5 International Recruitment Challenges in Healthcare
<h3>The Necessity of International Recruitment</h3> <p>With skills shortages across many industries globally, increasing international recruitment activities can help to stem workforce deficits. Chronic staffing shortages in industries such as healthcare push recruiters to access global talent pools. Unless talent from overseas is recruited and deployed, skills shortages are likely to worsen, increasing pressure on employers, employees, industries and clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;If we take the healthcare industry as an example, myriad factors contribute to international recruitment challenges.&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Nursing Workforce is Ageing</h3> <p>In countries such as the UK, the <a href="https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/opinion/comment/ageing-workforce-or-skills-and-experience-nhs-cant-afford-to-lose-172476" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nursing workforce is ageing</a>. 1 in 3 nurses on the NMC register are aged 51 or over. 50,000 of the 675,000 nurses on the register are at least 61. <strong>What does this mean? </strong>With a retirement age of 65, the UK could lose up to 25% of that healthcare sector workforce in the next few years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h3>Healthcare Job Vacancies</h3> <p>At present, the UK’s NHS is en route to achieving a projected shortfall of <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/the-uks-healthcare-industry-issues-and-priorities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">350,000 healthcare vacancies by 2030</a>. This deficit applies to most healthcare disciplines, from nurses and doctors to mental health workers and dentists.&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Pandemic</h3> <p>In addition to the need to self-isolate or quarantine, workplace stress, staffing shortages and burnout have all facilitated the decline in staff.&nbsp;</p> <h2>5 International Recruitment Challenges in Healthcare</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1971102842-1024x535.jpg" alt="Invest in your employees, so they make your future theirs. " class="wp-image-12428" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1971102842-1024x535.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1971102842-300x157.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1971102842-768x401.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1971102842.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>It can be challenging to streamline the hiring process while keeping candidates engaged.</figcaption></figure> <h3>1. International Recruitment Challenges in Healthcare: Strategies and Costs</h3> <p>For organizations looking to recruit internationally, this solution may seem daunting in terms of a variable of costs, red tape, overly bureaucratic processes and time to hire. Organizations must weigh up their current workforce struggles and assess whether international recruitment is the most viable option for their overall success. International recruitment is usually cheaper and quicker than a direct recruitment method.</p> <h3>2. The Hiring Process</h3> <p>Pre-pandemic, many hiring managers would travel to supply countries, conduct interviews in bulk and hire staff. This involves a drain on hiring staff and resources. Credential <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/difference-between-verification-attestation" target="_blank">verification</a>, training, flights, visas, work permits, language classes, accommodation and onboarding must be managed. These necessary steps can be extremely <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/whitepaper-the-costs-of-an-ineffective-hiring-process" target="_blank">costly</a> and time-consuming. From recruiting and offering a job to compliance and processing delays, it can be challenging to streamline the hiring process while keeping candidates engaged. After all those time-consuming and costly efforts, unless engaged and communicated with, a candidate may decide last minute not to work for you.</p> <h3>3. The War on Talent</h3> <p>Like the UK and NHS, other countries face similar staffing deficits, increasing the competition for overseas talent. Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia are three countries that recruit almost 20% of their workforce from abroad. And while the competition may be tough amongst countries, it also exists amongst national organizations and trusts, competing to attract the same talent. This hiring landscape has created a job-seekers market where healthcare professionals can choose from their pick of international recruiters.&nbsp;</p> <h3>4. Staff Turnover</h3> <p>Particularly for international staff, turnover happens and is often inevitable. Newly recruited staff may choose to leave their post for another job, move to a different country, or simply return home to their families. A lack of employee support and understanding can unwillingly encourage turnover. From the interview stages into employment, strategic pastoral support can be the difference between a happy staff member and premature turnover.&nbsp;</p> <h3>5. Verified Professionals</h3> <p>If you’re ready to hire the <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/the-perfect-candidate-or-someone-who-is-great-at-interviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perfect candidate</a>, it’s essential to know who you’re really hiring. In the global migration landscape, employers risk hiring candidates with false credentials from <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/diploma-mills-a-concern-for-employers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diploma mills</a>. Ensure to thoroughly vet your candidate’s <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/diploma-mills-a-concern-for-employers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identity</a>, qualifications, references and credentials in advance of employment. Unfortunately, there are <a href="https://businessblog.trueprofile.io/cost-of-making-a-bad-hire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high costs</a> associated with making a wrong hiring decision based on fraudulent degrees.