The Merraine Brain

Where's the Beef?

2011-08-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

Y'all remember this commercial from 1984: Where's the Beef? It was so popular it even became featured in the presidential election.

Today hospitals need to be asking the question: Where is the value? When you read articles such as this one about the turnover hospitals are experiencing in nursing, it makes sense to ask your recruiting firm: How can you help us? After all, if your recruitment firm is only focused on the recruitment piece, they are obviously forgetting a key component of the puzzle: the retention piece.

Many search firms will argue that this is "beyond our scope" for the simple reason that they provide multiple candidates and ultimately the selection is up to the hospital. However, what retention strategies are in play and are behavior predictors being utilized to understand each candidate's long term goals? Are discussions taking place with the spouse to understand their role in the decision or is this just another quick deal?

Granted, the turnover rates the article above talks about are what keep us in business. However, we'd like to think many hospitals and medical centers have come our way because they they are fed up with having to replace their leaders every couple of years. So how did we get to a place where we could brag about a 97% retention rate? It's rather unheard of. What is your search firm's retention rate?

Merraine Group offers the "best-in-industry" guarantee. When we rolled it out, we were told it was ludicrous and that it would cost the industry far more than it was worth. Funny how that works. It's helped our business and we've yet to see another firm that will match it. We'll be talking about our guarantee at the ASHHRA show in Phoenix next month. For more information, come see us in Booth #724, at our hospitality suite or simply e-mail us: info@merraine.com.

The bottom line is if 25% of your nurses are really looking for new opportunities, you've got some issues we need to address and quick. Not to worry, that's what we're here for.

Merrainiac

Habits Die Hard

2011-08-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

I have learned that regularly updating a blog is like all of those other things that fall by the wayside....at least in my life. They include exercise, long walks with my dog, flowers on the weekend, regular maintenance on my computer, checking in each week with Aunt Tillie bless her heart and now.....updating the blog. Not sure how this got looped in there, but it was my idea after all! Alas, live and learn.

Truth is, we have been busier than ever. May was our best month in the company's history breaking our previous record by more than 30%.....so it wasn't just a "modest uptick." It was more like an explosion. We've also just closed our best first half in the firm's history, and we think we're on our way to our best year ever although I'll confess we do have our share of worrywarts. You know the nervous type always looking for those storm clouds. Interim placement is up, permanent placement is up, HR outsourcing is up, contingency search is up, retained search is up and our newest division Merraine Select is off to an auspicious start. (Note to self: I must tell you more about Merraine Select.) So, all in all it's looking like some of those habits I was trying to get better at may have to wait because it's been an incredibly busy summer with no sign of letting up.

Whatever you do, just don't tell Aunt Tillie. Her memory is so bad I just keep telling her I called yesterday and she lets me off the hook.

Merrainiac

We are Ten!

2011-04-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs: Excuse my absence. There has been so much going on. Our tenth anniversary bash was a hit. We received cards and flowers and even a few boxes of chocolate from clients and candidates alike as we celebrated a decade in business on April first! The letters and testimonials from people whose lives we have changed have meant so much. I'm convinced we are the beneficiaries of your kindness! This business is so incredibly meaningful....to be able to impact someone's quality of life while enhancing the leadership team and patient care at a hospital has enriched all of our lives. This past decade has gone by in a flash, and we have placed director level candidates at more than four hundred hospitals! Over the next decade, we hope we can do even better. We're focused on our customer care, our retention rates, our confidentiality, our speed to market, our sourcing methods and your reputation! Thank you to our clients and candidates who have made this such an incredible ten years! Our Founder & Managing Director, David Gantshar told the story at our company party of starting the firm in New City, New York where he shared offices with three law firms. On April 1, 2001 he was the only employee of the company, and he brought in a folding chair and a laptop and started dialing. Over time he kicked out each of the law firms as more space was needed and more team members were added. The firm moved to Montebello (our current location) years later and expanded from a regional staffing firm focused on the New England healthcare market to what it is today....a national search firm focused on placing the very best candidates in both permanent and interim positions at hospitals across the globe. It's been an incredible ride and for that, we have you to thank. Here's to the next decade and our teenage years! Merrainiac

Not Rain nor Shine....

