Best Practices

Early clues: Top techniques for efficient resume review

How to identify the keepers quickly.

By Andrew Maller, MBA

Sorting through countless resumes to identify candidates for a job opening at a medical practice can be an exhausting process. Depending on location, practices can receive 100 or more resumes for one opening. With time at a premium, the goal is to review resumes in the most efficient way possible in order to quickly pinpoint the most viable candidates.

While the focus must be on education, experience, training and the specific skills needed for the job, here are three tips to effectively reduce the stack to save time and increase the odds of making an excellent hire.

1. SCAN FOR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS

Quickly eliminate unqualified candidates by paying special attention to grammatical mistakes or poor formatting. A resume or cover letter full of errors tends to indicate a lack of professionalism or a general lack of care.

In most circumstances, this should eliminate a candidate from moving forward in the recruitment process. Although proficient writing skills might not be required to perform the job, staff members who work in eye care do have to write or type difficult words (i.e., “ophthalmology”).

2. VALUE WORK STABILITY

Length of service and turnover is important. When reviewing resumes, pay particular attention to where candidates worked and their length of service with employers.

From an employer’s perspective, longer terms of employment can illustrate that the individual is employable and was able to perform the duties of the job. They also demonstrate a certain level of employment loyalty.

On the other hand, look for high turnover numbers. If the candidate has worked for three different companies in the last five years, this is a potential red flag. Looking closely at dates likely will reveal if you should be concerned that such an applicant is not employable or would not be a long-term, loyal employee.

3. LOOK FOR SKILLS THAT TRANSLATE

To work in a medical practice and fill a particular role, candidates must possess specific skills. However, many of those skills can be taught or learned on the job. As an employer, try to identify those “soft” skills that can transfer to any role. For example, most eye-care jobs are customer focused.

It is smart to look for resume histories that include experience working directly with customers in a team environment. Move those resumes forward.

SPEED THE PROCESS ALONG

Sizing up job candidates through the resume-review process can be challenging. Fortunately, techniques exist that can help simplify the process.

Although these tips focus on just three of numerous areas to scrutinize when reviewing a resume, heeding them will help a practice quickly identify candidates to move forward in the interview process. OM

Andrew Maller, MBA, is a consultant with BSM Consulting, an internationally recognized health care consulting firm headquartered in Incline Village, Nev. and Scottsdale, Ariz. For more information about the author, BSM Consulting, or content/resources discussed in this article are available at the BSM Café at www.BSMCafe.com.