ORGANIZING A RECRUITMENT NETWORK Presented by Dennis Burns Saint Vincent Health, Erie PA Chair, ASPR Regional Development

“Any Association of Physician Recruiters”: An Inhouse Primer 2007 How do you do it? Why would you do it? What should you do now? Who will stand up and be counted?

Two key items for success: Enthusiasm and Organization 1.Get a cheerleader (or two) (core of six?) 1.Get a cheerleader (or two) (core of six?) 2.Have a support system for organization 2.Have a support system for organization You must have a few folks who wave the banner for all to follow, a few good cheerleaders and conductors. You must have an organization behind you and with you to do the routine connections and meeting organizing.

Who among you likes to smile, to be in the forefront, to talk, to press the flesh and kiss the babies? Is there an organization in your states/provinces, that now exists, that you can tap into for organizational support? No reason to reinvent the wheel or go it alone.

What is the purpose of your group (of any recruiter network?) Determine why you exist Determine why you exist Who are your constituents? Who are your constituents? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to accomplish? - at regular meetings- on the Web - at annual conferences- in networking  What are you short term goals? Long term?  How are you unique among other networks?  Complete a membership needs survey?

Core outcomes of a network Formal and informal networking Formal and informal networking Sharing of best practices; knowledge exchange; storytelling; what works and does not work Sharing of best practices; knowledge exchange; storytelling; what works and does not work Understand this: you are not alone! Understand this: you are not alone! Share candidate CV’s; obtain leads Share candidate CV’s; obtain leads Learn tips from experienced recruiters and retainers Learn tips from experienced recruiters and retainers Share forms and processes: the wheel has been invented; improve it but don’t reinvent it Share forms and processes: the wheel has been invented; improve it but don’t reinvent it Call your new friends for help, advice and data Call your new friends for help, advice and data

Core network outcomes (cont.) Have educational forums (annual meeting, WebBoard, recruitment and retention manual, regular member meetings) Have educational forums (annual meeting, WebBoard, recruitment and retention manual, regular member meetings) Use the Internet to the max (discussion group, membership lists, website resources, posting practice opportunities, links with other sites) Use the Internet to the max (discussion group, membership lists, website resources, posting practice opportunities, links with other sites) Enhance our industry (promote inhouse recruitment v. outhouse agencies, target your residents/fellows in state – keep them in your region) Enhance our industry (promote inhouse recruitment v. outhouse agencies, target your residents/fellows in state – keep them in your region) Have TONS of FUN!! It indeed IS about relationships, about joy and fulfillment in what we do. Have TONS of FUN!! It indeed IS about relationships, about joy and fulfillment in what we do.

Some notable pitfalls: from experience… Lack of strategic direction, goals, planning – hold a “Planning Retreat” annually Lack of strategic direction, goals, planning – hold a “Planning Retreat” annually Inconsistent leadership or “bad” leadership Inconsistent leadership or “bad” leadership Not enough behind-the-scenes worker bees (too many chiefs, too many ideas) Not enough behind-the-scenes worker bees (too many chiefs, too many ideas) Lack of “core” persons to carry the flag year to year – burnout, too busy, etc. Lack of “core” persons to carry the flag year to year – burnout, too busy, etc. Lack of necessary funding – ‘everything we want to do costs so dang much’ Lack of necessary funding – ‘everything we want to do costs so dang much’ Forgetting your first love: what brought you all together in the first place, your core values and purpose. Forgetting your first love: what brought you all together in the first place, your core values and purpose.

Tips on network meetings Hold them routinely: Quarterly? Annual not enough to truly network/build relationships Hold them routinely: Quarterly? Annual not enough to truly network/build relationships Use outside speakers at each meeting: Topics of interest to your members; get them gratis, local. Use outside speakers at each meeting: Topics of interest to your members; get them gratis, local. Rotate meeting places or centralize? Rotate meeting places or centralize? Take notes/minutes and post on website Take notes/minutes and post on website Make all handouts available to all members Make all handouts available to all members Designate block of time for active networking at each meeting Designate block of time for active networking at each meeting Bring forms to share: CVs, best practices, etc. Bring forms to share: CVs, best practices, etc.