2011-03-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs: Hats off to the "Merrainiacs." Nothing will stop our Nurses on their way to work. Not rain, nor shine, nor falling debris. Indeed, this story out of Detroit was one of ours. Happened yesterday as one of our Interim Directors of Nursing was on her way to work. We're all thanking G-d today for her miraculous journey. Although it was a most frightening experience and did quite a bit of damage to the car, everyone was fine and arrived without injury. Truth be told, our Interim Directors take their roles very seriously. Our interim assignments generally run between thirty days and two years, and they cover all healthcare disciplines from nursing and allied health to finance and the executive suite. Our interim team knows they are being counted on and as a general rule, we're filling interim leadership roles in a matter of days. Most of these dedicated folks are traveling across the country or far from home for several months at a time to ensure deadlines are met, conflicts are avoided, inspections & audits go well and patient care doesn't miss a beat. It remains the one of the fastest growing segments of our business due in large part to the dedication of our team. We're grateful that everyone was allright and thanking our team members for the work they do day in and day out. Bless you! Merrainiac

To Degree or Not to Degree

2011-03-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs: One of the questions many candidates ask us these days is whether or not to seek another degree. This can mean a bachelor's, a master's (or perhaps a second master's) a PhD depending upon where one is holding in their educational acquisition. For the most part, our firm has very few clients remaining that will look at leadership candidates that do not have a bachelor's degree. Most of these hospitals strongly prefer a master's degree. As a general rule, our answer is "Yes - (a degree) an additional degree can only help. It can never hurt." As you assume a leadership position in the healthcare world, you will be looked at as a mentor. The RN's, Technicians, Manager's or Director's that report to you want to know you are more educated, more skilled and have more experience than they do. Online degrees through programs such as the University of Phoenix make obtaining your next degree much easier than previously thought. However, one must be wary of UDP's and other programs still existing on the internet. If the process sounds simpler than it ought to be, there could be a problem. Case in point: Warren National University, formerly known as Kennedy Western. The good news is tuition reimbursement programs are in abundance today so your options may very well be afforable and some of the best schools may very well be in your local town or even affiliated with your medical center. It's exciting to see folks in the "public eye" embracing continued education as well. Tyra Banks' decision to return to the Executive Education Program at Harvard University has made the headlines and is a great example of a star taking control of her own destiny as opposed to letting her advisor's manage all of her major financial decisions. Even if you have an advanced degree, you may want to consider a second advanced degree or a return to an Executive Management program. Our Managing Director here at the firm attended two such certificate programs at Columbia University's Business School, one in marketing management and one in sales management. His feedback: "It'll keep you current and introduce you to some real up-and-comers." In summary, I think I need to consider going back to school nights. It can only help your career, exercise your brain and continue your swim upstream. Merrainiac

Help Wanted!

2011-03-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

I thought maybe I'd take this opportunity to let you know about a few of our critical needs right now. If you know anyone that might be a fit, please let me know. I can be reached at: info@merraine.com.

Here's the deal. If you refer someone to us that is hired by one of our clients, we will give you your choice of a ski weekend away (two people - Waterville Valley, NY - three nights), a family weekend away (four people - Orlando - two nights) or a weekend in the bay (two people - Coronado Island, off San Diego - three nights) including round-trip transportation and your hotel stay so if you know of someone that might be a fit.....hey, send them our way.......

For a full listing of our open positions check out www.merraine.com but here are a few highlights:

Emergency Services Manager and/or Director - Washington state, TX, VA
Director of Surgical Services - North Carolina, VA, WI
Director, Human Resources - New York or Connecticut (must have hospital exp)
Director, Telemetry - West Virginia, CA
Director, Case Management - FL, TN, NC
Director, CVICU - FL (pediatric experience helpful)
Director, Lab - NC, VA, WI, IL
Supervisor, Lab - NY, CA
Practice Manager - KY
Physical Therapist - NY, NM, VA
Director, CV Services - AZ, NY, FL
Director, Homecase - VA
Director, ICU - NY, WI, FL, CA
CNO - WI, FL
Director, Nursing - MD, WI, FL
Director, HIM - CO, OR

And this is only a partial list......so c'mon....we've got your hotel booked. All you need to do is refer a friend. We'll take it from there! Happy travels -

Merrainiac

All This Stress is Getting me Down!

2011-03-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

So far today I've "tweeted" about:

1) How a "Bad Job" can get you down
2) How health-care (hospital) workers have a high rate of depression and now.....
3) The Stress of Hospital Employment

Frankly, I need a drink.....or two....maybe three....I'll stop at four.

OK, I'll admit it. Nobody knows this better than we do. Working in a hospital is high stress. However, I'd like to see some more articles out there about how rewarding the profession is. Patient advocacy, longer life expectancy, the miracles of modern science, heathcare tourism, cures for cancer, how healthcare workers are still held in such high regard etc.

There's a lot to be happy about, and it's not all bad news. We have nobody but ourselves to blame for the shortage of qualified healthcare workers when all we do is "rap" our profession. As a matter of record, several former "Merrainiacs" that have left our firm have gone into nursing and/or medical related fields.

