Career Corner
How to Evaluate a Prospective Employer
Use these strategies to decide if the job is the right fit for you
When I worked for a Catholic hospital, a new hire came to me on her lunch break on the first day of orientation and told me that she just couldn’t work for us. She said she couldn’t wear a badge with a cross on it, and the statues in the hallways were offensive to her. I asked her if she knew when she applied that it was a Catholic hospital. She said, “Yes, but I didn’t realize it was THAT Catholic!”
Nobody wants to go through the hiring process for a position or an organization that just isn’t a good fit. (Believe me, hospitals don’t want that either.) Luckily, you can avoid that by doing your homework. Here are some tips to help you determine if a prospective employer is right for you.
Be Honest With Yourself
Consider the hospital’s mission, environment, and values. Do they align with your beliefs, standards, and work style? If not, keep looking. No job is worth compromising who you are as a person.
Research the Facility
◗ Do a web search on the hospital’s name. (Make sure you’re looking at the right one.) Have they been in the news lately? Keep an eye out for mergers, ownership or funding changes, big lawsuits, or announcements of layoffs.
◗ Visit the hospital website. Most hospitals have “Mission” or “About Us” pages that discuss their values and goals, the services they offer, and where they are headed. The news and events sections often have information about diversity initiatives, community involvement, and employee engagement activities.
◗ Talk to current and former employees to get their take on what it is like to work for that organization, good and bad. Many years ago, a fellow recruiter friend reached out to me regarding an opportunity at her hospital. I got the job, but after my first leadership meeting there, I turned to my friend and asked, “What have you gotten me into?”
◗ If you don’t know anyone who works at the hospital, try reaching out to employees through platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. Get a variety of opinions and see if there are any positive or negative recurring themes.
◗ Check out the employer ratings on sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Indeed. Some of my fellow recruiters also recommend HigherEZ, Google Reviews, NextDocs, SeekOut, and even Reddit.
◗ Look at the tone on the organization’s social media. Is there a positive culture and a spirit of mutual respect?
◗ Delve into the hospital’s financials. If it’s a public company, look for their recent annual reports. If it’s a nonprofit hospital, look for their Form 990 and Form 990 Schedule H, which the organization must file with the IRS. These forms are public information, and can tell you a lot about an organization’s financial health and what it does for the community.
◗ Check the hospital’s patient reviews. These can provide valuable clues about the organization’s standard of care. Test the Waters of Their Workplace Culture
◗ Try joining the hospital’s social media groups (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and see what you find.
◗ Visit the hospital and walk around. It’s easy to do this if you have a friend or relative who’s a current patient. Go to the cafeteria during a busy lunchtime and observe how employees interact with each other. Do you see employees sitting alone on their cell phones while they eat, or do you see groups of staff enjoying each other’s company?
Watch for Red Flags
During the interview process, watch for these warning signs:
◗ Panel strife: If you interview with multiple employees, how do they engage with each other? Do you sense tension or stress?
◗ Unusual questions: Sometimes, reviewers will ask oddly specific questions during an interview that clue you in to challenges previous employees have faced.
I’ve done the second thing myself. In one organization, we had a lot of turnover in a particular position because the manager was a terrible micromanager. During a panel interview, I asked a candidate outright how she would handle working for a micromanaging supervisor. The candidate answered the question with grace and provided examples of how she had dealt with this style of manager in past jobs. My coworkers were aghast that I asked the question, but the candidate took the job and turned out to be a great fit. She got along well with a manager others found difficult to work with.
Ask Questions During the Interview
Remember that you are also interviewing them. Prepare thoughtful, specific questions based on your research. Here are some examples:
◗ Why is the position open? What has the turnover been like for this role?
◗ How would the recruiter describe the ideal candidate for the position?
◗ Are there any changes coming down the line that might impact the job, like expansion, cutbacks, or new facilities?
◗ What is the recruiter’s favorite part of working for the organization, and what is their biggest challenge?
Thoroughly researching a potential employer takes work, but it will help you make a good decision. Your future happiness depends on it.
LEVELL ROMEYN has 28 years’ experience as a nurse recruiter at various Southern California hospitals. Recently retired, she shares her insight with our readers in this column.
In this Article: Job Search Advice
