As a facility physician recruiter, you undoubtedly rely on numerous resources to find the best candidates for vacancies at your hospital, clinic, or practice.
Professional networking sites, like LinkedIn, and reliable locum tenens staffing agencies, such as Weatherby Healthcare, may be the obvious first choices. But have you thought about the value of Facebook?
Facebook currently has more than 1.23 billion users. Though it is typically considered for social—rather than professional—networking, it’s hard to ignore the potential of a site with more than 1.23 billion users. That is more than LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+ combined. In fact, Facebook is the second most trafficked website in the world, second only to Google.
That being said, Facebook isn’t designed to be used for sourcing, and many of its users don’t expect recruiters to use it this way. Therefore, if you opt to utilize the social networking site to connect with people on a professional level, it’s important to employ decorum and establish some best practices.
Keep it professional
Chances are you already have a personal account on Facebook. But pictures of your pets, vacations, and “Throwback Thursdays” are probably not something you want to share with potential candidates. So double check your privacy settings to ensure your personal page is only accessible to “friends.”
Then, create a new page geared toward your professional audience. Leave this new page open to the public, and use a friendly, professional profile picture. If you choose to include a cover photo, it should also represent the professional image you’d like to convey.
Expand your network
Send friend requests to colleagues and to providers you helped place at your facility. If you already have a good relationship with certain clinicians, consider extending a “no pressure” invitation to them to post feedback and/or a testimonial on your page.
Once your professional page is set up, you can increase your reach by joining specific Facebook groups. If you’re not sure which groups to join, check out the groups to which your colleagues belong. Simply, go to a friend’s page, click on the “About” link, and scroll toward the bottom of the page to browse his or her groups. You can join any public group by clicking “Join.” Yet, for some groups, you may have to wait for an admin to approve your request.
Also search for groups that pertain to the specialty you’re trying to reach. For instance, if you want to connect with a cardiologist, simply type “cardiology” in the search bar and peruse the drop-down list to find public groups in that category.
Make it interesting
Once you join a group, make a point of participating by commenting on posts, providing intelligent feedback, and/or sharing thoughtful information. People are more inclined to “friend” or “like” those who are positive, knowledgeable, and supportive.
The same goes for posts on your own wall. Definitely present information that will be helpful to providers seeking new positions. But also offer engaging posts that are not geared to filling a job. You are more likely to spark interest through positive, open exchanges, which will also grow your reputation as a trusted industry expert.
Finally, check your Facebook page regularly and respond to any comments you receive in a timely manner. Prompt, thoughtful replies will go a long way toward securing your standing as a dependable, valuable resource.
You will need to invest some time and effort in the beginning. But with nearly three-quarters of all Internet users using Facebook daily, you’ll likely discover it’s an investment worth making.