So let's cheer up and start sharing some of the good news. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling better already!

Merrainiac

Bad Job v. No Job

2011-03-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

I'm back from vacation. Please forgive my absence from Cyberspace :>)

I actually enjoy coming back to work. Seeing my friends, catching up on their lives. I guess I'm fortunate in that regard. A lot of people dread Mondays. So it was no surprise to see this article the other day about the toll a bad job can take on one's health: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/14/unemployment.health/?iref=obinsite. Personally, I think it's better to have a "bad job" than no job. Even a "bad job" has redeeming features, but I understand the toll it can take on someone's mental health, particularly if the "bad job" comes along with a "bad boss."

According to a survey done in Australia of 7,000 people, those that were unemployed felt "calmer, happier and less depressed." Yeah, I'll bet. They also felt impoverished and took longer to find employment when they finally returned to work. We all know it's easier to find a job when you're working. Kind of like it's easier to find a date when you're married. By the way, please don't tell anyone I said that :>)

Anyway, it's great to be back to my "good job." I hope you're enjoying yours as well!

Merrainiac

Get a Beauty Treatment & Get a Raise

2011-02-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Read a fascinating article today, "Ways Your Appearance Affects Your Paycheck." Here were some of the "nuggets" I learned:

Men who are at least six feet tall (David - our Managing Director and several of our Associates) make at least $5,000 more than their counterparts half an inch shorter
For every three inches taller than average they are, women earn 5% to 8% more than women of average height (Marci - our Director of Marketing)
For women: A 1% increase in body mass translates to a 0.6 percentage point decrease in family income (Barb - our VP of Career Development)
People who are more attractive make a considerable amount more than everyone else (Miriam, Kevin & Christina)
The better a person looks, the more people trust them (Eric & Steve)
Attractive men earn 9% more than unattractive men and attractive women earn 4% more than unattractive women (I better not name names here.....I'm in enough trouble already)
Facial hair is a bad sign (Don't tell Dave.....he still talks about how he really started this business so he could grow a beard because his old boss never let him have one)
Men say balding hurts their careers (Harry)
Women who wear make-up look more professional (no comment)
Good posture makes you feel more powerful and so on......

In short, now that I've alienated so many people here at the firm by "naming names," let me just say that I think the medical community has moved beyond all of this. Perhaps that's why "scrubs" were invented. Maybe a new way of leveling the playing field. Either way, I think I'll skip my morning donut tomorrow........

Merrainiac

Divorcing Your Work Spouse

2011-02-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

About seven months ago a candidate I became rather close with shared with me the fact that she had a "work spouse." Having never heard the term before I asked her for some clarity. She basically told me that she had a "very close friend" (also an RN in Surgical Services) that she had lunch with at least once a week, confided the most telling secrets to and even attended out-of-town nursing forums with. She also shared with me that she was unable to make a career change (although her spouse of 23 years was open to relocation) because she was not sure she could withstand the pressure of the OR without having the day-to-day support of her "work spouse." I had a hard time understanding this concept and decided I needed to speak with one of my mentors here at the firm. "Sure, it's a growing phenomenon particularly in high stress professions" (i.e. nursing, the stock market etc.). Indeed, it seems I was behind the eight-ball on this one and I've now learned a new objection some consider when making a career move. So my question is this....if you do make a career change, must you file for divorce from your "work spouse?"

Merrainiac

A Japanese Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T02:52:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. It truly is one of my favorites, even though I do think the cost of roses are getting a bit out of hand. In Japan, Valentine's Day is reserved for women to give chocoloates and other assorted gifts to their male bosses or other male c0-workers they admire. Good thing that's not the custom here. Apparently in mid-March the men return the favor and are out purchasing gifts for the women. Seems kind of nice on one hand to separate the two days....Equality amongst chocolates, perfume and flowers. Not a bad concept. However, if we gave chocoloates to our bosses here in the USA (or any type of Valentine's Day gift), it would probably be looked upon as strange. Perhaps even inappropriate.

Speaking of inappropriate, I came across this article about inappropriate questions during an interview. None of them had to do with Valentine's Day, but they are all "no-no's." I would think they would be rather obvious today but given that someone wrote an article on it, maybe I'm wrong. If you're asked any of these questions, it may be time to keep looking for another position.

Merrainiac

Take This Job & Shove It

2011-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Not to worry....I'm not quitting my job here at Merraine Group. I love what I do. However, there was an interesting article posted by our friends at CareerBuilder today which made its way to CNN: 2 Weeks at this job and I HATE it -- should I quit?. The author, Anthony Balderrama, asks if an individual can afford (financially) to quit when they have just accepted a new job? In other words, do they have the resources in the bank until their next position comes along.

