The first Tuesday of June marks National Healthcare Recruiter Day, which gives us the perfect opportunity to introduce you to our team.
Senior recruiter Colleen Reynolds and recruiter Renée Turner are the first point of contact for applicants to Virginia Health Services. They field hundreds of applications, and dozens of emails and calls a day. Their community outreach includes attending events, job fairs, interest sessions and working with partnership organizations from schools to training programs and more.
We are thankful for their diligence and engagement with the community as we grow our organization’s workforce. We asked they share a bit about themselves in their own words.
Colleen Reynolds | Senior Recruiter
How long have you been with VHS? 4 years.
Why did you choose to recruit for healthcare? I previously worked with nursing students as a career advisor in higher education, and I loved the passion and determination of those students wanting to help others. Since then, I knew I always wanted to work in a position where it involved healthcare because it is such a rewarding opportunity.
How would you describe your job in five words or less? Connecting talent with career opportunities!
What are your top 2 interview tips? 1. Researching the company thoroughly and know its mission, values and recent news. 2. Be sure to research the job you are applying for and tailor your answers based on your previous experiences and how it relates to this job. (Bonus tip: Be sure to ask the interviewer any questions you have!)
Personal details: I am happily married to a Navy veteran and we have a teenager and a French bulldog! In my spare time, I love reading and watching true crime.
Renée Turner | Recruiter
How long have you been with VHS? One year (this month).
Why did you choose to recruit for healthcare? Having worked within healthcare through hospital systems, I had the unique opportunity to provide access to healthcare coverage to meet the needs of the patients. Responsibilities of the job included visiting and meeting with hospitalized and discharged patients and families who were in need of healthcare coverage. When you have the opportunity to contribute to something that can have a significant impact in the lives of others, it also has an effect in your own life.
The same can be said about the position I hold as Recruiter. There are many qualified, skilled candidates who take pride in what they’re doing and who want to be a part of an organization that supports others. In this role, there’s a feeling that in some small way you are able to contribute to and be a part of their road to career success. Equally important is building community and business partnerships that support the individuals that most need care.
How would you describe your job in five words or less? Purposeful, gratifying, collaborative, motivating, significant.
What are your top 2 interview tips? 1. Come prepared for the interview. Start by doing research on the company. As a job seeker, you are applying for not only a job, but also where you will be spending a significant amount of your time. Therefore, it is important to get to know the company and use direct resources such as a current team member’s recommendation or the organization’s website.
With an employee recommendation, it gives a personal perspective on the day-to-day experiences, expectations and interactions. The company website gives you an overview that includes leadership, company updates and achievements, and team highlights and community engagement. The website is akin to an open window, revealing perspectives otherwise not seen or known.
2. Bring your best self to the interview and be prepared. A few suggestions: dress professionally and have extra copies of your resume available to hand out (even though the interviewer may already have it, it is still good practice to bring extra copies to hand out).
Assure the interviewer of what you will bring to the position, share your projected goals and aspirations, and talk about how they can align with the requirements of the position. And finally, arrive on time — or event better 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time.
You also can demonstrate your interest and seriousness about the job by having questions for the interviewer prepared like:
- What are needs within the position that will require immediate attention?
- What are the expectations and goals with the position?
Personal details: I love giraffes! I collect just about all things giraffe, from figurine, statues and pictures to pillows, drinking cups, jewelry … the list goes on. I have collected giraffes for many years. The tallest is about 5 feet, and my last count was about 100 giraffes. And yes, I even visit the giraffes at the zoo annually! My family says it’s an obsession and yet, whenever they come across giraffes, they bring them to me and now they’re hooked. It’s one of the joys in my life!
Recruiting Roadshow
Colleen and Renée host quarterly Recruiting Roadshows at VHS’ seven nursing and rehabilitation centers. The events allow them to interact with current team members in their work environment and show appreciation for what they do. It is helpful in better targeting quality candidates.
“It also means being flexible in completing the interview/offer/new hire paperwork process on site,” Colleen says. The Roadshow also gives candidates the chance to meet the team and management, and ask questions.
The next Roadshow is July 28-31. Get the schedule here.
Careers at VHS
We having openings for nursing positions, dietary, housekeeping and more. View our job listings and apply to careers with Virginia Health Services at vahs.com/careers.
