Skills and Educational Requirements

• Most health care organizations require a combination of skills and education to apply for a hospital recruiter position. More often, organizations require a bachelor of science in nursing or human resources. Along with strict education qualifications, they also require additional human resources certifications and previous experience.
  
  Most hospitals have a large list of requirements when posting open positions, but it is more of a "wish list." Don't ignore a job posting because you are 50 percent qualified. Very few, if any, candidates will meet the required criteria for the recruiter position because it involves expertise in several areas. You may be called for an interview if you meet only a few of the requirements. Something on your resume could grab their attention such as a previous employer, college grades or graduating from a university of interest to them.
  
  

Specialized Hospital Recruiting

• Larger hospitals may have recruiters specializing in specific areas. Because of the high demand for health care employees, recruiting is more difficult. Most hospitals have a strict budget and salaries will not increase for recruiters in specialized areas.
  
  Specialized recruiting in hospitals include nurse, research, physician, scientific and technician areas. Many hospitals started this trend because focusing on a specialized area may lead to more networking opportunities for the recruiter, which leads to attracting more qualified candidates for their open positions.
  
  

Working for a Prestigious Hospital

• As a health care employee, working for a prestigious hospital is a career booster. In most cases, prestigious hopsitals look for the best and brightest talent in the healthcare industry. They also have candidates on waiting lists to work for them.
  
  Prestigious hospitals tend to pay less for a recruiter. Research has shown that average salaries range from $44,000 to $62,000 a year at some of the top hospitals in the country. There could be a number of reasons for this trend. Although salary is lower, you could be sought after later in your career because you worked for a prestigious hospital.
  
  

Other Careers in Healthcare Recruiting

• There are plenty of opportunities in health care recruiting. Many organizations outside hospitals seek skilled healthcare employees to work other areas including pharmaceutical, educational, and agency settings. A growing trend includes organizations that staff hospital vacancies with healthcare consultants. Most of these organizations hire recruiters and pay excellent salaries ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 a year, with some positions offering a base salary and commissions.
  
  

Salary Negotiations

• Almost all hospitals have a salary grid which specifies a salary range for each position in the hospital. They will post salary ranges and grids, which are available to all of their employees, as well as candidates interested in their open positions. Salary grids are based on qualifications and years of experience. If you are offered the position at a hospital and negotiate salary, keep the salary range in mind. Hospitals work with very strict budgets; they cannot go over their salary guidelines.