However, we'd like to think the question of "affordability" comes down to more than just money. In other words, when one quits after a short period, are they hurting their reputation? We've averaged a year-over-year retention rate of 97% because we look at candidates that have solid tenure. Sure, there are plenty of applicants that have very good reasons for making a change, but sometimes it's best just to "bite the bullet." A change in your manager, a change in your responsibilities, a change in your structure can take place before you know it, and can dramatically impact your happiness quotient. If you take a job and make a change before you've given it a fair shake, the person you're probably most short-changing is yourself. These things have to be given a chance and it's often smart to just get back to the basics and remember why you made the change in the first place.

Making a career move is something we all consider at one stage or another, but our counsel is when you're in a new job, "Rough it out," if need be. Give it a chance before making any impulsive decisions.

Merrainiac

Job Security

2011-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Over the last year, the total number of unemployed workers in the United States fell from 15.2 million to 14.5 million. Before the recession, there were around 7 million workers unemployed. If job creation were to continue at the same pace, it would take more than ten years to return unemployment to pre-recession levels. Thankfully, nothing ever stays the same.

According to government estimates, there will be a shortage of 14 million college-educated workers over the next decade. At last count, just over 2 million of the unemployed in the U.S. held Bachelor's degrees or higher and an additional 3 million had a level of college education short of a four-year degree.

The recession provided employers the opportunity to increase automation and streamline processes allowing productivity to rise nearly 9 percent at the beginning of 2009 in the depths of the recession. Many hospitals that had a receptionist switched to automated phone systems. Medical centers that used to outsource graphics and design work learned to do some of these things in-house. Laboratories invested in more automated machinery, requiring less human interaction.

In the last 12 months, the number of job openings, as reported by the Labor Department, increased by over 30 percent. During the same period, hiring activity only increased 1.2 percent. In our industry, the shortage of talent never seems to end. As more hospitals and medical centers open and requirements become more stringent (think Physical Therapists), shortages only seem to become more dire. For example, by the year 2020 the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), which provides accreditation and monitoring of physical therapy programs, believes that Physical therapy treatment will be provided only by board certified practitioners with a doctorate degree.

Perhaps this is where executive search firms come into play. Demand for our services seems to be increasing and the three month period ending February 28, 2011 is on track to be one of our best ever. So I'd like to think I've got a little job security as we do our part to ensure our clients hire and retain the very best talent in the industry.

Merrainiac

Does Your Office Space Measure Up?

2011-02-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Stephanie Chen wrote an article for CNN.com today called: "Goodbye office space? The shrinking American cubicle." The article details how major firms such as Intel have downsized their workstations from an average of 72 square feet to 48 square feet. According to the International Facility Management Association, the average office worked had 90 square feet of office space in 1994 and today has only 75 square feet on average. While the article talks about companies such as SAS that are steering clear of the cubicle model and feel private offices actually help productivity, it also mentions firms like Intel where 30% of the employees do not have assigned cubicles. Essentially, employees can take their blackberry and their laptop and "boot up" in any open office space. Here at Merraine Group's corporate office, we have dedicated work stations and the executive team members have their own private offices. However, if a computer goes down, you can go to any open terminal, enter your password and "Presto," your database, schedule and e-mail pop up without delay. This is a nice feature, but I like having my own work area. David encourages us to bring in pictures of our family and mementos from home that make our workspace a little more "user friendly." Apart from Jeff's "Family Guy" calendar, all the wall decorations are pretty tame.
Our business development team and our recruitment and research teams sit in the "bullpen." It's a noisy work area, but the energy is contagious and the place hums at certain times of day. I imagine there's something to be said for this type of layout as the place comes alive.
We hear from nursing directors all the time how important it is to be "on the floor," but also to have a nice, private office where they can confer with employees and have a spot away from where the action is. We actually have a few clients that send us digital photos of their workspace so we can forward it to potential candidates. Not a bad idea if the walls seem to be closing in.

Merrainiac

Meg the Recruiter

2011-02-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

It struck me funny the first time I interviewed at Merraine Group's Corporate Office that one of the interview questions I was asked was whether or not I liked dogs. I didn't inquire as to why I was being asked this question. After all, it's not as if canine-haters are a protected class according to EEOC regulations. Fortunately for me, I answered the question right. Little did I know the corporate office took a page from a number of California-based companies that allow, dare I say encourage, employees to bring their pets to work!

