to evaluate their teams and see what positions might need to be filled or created to help aid their crew. While sometimes the summer can warrant slower response times, it can also provide a great time to enter a company as they’ll likely have more time to dedicate to training newcomers.

Less Competition

For much of the same reason that you might hesitate to job hunt during the summer, many others do as well. This means that there’s actually less competition because many are caught in this assumption. In reality, ten years of hiring data show that December is the slowest month for hiring while June is one of the best. 

Summer Internships

If you don’t yet see a job that catches your eye, consider looking for summer internships instead. While not always paid, these are great opportunities to get your foot in the door and test to see if a position and environment is the right fit for you. Some internships might be exclusive to those still in school or needing credit, but others are likely to open to anyone.

More Networking Possibilities

In the colder months, it can be difficult to find time to network with individuals. Matching up schedules can be a hassle and in general, people tend to stay close to home with the chilly weather. Summer presents more opportunities to go to networking events, some even being held outside. In addition, some businesses have more lax hours during the summer, leaving their employees more time to grab lunch or a drink during the day to chat so as not to intrude on night and family time. With this combined with the aforementioned “summer lulls,” it leaves more room to schedule interviews and informational chats and discussions. 

Summer Sunshine

This one might seem silly, but it’s a proven fact that sun tends to help elevate someone’s mood. Along with longer days and warmer weather, summer is a great time to job search and interview because you might catch your interviewer in higher spirits, and you yourself might share in the sunshine effect. While people of course interview at all times of the year, the summer spirit can make for a more casual and relaxed environment, which is always a plus.

Are you ready?

If you’re ready to take the leap and start looking, start with us! Med-Scribe is open throughout the summer and our recruiters are as dedicated as ever to finding you the perfect home. Contact us today.

We Love Moms in Healthcare

With Mother’s Day having recently passed, we’ve been thinking about the moms in our lives that make the world go round. The healthcare industry includes many women and moms helping in private practices, hospitals, and more. Last year, New York State released a workforce consensus that indicated that women make up nearly 50% of healthcare roles in the state. At Med-Scribe, we’ve recruited and placed many incredible women in positions throughout multiple regions. As many of our recruiters and staff are also moms, we’re very passionate about making sure that we’re supporting our mom employees as best we can.

One way we do this is by providing various benefits. Most positions include medical, vision, and pet insurance (we see you fur mommas out there!). We also strive to provide PTO, vacation time, paid holidays, and 401k with employer match. Certain positions also offer flexible hours and structuring of schedules. We love being able to place moms in roles like this so that they can mold their day around times when they need to be available for their kiddos. 

For moms in healthcare who need someone to watch their youngsters during the day, we regularly refer parents to Child Care Council. They have wonderful child care assistance options and are a great resource. 

This month and every month, we’re thankful for moms everywhere, but especially those who work in healthcare and help keep this industry staffed so patrons receive the best care possible. If you’re a mom and choose to apply to work with us at Med-Scribe, please let us know! We’re more than happy to work with you to find something in the best interest of yourself and your family. Thank you moms for all you do!

Cheers to 35 Years

In 2022, we’re celebrating our 35th anniversary of being in business. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing more about our past and how we’ve grown into the company we are today. We’re proud to be a women-owned and operated business that has persevered through the years. To celebrate, we put together a list of 35 facts ranging from small business knowledge to info on recruitment agencies to statistics and more. Read on to learn more about us, what it means to be a small business, and how we’ve defied the odds!

    1. Med-Scribe is certified as a small women-owned business both nationally (WBENC) and within New York State (WBE)
    2. There are 32.5 million small businesses in the USA (SBA, 2021)
    3. Small businesses create 1.5 million jobs annually (Fundera, 2019)
    4. Small and medium-sized businesses are the major drivers of economic growth (SalesForce, 2019)
    5. Nine out of 10 employees said temporary staffing made them more employable (Timerack, 2021)
    6. Med-Scribe is an Equal Opportunity Employer
    7. Healthcare staffing agencies make up 9% of total recruitment agencies in the US (Murray Resources, 2019)
    8. The US has 12.3 million women-owned businesses (Fundera, 2020)
    9. 31% of small businesses didn’t make it through COVID (Facebook, 2020)
    10. More than 20% of small businesses don’t make it past their first year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021)
    11. Med-Scribe places upwards of 400 candidates annually!
    12. 73% of staffing employees work full time (American Staffing Association, 2022)
    13. The biggest challenge for small businesses is reported to be labor quality (NFIB, 2021)
    14. Women-owned businesses generate $1.8 trillion each year (Fundera, 2020)
    15. There are 114% more women entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago (Fundera, 2020)
    16. About 3.1 million people are working in the staffing industry every day (Timerack, 2021)
    17. 16 million temporary employees are hired every year (Timerack, 2021)
    18. Over 99% of America’s businesses are small businesses (JP Morgan Chase)
    19. The average lifespan of a small business is 8.5 years (Nav)
    20. Med-Scribe’s internal recruitment team has grown from just 2 employees, up to a team of 15, with 9 dedicated full time recruiters.
    21. Workers hired by staffing and recruitment agencies have proven to be highly skilled and experienced (Murray Resources, 2019)
    22. 64% of new women-owned businesses were started by women of color in 2019 (Fundera, 2020)
    23. New York small businesses were reportedly hit the hardest during the pandemic compared to other states (US Census Bureau)
    24. 69% of start-ups begin at home (Small Biz Trends)
    25. Between 1997 and 2007, women-owned businesses added half a million jobs in the US (Fundera, 2020)
    26. There are over 20,000 staffing and recruitment agencies in the US (Murray Resources, 2019)
    27. Women make up 65% of the healthcare workforce (Forbes, 2020)
    28. 15% of women-owned businesses are in the healthcare or social industry (American Express, 2019)
    29. According to BLS, the healthcare industry occupations account for 14 of the 30 fastest-growing occupations
    30. Women have a higher success rate of crowdfunding for their business than men do (Fundera, 2020)
    31. Med-Scribe receives thousands of job applications every year!
    32. Women on average receive $5,000 less for small business loans than men do (Fundera, 2020)
    33. Women make up 80% of healthcare buying decisions (Forbes, 2020)
    34. 33% of jobs in the healthcare industry are clinical (HireVue, 2018)
    35. Staffing agencies were first dated back to the 1940s after many positions were vacant following employees leaving for the war (Murray Resources, 2019)

