Rick's Business of Audiology Blog

Job Applicant Advice

I recently received a note from a young woman with this statement: "I have lost my job, do you know anyone who is looking?"

So I asked what she wanted to do. Her reply: "Anything as it sucks to have no money."

I was busy so I thanked her for letting me know and said if I hear of anything I will keep her in mind. (Yup, that was a big cop out and I didn't feel good about it.) However in her two short sentences she didn't make it easy for me to help her.  Five yellow flags in two sentences.  

What did I think?  (The 5 yellow flags.)

1. People don't lose jobs. I bet she knew exactly where it was. What I need to know is why?
2. Looking for what? A job? An Applicant? A good employee? Their keys?
3. Anything doesn't help me help her. Anything could be a legal assistant or a stripper, a gardener's helper to an office manager, assembly line union work to outside sales.
4. She was hurting financially. Not encouraging. Does that mean she cannot manage her finances? That she is in debt and perhaps not someone I could trust to handle money? Is she going to work for a reasonable amount?
5. The phrase "It sucks" indicates some judgment issues.

If you want me to help you get a job send me a note like this:

Hi Rick,

I know you know business owners so I was hoping you could help me out.

I have been working at company X in sales support, they have decided to be open at nights and that isn't going to fit into my schedule as I need to be home evenings with my kids. I am flexible and open to what is available, but I really like to be a part of a team helping people. Perhaps in health care. I like answering the phone and helping people find answers to their questions. I also found myself enjoying phone sales and would like to do a little more of that. I can work in an office in the Anchorage area, or I have a home office and can work from home.

My current employer will be a positive reference. A copy of my resume is attached.

Thank you for taking the time to think about me.

Sincerely,

About to be Hired

I will match their price.

What a slap in your face.

They tell you not to share their pricing with the other guys, and then they ask you to share the other guy's pricing with them. They are asking you to do something they would tell you not to do.

If this happens to you tell them the price you want. Don't be unreasonable or crazy, but just clear that this is what you want and if they cannot help then ask them not to waste any more of your time.

Everyone Gets Evaluated this May

Has everyone working in your office had a hearing evaluation? Has their spouse? Children?

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month; so what better time?

Have everyone on your support team, and everyone close to them, come in for a FUN evaluation of their hearing.

What a great way for you to promote the importance of what you do to those around your office.

They get to see what actually happens in your office. You get to explain to them why what you do is important.

So Mr. or Mrs. Audiologist, when was the last time you had your hearing Evaluated by an Audiologist?

Employee vs. Partner

The best employees often don't make the best partners.

Often you want employees to do what they are told, not embarrass anyone, and not to actively be involved in outside promotional activities, or take a lot of initiative. A great employee might never learn how to mentor others. A great employee may never understand how to make the business numbers work.

This is why they often don't make the best partners.

A partner must be someone you can trust with your checkbook. They must be able to bring in new patients and advance professional relationships. They must be able to understand how to supervise, recruit, develop, and mentor others. They must be able to understand how to market, organize products, and make the numbers work.

One of the great sins of the Audiology profession is they don't know the difference, and business owners don't take the time to develop partners of their employees.  And Audiologists don't ask for the opportunity to demonstate these skills.

Yes, this is something I can help you do.

Rick

Truth and Lies

When I worked in a Law Firm some years ago there was a saying. Never ask your secretary to lie for you, because if she will lie for you she will lie to you.

This is a good rule.

Never ask your front desk person to tell someone you are with a patient when you are not. Never ask them to tell someone you cannot do something you can. Little "white lies" perhaps, but that is where the problems start.

When I am hiring someone I always, or almost always, create a situation where they will be tempted to be less than honest. I will require them to say something I know they are a little uncomfortable saying.

This is a little test of great importance. If someone can be honest with me during an interview then I think we are off to a good start. If they get all shifty eyed and guilty looking and don't own up to the truth easily then our interview may be over.

Career or Job

A client was frustrated by her Audiologist applicants. They were all focusing on the $ they would be paid.

I wouldn't have wasted my time with any of them.

Why spend time messing with carp when you are fishing for sharks?

If you want to hire professionals look for professionals; professionals are looking for an opportunity to grow professionally and to practice their profession.

Professionals have realistic expectations as to pay and know they will be able to earn their keep.

So when hiring seek out the professionals that are looking for opportunity and then pay them a premium as they will always be worth a premium.

You may need to hire some carp, but don't expect them to be the professional you want.

Don't expect carp to morph into professionals. It does happen but it takes time on your part probably best spend doing something else.

Most carp only morph into professionals as part of a job change or two.

No job is worth the money.

I was asked by a young Audiologist which is more important money or opportunity?

This wasn't someone I knew well, so I am not in a position to say what is more important at this particular moment for them. Perhaps they have a short term financial problem that required them subverting their professional life to make a buck.

What I did tell them is no amount of money they will be offered will make up for an unprofessional work situation for any length of time.

And a great professional opportunity will always pay off over time.

There is a difference between a health care professional looking for a place to practice and develop, and an employee looking for a paycheck.

If you don't know the difference, please give me a call.

Rick

Audiologist Owned is the Place to Be

If you consider yourself a Professional Audiologist then work in a setting owned by Audiologists; otherwise there will always be a non-Audiologist with the final say. It can be as blunt as you will fit brand x, and not y; or if you don't fit 20 hearing aids this month you will be looking for work. Or as subtle as noticing the person who didn't push the new feature isn't working here anymore.

As an employee you are a business with only one customer, your employer. And if you "need" your job then that one customer always has lots of influence over your behavior. Have you ever come to work when you didn't feel well because you felt your employer would want you to? Perhaps spreading your germs onto your patients.

There are exceptions, research and development and perhaps for university professors and teachers, but they are the minority.

If the owners are not Audiologists then they always will have a different agenda when taking care of patients. This isn't that they are bad; it is just the way it is.

The only way you can ensure that Audiologist Ethics and standards are going to be upheld in your work place is to work where an Audiologist has the final say.