As fate would have it, my first day of employment I was greeted by Coby (a large Rhodesian Ridgeback owned by the firm's founder) and a rather small Bichon named Meg (pictured), owned by the head of the Career Development division. While most of us don't bring our dogs to work every day, we have had up to three labradors, Meg and Coby, a three legged Siberian Husky, a Collie and a Jack Russell Terrier here at various times during my tenure. Coby doesn't come to work every day as the FedEx man had an abrasive relationship with him, but over time Meg has become the "office mascot." Depending upon the time of year Meg can be found attending a presentation in our conference room, a nursing roundtable, the weekly staff meeting, greeting clients in our waiting room or my favorite....enjoying some appetizers at the office holiday party. As a matter of record, Meg has worked here at Merraine Group for close to ten years and has been a fixture since the firm's inception. I'll be the first to admit, it can be a bit distracting when Meg decides to "voice her opinions" through some high-pitched bark while I'm talking to customers or candidates, but her love of this office has endeared her to all.

Meg seems to have an affinity for talent and this is what I find most remarkable. She seems to favor nurses when they come to the office, and she tends not to spend much time in the waiting room with people that change jobs too frequently. I know it sounds a little crazy, but if you ever visit....be sure to ask for Meg. Chances are, she'll find you before you find her. After all, that's what recruiters do best!

Merrainiac

Need a New Job?

2011-01-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Go to www.youtube.com and check out Monster's ad: Need a New Job or click here: http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ineomNgLcwg
Simply brilliant.

The most wonderful comment we hear from candidates time and time again is that what distinguishes our firm is our treatment of people. Taking the time to get to know candidates, their interests, their goals, their family....these are the things that distinguish one firm from another. It makes us feel that coming to work is worthwhile, and we appreciate the opportunity to make a difference.

Merrainiac

The Agonizing Bureaucracy of Government

2011-01-26T12:25:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

"All our dreams can come true...if we have the courage to pursue them," or so said Walt Disney. So the news that Florida may join the Nurse Licensure Compact is not just a dream....or so we hope. The Florida Legislature may not move as fast on this as we all would like. However, they must perform a reality check. What good does it do to make an RN wait three weeks to obtain a license when an RN can get a temporary license in Virginia in a matter of hours? Our own studies, which represent only a segment of the market, show how dramtically this delay can impact healthcare in states that do not participate. Not only does it mean a loss of out-of-state talent, but the financial impact is staggering. A total of twenty-nine states (not including FL) are currently participating or have plans to participate in the very near future. This critical legislation must be passed by every state so that hard working nurses can have an opportunity to take their talent anywhere in the country and at any time. Some may feel a couple of weeks delay doesn't make a difference, but I'd beg to differ. When compared against another candidate, these three weeks can make all the difference. So let's hope the state that made Disney's dream a reality can do the same for all of the talented RN's that want to work in the Southeast.

~Merrainiac

Hospitals Galore

2011-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

At least the temperature is up today. I never thought of the 20's as warm but after yesterday, it's a welcome change! Plus Jared didn't bring any hot cocoa today.

So today we had a lesson in the planning of hospitals and what it takes to get a hospital built around the world. One of our customers asked our firm to conduct a study of six different countries where we looked at locations, management structure, costs, construction timelines, patient access, specialization, the role of government in the decision making process and profitability. This customer has a good reason to be focused on the international market, and our leadership team shared the results with the Merrainiacs once the results were published. In short, I never appreciated how good it is to be an American. We have an abundance of hospitals of all sizes, shapes, specialties and functions. Try finding a town in this country of 75,000 people without a hospital. You'll have a tough time, and yet some of the countries we looked at have cities of 250,000+ without a hospital. Some have no hospitals for hundreds of miles, a scary proposition at best. And while some countries allow hospitals to be built by private citizens with limited oversite, others require majority approval amongst their legislature and take years and years....even decades to get these facilities approved. The situation gets much worse when we start to look at mental health facilities as many countries don't even recognize mental health as something that needs to be treated. It's downright scary if you ask me and makes me grateful to be an American.

Merrainiac

Unbundled

2011-01-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

It's about five degrees here today, and the breeze off the Hudson River is enough to send anyone relocating to Arizona or Florida. Jared brought in hot cocoa for everyone. Must have set him back a pretty penny, and I'm still not sure how he was able to carry over two dozen cups of hot cocoa but I think he got a few helpers from the office when they heard he was treating. The guy at 7-Eleven must have been thrilled when Jared came through the door. Probably the biggest sale he had all day considering nobody is buying Slurpees in this cold.

