6 things every hiring practice owner should include in a career center listing

Excerpted from page 44 of the May/June 2023 edition of AOA Focus.

In a challenging market, hiring takes longer and writing an enticing job listing is crucial.

Bob Kehm, managing director of AOAExcel®, has overseen the AOAExcel Career Center—an online resource where doctors of optometry seeking new opportunities can connect with employers—since 2015. AOA Focus spoke with Kehm about the key to writing a standout career center listing. Listings that provide a complete picture and help doctors visualize working in your practice tend to attract more quality applicants than those that simply lay out the basics of the position. Kehm suggests including these six components in your career center listing to help it stand out.

1. An eye-catching headline
   

   When it comes to career centers, the old saying rings true—you only have one shot at a first impression. Without a standout headline, your listing runs the risk of blending into the crowd. While many employers are tempted to use headlines such as “Optometrist” or “FT/PT Optometrist,” including a few of your practice’s most attractive attributes in the title is a great way to pull more views from qualified applicants.
   
   Some features applicants look for are competitive salary and benefits packages, signing bonuses, great locations, four-day weeks, exceptional support staff and advanced technology. The AOAExcel Career Center is a great place to view examples of eye-catching headlines for doctor positions.

2. Salary and benefits
   

   Salary and benefits are at the top of the list of considerations for most applicants, so it is important to include some mention of what your practice will offer to new hires. On the AOAExcel Career Center, listings that include an exact salary or a salary range tend to generate higher interest from seekers. Giving applicants an idea of what their salary may be helps them plan for what their expenses would look like if they were to work in your practice. In the “Salary” field on the AOAExcel Career Center, add a salary range that you expect your new hire will fall within, then add a note in the body of the post that the salary will be determined based on experience.
   
   While applicants are certainly interested in knowing the salary range of a position, there are several other benefits to mention that can generate interest. Does your practice have flexible scheduling? Long weekends? You also might mention retirement savings plans, vacation days, signing bonuses, paid membership dues and performance incentives.

3. What makes your community great
   

   Location is the next most important consideration for applicants after salary and benefits. Highlight what makes your community special, particularly if you are posting on a nationwide career center. To make an applicant feel comfortable about relocating, they need to be able to imagine what their life would be like in and outside of the practice. Is there a large music or arts scene? Is your practice located within a great school district? Some other attributes you might mention are low cost of living, hiking trails or other natural features, and accessibility to metropolitan areas.

4. Details about technology and equipment
   

   Many recent graduates and young optometrists have had the opportunity to learn with the most advanced equipment and technology in the industry and look forward to putting their skills to use. Consider listing any updated or advanced equipment used within your practice, including technician-friendly handheld tonometers, OCT angiography equipment, wide field photography equipment, corneal topographers with dry eye modules and contact lens fitting software, digital computer screen eye charts, ERG/VEP equipment, or new technologies for early detection of AMD.

5. Practice and culture
   

   To help applicants envision themselves as part of your team, include details about your practice’s daily operations and the new doctor’s role. Does your practice have specialty areas or a broad scope of practice? What types of patients do you see most often? How involved is the support staff during exams? Describing the day-to-day experience in the practice can help an applicant determine if they would be a good fit.
   
   Personality counts, so be sure to highlight the things that are popular with your employees. Mention if your office has fun activities or team-building events. Note any employee awards or recognition programs. Everyone likes to know that their effort and dedication are appreciated.

6. Your contact information for questions
   

   Many career centers include fields for employer contact information, but these fields are not always visible to applicants. Include a sentence or two that welcomes questions from your applicants and advises them to contact you directly via your preferred email address or phone number. By inviting questions right in the listing, you may open the door to a conversation with an applicant who needs more information to feel confident in applying to your listing. Make sure to include your website as well.
   
   Remember that the job listing can be like an advertisement for your practice. Showcasing your practice in the most flattering light will attract candidates who are a great fit and encourage them to reach out. Just as applicants should craft an effective resume that gives employers an idea of who they are and what experiences they bring to the table, it is essential that employers take the time to craft a quality listing to help applicants determine if the position is the right fit.

Take advantage of your member benefits with AOAExcel

The AOAExcel Career Center is designed to support AOA members, whether they are looking to hire a new doctor in their practice or looking for a new career opportunity. Employers can post a position and gain access to the AOAExcel Career Center’s resume database. AOA members are eligible to save up to 50% when posting with the AOAExcel Career Center and have access to personalized assistance from the AOAExcel team. Doctors looking for a new position can connect directly with employers, search for new opportunities nationwide, and set up alerts to be notified in real time when positions in their preferred locations become available.