NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Many healthcare employers are missing opportunities to fully leverage their unique employer brands in an effort to find and engage qualified candidates, according to a new talent metrics report from Bernard Hodes Group, the talent communications company.
Among the findings in the 2013 Hodes Healthcare Talent Metrics report:
- While healthcare employer brands can reach candidates through a variety of media, including social channels, 66 percent of those surveyed do not have a "career-focused" page or group on LinkedIn. Even more -- 71 percent -- fail to have a similar employer presence on Facebook.
- Responding healthcare organizations underutilize social media to connect with potential candidates. Only approximately one-third actively communicate with candidates on Facebook (33%) and/or LinkedIn (38%).
- Many healthcare organizations surveyed fail to adequately track their source of hires. Most (63%) primarily rely on new hires' self-reported data to identify source of hire, which has been proven to be unreliable.
- Larger responding healthcare employers are more likely to take longer to fill positions than their smaller counterparts. For example, healthcare systems take an average of about 18 days longer to fill Occupational Therapist positions than individual hospitals and other healthcare providers.
"Our survey findings confirm what we consistently see throughout our own markets nationally," noted Judith Russell, RN, BSN, CSSR, vice president of Hodes' Healthcare Team. "The national trends of an aging baby boomer population, coupled with the mandate for more affordable care, underscore the urgent need for healthcare organizations to effectively seek, engage, and hire the right talent."
"Developing an employer presence through social media and tracking the sources of hire are common elements of an integrated talent acquisition plan," Russell said. Accurate source of hire data, for example, can help employers better understand how qualified candidates find their job postings.
"What's important is that during a lengthy hiring process, employers need to demonstrate the organization's unique employer brand attributes -- the very things that make them a great place to work -- and maintain the engagement level to keep candidates enthusiastic about their new opportunity," said Russell.
Russell said that candidates' understanding and engagement with an organization's employer brand online tends to drive their interest in open positions. "In fact, many organizations across all industries use social media to develop an online talent pool of prospective candidates and even alumni," she added.
"For healthcare, in particular, communicating your employer brand and reputation through online communities on Facebook and LinkedIn can help build talent communities as a robust source for candidates who already know about your organization," Russell added.
To download a free copy of the 2013 Hodes Healthcare Talent Metrics report, go to: www.hodes.com/documents/HodesHealthcareTalentMetrics
About Bernard Hodes Group
Bernard Hodes Group offers a full array of innovative solutions and strategies to help companies find, keep and engage the best possible talent. Headquartered in New York, with offices and affiliates around the globe, Bernard Hodes Group is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. -- a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
To learn more about Hodes, visit www.hodes.com.