Speaking of cold days, the big push now is "Unbundling." The last two years have seen a lot of clients asking for discounts or perhaps something less than a "full service offering." Merraine Group now provides these services. Essentially, if an organization does not want a full national search we can break our services into any and all of the following: internet advertising (on major job boards), advertising, behavioral assessments, background & license verifications, reference checks, call lists, career fairs, employment screening, mass mailings, targeted recruitment, electronic marketing campaigns etc. The list goes on and on, but essentially it allows clients to take advantage of the areas they need the greatest help while allowing us to expose them to just a small "taste" of what it is like to work with our firm. As a general rule, we offer a full credit to our clients for any of these services whenever they decide to conduct a full search so in essence, there is virtually no risk.

Alas, today is not a day to be "unbundled." It's too cold, and I need another cup of cocoa but Jared tells me I'm limited to one. Something to bring up in our next Peer Review!

~Merrainiac

Crazy Eddie Recruiting

2011-01-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

Well, as you can tell.....keeping up on the blog is one of the New Year's Resolutions I am fulfilling.

We won't give away our ages but years ago there was a guy in the NYC appliance business named "Crazy Eddie." He would go on TV and talk about how he was "slashing prices" and giving things away at ridiculous rates. Everyone thought his prices were crzy low, and it was a lot of fun to shop there. I'm not real sure if my boss ever heard of him, but sometimes I feel like David (our boss) is the "Crazy Eddie" of the recruiting industry. Today he called everyone in the conference room and got seven of our strongest affiliates on the phone and announces to everyone that the first person to fill a Lab Night Supervisor's position in CA will receive a free trip for two to Hawaii. Every week he has a new contest, but I have to say this is his best one yet. It's fun working here. He's kind of unpredictable and always coming up with new ways to say, "Thank you."

In short, here's my proposal: If you know of anyone interested in such a position, I'll make sure you get that trip to Hawaii.....but they have to actually get hired :>)
And all I want in return is a T-shirt from Maui and a box of those chocolate covered coconut patties. Aloha!

Merrainiac

Business Robust

2011-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

Merrainiacs:

It's been a while since I've written. Amongst my New Year's Resolutions this year were:

1) Make sure my husband's socks match his pants every day!
2) Say no to those donuts my co-workers love to bring in
3) Do my part to raise our retention rate above 97%. Why should we settle for anything less than 100%?
4) Bring my dog to work more frequently (everyone else here does)
5) Post to this blog more often!!!!!

Truth be told, I am doing well on four of these five. So much to talk about as we move head-first into 2011. For starters, December 2010 was this firm's best month since May of 2008. One of our Team Leaders had his best month in six years so I think the trend is an exciting one. The phones are ringing, business is booming, and we are "placement happy."

For those that have made a New Year's Resolution to make a career change, it's not too early to contact us. We'd be delighted to help.

If you can guess which of the resolutions I'm struggling with, let me know: np@merraine.com
NP as in "No problem." We'll send some of those donuts your way :>)

Merrainiac

Locums

2010-06-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Merrainiacs:

"Locums" is a Latin word used interchangeably with a number of other terms: Travelers, Interim Staffing, Contract Staffing, Road Warriors.....you name it. In short, it's a business we're growing like "Wildfire" (not to be confused with the classic Michael Murphey song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc3OnSQc48s&a=mUP2mnpFtp0&playnext_from=ML). There could be any number of reasons a hospital might choose to hire an interim employee. For example, one of their staff members takes a medical leave, a maternity leave, a position is open and needs to be filled until a permanent hire can be made, a hospital wants to take a "permanent" employee on a "trial period" until they can be certain everything will work out......Whatever the reason, it's a business that continues to grow, and we've carved out a nice following with our prestigious list of clients. Generally, assignments can last anywhere from 30 days up to two years although there are no rules. Our specialty is at the director level although interim employees are hired at the staff level, in the executive suite and yes....even that Doctor that is treating you can be simply an "interim" employee covering for someone else.

In short, our firm will find the employee in usually two - five days and have them on site within a week. We provide the insurance, handle the payroll, taxes, benefits, housing and any related matters. The hospital can onboard them very quickly, and they don't have to worry about all of the usual HR "stuff" (this is a technical term) because we're handling it.

Short case in point, we got a call from a client that needed an Interim Director Laboratory Services ASAP. They called us last week because they failed an inspection and the state came down on them. Three days later we had their new interim director onsite. While we look for their next permanent director, we've got a turnaround expert in there that will make sure the ship is sailing right before the new director comes in. Perhaps the interim candidate we placed there might even transition into the permanent role.

