If you're on the hunt for a medical secretary, you're not the only one. Burning Glass, a leading provider of insights into the labor market, reports that medical secretary positions are in high demand, with more than 154,000 job postings in the last 12 months and an average of 28 days to fill the role. So how can you find quality medical secretaries in your area?
Here's what you need in order to hire a first-rate medical secretary:
Read on for tips on how to quickly and successfully check these items off your list.
1. speed up your hiring process
When you need good talent, and fast, it can be intimidating to find yourself staring down a long hiring timeline. Plus, a lengthy recruiting process is not only time-consuming, but costly, too. Use this diagram to pinpoint tactics to help you cut down the time and effort it takes to hire someone.
2. develop a competitive compensation package
You may already have a salary number in mind, but be sure you're paying competitively by getting the most up-to-date data from Randstad's salary guide.
The national averages in our salary guide make for a great starting point, but remember, salaries vary depending on your location and cost of living — so use our salary calculator to access the most relevant and accurate information.
3. identify the top skills for medical secretaries
Talk to hiring managers, nurse practitioners and any other team members who will work closely with the medical secretary to identify what skills and experience the candidate will need. This information will also come in handy later when writing the job description.
Here are the top "must-have" skills to consider for this role:
administrative support
scheduling
appointment setting
customer service
front office
patient care
customer billing
4. write an eye-catching job description
The job description is the first impression many will have for your organization. Here's how to write one to entice the best candidates.
don't write like a robot
Instead of your standard — and, most likely, dry — paragraph describing the role with a list of skills attached, craft a job description that gives the reader insights into your company's culture and the job's value.
Start with the positive aspects about the role, like career development or growth opportunities, and use clear, accessible language to explain what the role entails and the value medical secretaries bring to an organization — like keeping administrative operations running seamlessly or serving as information clearinghouses for the office. Nobody wants to apply to a job posting full of corporate jargon, so write it the way humans speak.
instead of writing dry paragraphs of responsibilities, give insights into the company's culture and the job's value.
show how this job can be meaningful
People want to feel like they are making an impact with their work, so don't forget to include the human elements of the job. Be sure the job description speaks to topics such as: What are the challenges and how does the team support each other? What's the most rewarding part of the job? Calling out specific points like the emotional satisfaction of helping to alleviate patient anxiety over their insurance by expertly processing insurance claims or supporting physician communications by diligently composing their reports will inspire the candidates' empathy.
make it easy to skim
Long paragraphs of text can be overwhelming, especially when someone is combing through multiple job listings. Make it easy for those reading the job posting to quickly understand what the position is and why they should apply.
Consider using shorter paragraphs that get to the point and bullet points for key skills and qualifications. That way, a potential candidate can skim the post and glean the information they want to know most, like which billing practices they'll need to know or whether the organization will sponsor CPS or CAP certifications.
5. brush up on the latest industry trends
As the healthcare industry continues to see massive growth, the demand for medical secretaries will only increase. Therefore, you need a strong recruitment strategy in place to attract and retain top talent over the long term.
Here's a look at where the industry is going, so you can stay on top of it:
-
Job opportunities for medical secretaries are projected to increase by 10 percent by 2029.
-
As patient volume continues to increase due to the aging boomer generation, doctors will need to bring on more medical secretaries to adequately assist patients and their families.
-
Evolving tech skills like being able to manage and update complex filing systems and insurance billing processes will be critical must-haves in order to keep up with the growing healthcare industry.
the number of medical secretary jobs will increase 10 percent by 2029.
6. choose your channels to find candidates
There are myriad ways to find qualified medical secretaries for your healthcare facility. However, since the industry is showing no signs of slowing down, it's best to tap into a large, vetted network of potential candidates now so you can stay on top of your hiring needs. Working with a staffing firm that has experience hiring in the healthcare space allows you to access candidates who are screened and readily available — whether your hiring needs call for short-term help or multiple direct-hire positions.
Reach out to the healthcare experts at Randstad for assistance in finding best-fit medical secretaries for your organization. Or check out our Find Employees portal to browse our nationwide network of screened and vetted candidates who are waiting to be matched with you.