</p> <p></p> <h2>3 International Recruitment Solutions in Healthcare</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1454679722-1024x535.jpg" alt="3 International Recruitment Solutions in Healthcare" class="wp-image-12426" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1454679722-1024x535.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1454679722-300x157.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1454679722-768x401.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1454679722.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Invest in your employees, so they make your future theirs.</figcaption></figure> <h3>1. Optimize the Hiring Process</h3> <p>Organizations need to trust established recruitment platforms that alleviate and simplify <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/international-recruitment-challenges" target="_blank">international recruitment challenges</a> in healthcare. Hiring the best global talent for a job vacancy and streamlining processes to expedite hiring time will positively impact employees, employers, and ultimately, patients. In addition, quality of care will increase and treatment waiting lists will reduce.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Throughout these HR activities, ensure that your <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/7-hr-practices-for-the-best-candidate-screening-experience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">candidate experience</a> is defined. If you have yet to consider the importance of a positive candidate experience, could it already be costing you?</p> <h3>2. Attraction and Retention</h3> <p>It’s crucial when <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/hiring-internationally-5-ways-to-help-you-employ-top-talent-from-abroad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recruiting internationally</a> that <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/great-resignation-employee-retention" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">employee retention</a> strategies are at the forefront of hiring activities and HR decisions. Job candidates will be uprooting their lives to join your organization, so employee support, training and development, monetary and non-monetary compensation, innovative technology and equipment and a solid hiring process must be of a standard to attract and retain them. It’s crucial to determine a candidate’s willingness to relocate at the beginning of the hiring process to avoid cold feet down the line. Invest in your employees, so they make your future theirs.&nbsp;</p> <h3>3. Let Technology Do the Work</h3> <p>With <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/6-ways-technology-addresses-skills-shortages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">innovative technology</a>, you can remotely recruit new staff from a variety of supply countries. Recruitment partners like <a href="https://lp.trueprofile.io/recruit-medical-staff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueProfile.io Recruiting</a> can give hiring managers and international employers access to a pre-verified pool of global professionals ready to be hired. Not only can this expedite time-to-hire, but it reduces costs significantly. </p> <p>TrueProfile.io uses cutting-edge <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/blockchain-how-to-avoid-a-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blockchain technology</a> to securely verify a candidate’s credentials, ensuring they are who they say they are. A growing pool of pre-verified candidates and healthcare professionals ready to be hired overseas inspires organizations, recruiters and employers with trust and confidence to close their skills gap quickly with pre-verified talent. In addition, our use of blockchain technology cancels out the need for repetitive verifications, processing delays and reduces&nbsp;</p> <h3>In Summary</h3> <p>We previously spoke about the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.trueprofile.io/partner/resources/5-lessons-2020-taught-healthcare-recruitment" target="_blank">lessons healthcare recruitment</a> has learned and continues to learn from the pandemic. As we approach the last quarter of 2021, we need to continue adapting to our circumstances. We need to strategize and implement processes to support savvy hiring decisions to overcome international recruitment challenges in healthcare. A streamlined hiring process should use technology to cut red tape, reduce time-to-hire, mitigate risk and ultimately, stem global staffing shortages.</p> <p><strong>If you are hiring internationally and need a secure recruiting platform to hire pre-verified healthcare professionals, sign up to <a href="https://lp.trueprofile.io/recruit-medical-staff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueProfile.io Recruiting </a>today!</strong></p> <h2>Blogs on Recruitment Challenges</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://blog.trueprofile.io/international-recruitment-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Confront the Major Challenges of International Recruitment</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.trueprofile.io/hr-challenges-in-cross-national-corporate-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HR Challenges in Cross-National Corporate Expansion</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.trueprofile.io/top-5-recruiting-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 5 Recruiting Challenges and How To Turn Them Into Advantages</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.trueprofile.io/healthcare-challenges-achieving-ksas-vision-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Healthcare Challenges &#8211; Achieving KSA’s &#8216;Vision 2030&#8217;</a></li></ul> <p></p>