It's a great business. In our case, we have specialists that do nothing but handle the interim side of our work. It requires a great deal of knowledge, and each minute counts. We might work all through the night on an interim assignment depending upon how tight the timeline is. To learn more about this business or if you have questions about whether an interim assigment is appropriate for you, feel free to contact us: info@merraine.com

Until next time........

Merrainiac

Shameless Self-Promotion

2010-06-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Heya Merrainiacs,

As a followup on our series about resumes, heres a few tips on the art of self-promotion.Everyone is repulsed by braggarts – people who are shameless self promoters. So don’t be one, ya hear?!

The truth is that (thankfully) these people rarely exist in the job search and career transition arena, as I can’t remember the last time I spoke with a candidate whom I felt was arrogant. Sure, people say off-color things when the stakes are high in an interview. But this doesn’t mean they are bragging. Typically, they are nervous and get caught in an awkward moment.Here’s a good formula for broadcasting your skills without being viewed as bragging. Write down and rehearse the 4-5 points that distinguish you from your peers. In other words, what home-runs have you delivered that demonstrate why you are such a strong candidate for a job. Know your messages cold so that in the heat of the moment, they are ready to be launched without a moment of consideration.

Don’t be afraid to speak matter-of-factly about your specific achievements. For example:

· - Exceeded management’s expectations by deploying a restructuring initiative that achieved…

· - Helped position my previous employer to be more market competitive and provide value-added service to its clients by…

· - Received multiple awards for generating year-over-year improvements to…

· - Worked with world-class experts in “x’, which provided me with a unique perspective to…

Be proud of who you are and what you have done and deliver your accomplishments in a direct, professional and measured way. Every action creates a reaction, and your role in selling yourself is to activate job opportunities, promotions or advancements. You’ll know if you did this well when a faint smile appears on the listeners face or you sense some other visceral reaction that captures their interest.

Hope that helps.

Merrainiac

Integration, and a Prayer

2010-06-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Merrainiacs!

The big change this week was the completion of our website integration- a project I've been working on for quite a while- so I’m pretty psyched that we’re up and running. From now on- all of our social networking links are integrated into our website! Yipee!

Extra donuts for me on Monday…I think I'll hold out for the Vanilla Cream Filled!

On a more serious note, just wanted to send a prayer into cyberspace for all the people affected by the oil spill in the Gulf. If you want to move out and need a new job, we are always here for you!

Merrainiac

Interview Tips

2010-05-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Merrainiacs,

Been a couple of busy weeks here at Merraine, closed some great deals and working hard on a few more. After a couple of posts about resumes, let’s move on to the next step of the process.

So you’ve sent your resume in, and of course the place loves it (….if you’ve taken my advice). They want to interview you. Yippee! You’re in!

Not so fast - you have just begun the process. Here are a few things to watch out for in your first interview.

· The first thing goes without saying, but needs to be said: Dress Nicely! The outward impression that you give matters, people! Think about it: you wouldn’t want to hire someone if they came to the interview dressed like this, now would you?

Didn't think so.

In the same vein, another important interview tip: Make the right impression. Be on time.

Moving along- you've gotten to the interview on time, wearing your best power suit. what next?

Well, here at Merraine we prep all our candidates before any interview. So check us out !

www.merraine.com...maybe we'll have your next job waiting for you!

'Til next time,

Merrainiac

Is Your Resume a Silent Career Killer?

2010-05-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some pearls of wisdom from our friends over at Get What You Set (experts in outplacement) that are definitely relevant to us Merrainiacs...

Is Your Resume a Silent Career Killer?

Spend a few moments taking the following vital signs on your resume:

No response: Does your resume go unanswered when you respond to ads?

Experience: Does it list the functions you performed in your jobs, such as “responsible for …”?

Personality traits: Does it include phrases such as “team player”, “detail oriented” and “effective communicator”?

Aspiration: Does it leave out the specific role you are seeking and how you are positioned to make a meaningful and relevant difference to a prospective employer?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then your resume is in need of an overhaul. To get it on a healthy track and captivate the reader’s imagination, make sure your resume communicates

The measurable results you achieved by performing your day-to-day functions (or from special projects), and how they impacted various stakeholders and/or the bottom line.
How your personality traits helped fuel your results (the phrases alone are just generic and used by everyone).
Your interest in assuming a specific role and your ability to deliver value that goes beyond the scope of management’s expectations.
An expression of your work ethic, such as how your competitive intensity, disciplined and focused approach, or extraordinary commitment to getting things done was manifested.

Taking the time to invest in the health and vitality of your resume will surely yield better results.

Now thems' some good pearls.

