Respiratory therapists looking for a job today are in an enviable position. Burnout from the pandemic has combined with the “great resignation” to cause a lot of open positions, and hospitals and other employers are scrambling to fill these vacancies.
But interviewing in a hot job market isn’t the picnic you’d think it would be. You still want to select the best employer for your unique wants and needs, which means carefully treading through the interviewing process.
Here are eight tips you can use to make sure you end up with the job you want –
- Look before you leap: Before you send out any resumes, take some time to think about your goals for your career, both over the short-term and the long-term. Make a list of the things most important to you and use that list throughout your job search to ensure you stay on track with your goals and objectives.
- Work/life balance: In addition to considering your career goals, think about your life outside of work and how you want your career to fit into that balance. Add those factors to your list.
- Choose wisely: There are probably open positions in several facilities in your area. Research the facilities to get an idea of what it would be like to work there and whether you would fit in with the culture and mission of the organization. Apply only for those positions that you feel strongly would meet your needs.
- Don’t pre-judge: If you end up with multiple job interviews, you’ll probably want to rank them based on what you already know about the facilities. Don’t do it! Approach each interview with an open mind and give the hiring all the managers an equal opportunity to show you why you should come to work for them.
- Be open and honest: In this market, hiring managers figure you’ll have more than one interview. So if they ask, be honest, but make it clear that you appreciate the chance to interview and will take any offer they might make just as seriously as any other offer you might get.
- It’s okay to ask for time: What if you go to interview one and they make you an offer before you attend interview two or three? Respond promptly, thanking them for the offer and letting them know you appreciate the opportunity and look forward to reviewing the job specifics and making your decision. Then ask them if it would be okay if you let them know by a specific date in the near future that will buy you the time you need to go to your other interview(s).
- Leave leverage out of it: What you don’t want to do in the case of multiple interviews or offers is pit one potential employer against another. Hiring managers will be reluctant to get into a bidding war, either on salary or any other aspect of the job, and if you try to force their hand, it could backfire on you by making them walk away from the table.
- Tie up loose ends: In the end, you can only take one new job. Don’t forget to email the other facilities that offered you a position and let them know you’ve made a decision. Be sure to thank them again for their interest and let them know you appreciate their offer. Respiratory care is a tight-knit profession, and you will likely run into these same people as your career moves forward. You want to leave them with a good impression.
It is certainly nice to be in demand. However, one of the most important things you can do is show the hiring manager that you will be a valuable team player if you decide to come on board.