Even we were surprised at some of these facts and stats! Being a small business is no easy feat, but it’s so rewarding knowing we’re helping fantastic individuals find meaningful careers. Cheers to many more years!

A Day in the Life of a Med-Scribe Recruiter

We have a team of incredible recruiters at Med-Scribe working hard to field applications and help job candidates find their perfect fit. In our new two-part blog series, “A Day in the Life…” We’re breaking things down from the perspective of our Med-Scribe recruiters and field staff members. In this blog, we’ll focus on Med-Scribe recruiters and what their day-to-day looks like, along with how they field applicants and bring new team members to our field staff. 

As a recruiter, our number one priority is to place job candidates in positions that line up with their qualifications and preferences. This starts at the application process, which is why having an updated resume is so crucial. Your application will help us determine roles and positions that might be the best fit for you. It will also help us better understand your unique interests, hobbies, etc.

After going through applications, we like to begin our candidate contact with a brief “phone screen” where our team will narrows in on each candidate’s specific job search needs. While a candidate may apply for a particular position, we often have multiple roles that they could be qualified for. The phone screen is a great way to get to know you better!  After the phone screen, qualified candidates are scheduled for a phone interview to begin their formal registration with Med-Scribe. Our recruiters love to interview – learning all about each candidate’s particular strengths and goals helps us to effectively match them with positions where they will excel. Outside of phone screens and interviewing, the team at Med-Scribe also touches base with current employees for regular check-ins on how their placements are going. Additionally, we’re communicating with our clients throughout each day to present them with qualified candidates, to facilitate interviewing at the client worksites, and to gather details for new positions or formal job offers! Each day is different here at Med-Scribe – and our recruiting team enjoys the challenge, along with the satisfaction of finding the perfect new position for our wonderful candidates!

Once an offer has been extended, it’s important to us to help you receive the compensation and benefits that meet your qualifications. We assist in salary negotiations and our solid reputation as consistent high-performers in the recruitment of top-notch staff for our clients gives applicants a strong starting point. We are here for you, not only to aid in sorting logistics but also to cheer you on!

Lastly, once placed, we love to keep in touch! We want to know how our candidates are doing. Are you happy with your placement? Do you feel supported in your position? Is there anything you wish could have happened differently? Feedback makes our team of recruiters, and Med-Scribe as a whole, stronger. We care that you’re content and feeling stable.

That’s the typical day-in-the-life of a Med-Scribe recruiter! We truly feel so honored to work with candidates and clients every day. Nothing is more important to us than helping candidates find where they’re meant to belong. If you’re interested in joining our team as a recruiter, learn more here!

Three Ways College Seniors Can Launch Their Healthcare Careers

Congratulations, graduation is just around the corner! We know that while this is an exciting time of year, it can also hold many apprehensions as well. Going from a student to seeking full-time employment can feel like quite the leap. But like with all change, these feelings are temporary and the intimidating shift can lead to exciting opportunities. Try your best to bask in the excitement!

For seniors interested in going the healthcare route, here are three ways that you can launch your healthcare careers so that you can already have gears in motion by the time you graduate.

Network as much as you can 

We’re sure you’ve heard this one throughout all of college, but have you utilized this advice to the best of your ability? While you still have college ties, visit with professors you may not have been as close with, or ask your advisor if they know of anyone in the fields you’re interested in. You might be surprised at the number of people who are happy to reach out and grab a coffee to talk about their experiences. Many healthcare professionals have been in your shoes before. Plus, they could prove to be a great connection if you’re interested in working at their place of employment. Letting people know you’re interested and looking never hurts.

Look for an “in” 

We know the push to immediately find full-time employment post-graduation is strong. If financially possible, consider also looking for internships or shadowing opportunities. These are fantastic ways to get your foot in the door and will also give you relevant experience without the commitment of a full-time position. They also can lead to higher-paying, permanent employment. If nothing else, it can serve as a great resume booster that will catch the eye of future employers. Every experience counts and by the time you’re finished, there may be more relevant positions available in what you’re looking to do.

Consider working with a staffing agency 

Are we biased toward this one? We might be! But really, as a recruitment agency, we’re here to help you land a job in a position you feel comfortable and excited about. There are so many wonderful pros to working with recruitment agencies. Our personal favorite at Med-Scribe is that our recruiters will be with you every step of the way while you’re interviewing. We’ll even follow through after you receive an offer and check in to see how you’re liking the job if you accept the offer. If you’re graduating soon and would like to learn more about working with us, visit our website or apply here

We know these are exciting and daunting times, so hang in there! The healthcare industry is hungrier than ever for employees, so rest assured that you will find your right fit. In the meantime, make sure your resume is up to snuff!