-Merrainiac

Some Resume Do's and Don'ts

2010-05-11T04:43:00.000-07:00

Heya, Merrainiacs...Merrainiac numero uno here, with a couple of Dos and Don'ts for resumes. See, I go through at least 50 resumes a day, so I consider myself pretty well versed in resume Etiquette.

Lets start with a Don't. Don't, under any circumstances, do this (watch that from 6:13). Scented Pink resumes are a no-no.

Do. Do include your current contact info (yes, there are Idiots in this world who don't know that).

Don't: Lie on your resume. Recruiters find out about these things- we just had to pull the plug on a candidate last week who lied about his current employment (Seriously! when we called to do a verification check, they said he hadn't worked there in three years. The nerve!). Don't Lie, people- you will live to regret it. Which brings me to another Don't. Don't write skills that are irrelevant. I don't care if you were on your swim team in high school when you're applying for a Director of Nursing position.

I know resume writing can be hard. thats why Barb, our VP here at Merraine, helps our candidates build professional resumes that actually help you get hired! so so take a peek our current jobs , and lets see if we have your next job waiting for you...I really want to dance the Conga again.

Later,

Merrainiac.

Meet the Merrainiacs - Merraine Group Inc.

2010-05-10T08:40:00.001-07:00

Welcome to The Merraine Brain, Merraine Group's blog about everything Merraine. I'm Merrainiac, otherwise known as Naava Posy, Project Manager at Merraine. Who /What are we?

We are one of the premier healthcare recruitment firms in the biz. We place managers, directors, VP's and "C-suite" executives in hospitals and medical centers around the globe. Over the last nine years, we have worked with over 400 hospitals while averaging a 97% retention rate. 97 percent, people! Them's some good stats!

Seriously, though. Working here is pretty great. besides our impressive stats, I work in a remarkable team with friends who enjoy their job- getting others employed!

Just a quick meet and greet with a few of the folks I interact with the most:

First there's Jeff. Jeff is the one who brings in the dough-both kinds. Jeff is the Team leader for our Southeast and Southwest regions. He also brings us Dunkin Donuts every Monday morning. Needless to say, Jeff is pretty popular.

Next comes Barb. Sweetest lady you could imagine- you would never guess that behind that smile lies the sharpest brain we have. Smart as a whip, she knows every medical and nursing term, as well as most of the names of the candidates we have in out database (Tens of thousands of candidates and counting). I get most of my info straight from her. She is our VP of Career Development and oversees all of the recruitment and research teams. She's been here for nine years.

Barb's office is right next to Eli's. Eli is our Database Manager, and her dog, Maggie (Yea, a dog-friendly office- We're awesome. Deal with it.) never stops yapping. Eli keeps her door closed pretty often so Maggie won't bark at all of the candidates coming in for interviews.

Jonah, our team leader for the Northeast, Northwest (including California) and Mid-Atlantic regions is the fast talker. Lemme tell you, that guy could convince a lion that he's a shark. And I'm sure he has-- Jonah has some pretty crazy stories. He's been with us for over five years.

Oh, and there's David-our trusty Managing Director- a great boss and a great guy ( and no, I'm not just saying that cuz he's gonna read this- though I'm sure it won't hurt). David truly puts the team into a cohesive group that works really well together. Together we pick up jobs, source candidates, and blog. (Well to be fair, I'm doing most of the blogging now)- but its all due to David's management skills. At least, that's what we tell him :>)

Then there's Janice. Janice is the Team Leader for Midwest, Heartland and Alaska/Hawaii regions. She's our newest Team Leader and believe it or not.....a former narcotics officer and a nurse! She reminds us how exciting it is to get to work in the recruitment biz- the first time she placed a candidate, she made us all dance around the office! And boy did we dance...all the way into our Managing Directors office. Now here's the clincher- and proof that I work in the coolest office of all time. David Gantshar, Managing Director-the fearless leader of our department- joined us in the Conga! Thats how excited we get when we place a candidate. I won't lie, the fee we get is nice. But the fact that we know that we placed a capable candidate in a job where they can do good- thats the reason for the Conga.

Jessica is Barb's assistant and our lead Project Manager. She's as quiet as can be but the candidates love her. They know Jessica has all of the "inside information" about the hospitals.

I don't interact too much with the rest of our leadership team (Steve - Finance; Eric - Legal; Marci - Marketing, Wiggi - Information Technology) but they all play a critical role in our day-to-day operations. We're all supported by some of the best recruiters and researchers in the industry. I'll introduce you to them some other time.

So now that you've met the team, we can start talking about working together to find you your next job!

Wait, Jeff just came in, and its Monday morning- Donuts await.

Keep ya posted.

Merrainiac