Tips on Internet and Website Make maximum use of the Internet! Make maximum use of the Internet! Discussion group/chat room just for your members – local issues, concerns, questions Discussion group/chat room just for your members – local issues, concerns, questions Use your own Website for all announcements, information with links to other sites. Purpose? For docs or for you? Use your own Website for all announcements, information with links to other sites. Purpose? For docs or for you? Put someone or a small group in charge (don’t leave it to chance; won’t get done) Put someone or a small group in charge (don’t leave it to chance; won’t get done) Use resources already available: state medical society or university or hospital association (no need to reinvent the wheel) Use resources already available: state medical society or university or hospital association (no need to reinvent the wheel)

Tips on Educational Forums Annual conference – not too much or too little; just right Annual conference – not too much or too little; just right Make it meaty, not just for networking; use speakers, roundtables, panels, etc. Make it meaty, not just for networking; use speakers, roundtables, panels, etc. Focus on retention and recruitment equally Focus on retention and recruitment equally Consider vendors to sponsor/exhibit: they provide services and products and subsidy Consider vendors to sponsor/exhibit: they provide services and products and subsidy Keep it to two days max – balance b/t time well spent and time out of the office Keep it to two days max – balance b/t time well spent and time out of the office Consider adding a “job fair” to the conference Consider adding a “job fair” to the conference Have both ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ networking Have both ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ networking Bill it as a time to regroup, refresh, get energized Bill it as a time to regroup, refresh, get energized

What about Job Fairs? A great asset to networking and association development: common goal, work as a team A great asset to networking and association development: common goal, work as a team Brings concrete results to the network; supports core mission/purpose; aids in meeting justification with administration Brings concrete results to the network; supports core mission/purpose; aids in meeting justification with administration Takes a lot of time and energy! Oodles of organization, enthusiasm and some upfront money. Indeed, the devil is in the details. Consider linking with an existing job fair organization. Takes a lot of time and energy! Oodles of organization, enthusiasm and some upfront money. Indeed, the devil is in the details. Consider linking with an existing job fair organization. Focus your campaign on residents and inpractice docs with ties to your states/region: one stop shopping for candidates. Have educational sessions for them as well (CVs, finances, etc.) Focus your campaign on residents and inpractice docs with ties to your states/region: one stop shopping for candidates. Have educational sessions for them as well (CVs, finances, etc.) Check with MINK, INSPR, UMPR and ISPR for details on how it works. Check with MINK, INSPR, UMPR and ISPR for details on how it works.

Network costs and operations Operationally, do you want a loose knit network or elected officers/bylaws/401c3? Operationally, do you want a loose knit network or elected officers/bylaws/401c3? Financial support from vendors/sponsors? Financial support from vendors/sponsors? Memberships dues of $100/year and annual educational conference of $150 and job fair of $500/booth = $5-10,000 in the bank in a few years. Can then use for members needs. Memberships dues of $100/year and annual educational conference of $150 and job fair of $500/booth = $5-10,000 in the bank in a few years. Can then use for members needs. Annual Ed. Program costs = $12,000+ and minimal profit Annual Ed. Program costs = $12,000+ and minimal profit Job Fair costs = $3500 and $1500 profit Job Fair costs = $3500 and $1500 profit Regular network meetings are breakeven Regular network meetings are breakeven

Up and Running Recruiter Networks Ohio (ONPR) Ohio (ONPR) Wisconsin (WSPR) Wisconsin (WSPR) Michigan (MRRN) Michigan (MRRN) North West Staff Physician Recruiters – NWSPR North West Staff Physician Recruiters – NWSPR ( (OR, WA, MT, ID, WY) Illinois (ISPR) Illinois (ISPR) Indiana (INSPR) Indiana (INSPR) Mid-Atlantic (MAPRA) (MD, PA, NJ, DC, VA, WV) Mid-Atlantic (MAPRA) (MD, PA, NJ, DC, VA, WV) MINK (MO, IA, NE, KS) MINK (MO, IA, NE, KS) North East (NEPRA) North East (NEPRA) Canada (CASPR) CanadianAssoc. of Staff Physician Recruiters ( Canada (CASPR) CanadianAssoc. of Staff Physician Recruiters ( Carolinas (CAPS) ( Carolinas (CAPS) ( South Dakota (SDRPN) ( South Dakota (SDRPN) ( Upper Midwest – UMPR Upper Midwest – UMPR

Up and coming networks/groups Kentucky/Tennessee Kentucky/Tennessee Florida Florida GOT NEED? GOT NEED? TX/OK/LA Rocky Mountain Region SouthWest Region = CA/UT/HI/AZ/NV

* What is the future for your group? * What can you do this year to enhance your current network? *Who will step up to the plate? *How will you maintain continuity year after year? * How can you tie-in to other networks, learn from them, share your successes? * Join ASPR’s Regional Development Committee – have fun!