Don’t Lose Your Top Candidate at the Offer Stage

In today’s competitive market, top veterinarians often have multiple offers.  Here are five strategies to help you get from offer to signature:

 

• When presenting a verbal offer, lead with a conversation about what matters most to them – Before you can begin negotiations with a candidate, you must determine their priorities in this next career step.  Is it the bottom line – money? Is it work-life balance? Be open to working within the confines of your budget and abilities to meet these needs, in creative ways if necessary.  Then, make an initial verbal offer that opens with your plan to meet these objectives.

 

• Present a clear, written offer quickly – Following your conversation with the candidate, promptly put in writing a brief but thorough contract outlining the offer. Do not wait days or weeks to develop and present it.  Until your written contract has been signed, the hire is not official.  Don’t leave room in the process for a competitor to sign your hire away from you.

 

• Highlight growth, CE, and mentorship opportunities – Provide your prospect examples of how you have helped previous hires achieve their short- and long-term goals within the practice. These examples will demonstrate a tangible, proven commitment to their individual objectives.

 

• Follow-up with your candidates in a personal and timely manner – It is up to the owner or hiring manager to reach out to their prospects consistently. This will validate their professional importance to you, demonstrate continued interest and underscore your desire to have them on your team.

 

• Small personal touches make a big difference on the road to “Yes” – Effective, continued communication with your candidate is certainly necessary, but it may mean more than just a phone call or text.  Sending a gift basket on test day to a prospective new grad will certainly get you noticed and remembered. A basket of items from local shops and boutiques will likewise reinforce your interest in working together while showing off your town. These efforts demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of the prospect as an individual.

 

There is never a guarantee that a prospect will take your offer. But we can help you develop a checklist that will make them seriously think about it.  Need help with finding associates to join your practice? We’ve been in the recruiting business for more than 30 years, and since 2020, my team and I have submitted over 756 veterinarians to over 300 privately owned clinics. We understand the special requirements of finding the right doctor for private practices, and my team has consistently put our method to work for our clients, resulting in a 90 percent success rate in presenting quality candidates. Allow me the chance to explain how we can find the right match for your practice. I look forward to our conversation.