Distorting the Truth

Merrainiacs:

We were all very excited to learn of Merraine Group's inclusion to Modern Healthcare's list of the largest healthcare search firms in the nation (April, 2012).  Yet, one of our competitors (the largest firm in the nation) wrote of their own firm that they are "....the only full-service leadership solutions firm dedicated exclusively to the healthcare industry, providing Interim Leadership, Permanent Executive Recruitment and Consulting Solutions to clients around the globe."   Huh?  Last time we checked, Merraine Group also offered "full-service leadership solutions dedicated exclusively to the healthcare industry, providing Interim Leadership, Permanent Executive Recruitment and Consulting Solutions to clients around the globe." We just do it on a smaller scale and we don't claim to be the only one!   

Now if you're the largest healthcare search firm in the nation, there's no need to distort the truth in order to impress your customers.  And why, oh why would you put this statement on your home page when it simply is not true?  We'd just respectfully ask that you not make claims you can't substantiate.  If my grandmother were around, she'd take your marketing department over her knee.  I'll leave the rest to your imagination as the visual on that isn't so pleasant.  I can hear her saying the words now, "Oh Doug, how could you say such a thing?" 

It is true that we're not as large as them but as so many candidates have told us, "I'm not a number with your firm.  I'm a name.  A person with feelings and emotions and concerns and you've got my best interests at heart."  Well, when you hear that...it just makes your day, and it serves as a constant reminder of why we're in this business. 

In summary, this distortion got me thinking about how firms can differentiate themselves.  Something to talk about in my next entry.  Oh no, I won't forget.  You'll hear from me next week.  Bank on it because we wouldn't want our competitors thinking they are the only ones with a unique story to tell.  What separates your search firm?    

Merrainiac                

The One That Got Away

Merrainiacs:

In an economy such as this one, there are many items that will give an individual pause when thinking about relocation. For example:

• Will I sell my home?
• Do I want to move away from my family?
• Will I enjoy a region of the country where the weather is so........ hot/cold/snowy/humid/rainy?
• Will I be comfortable living in a region that is so....................... homogeneous/diverse/different?
• Is it fair to take my kids out of school ................................................................... in the middle of the year/when they are close to graduating/when they have many friends?
• Is it fair to ask my spouse to leave a career that provides them a great deal of satisfaction?
• How will my probation officer feel if I move out of state?

OK, the last one was written in jest. However, these are great questions, and of course....we are just "scratching the surface." There are thousands of reasons you may want to gut-check that move across the country or out-of-state.

More than 95% of our placements are relocations. Let's face it. Hospitals often know their local markets and look to us to help them on a national basis. They know our reach is far greater, and Merraine Group is working in all fifty states, something they can benefit from. However, for every candidate that says, "I am ready to relocate," there are a few that have no interest in moving beyond the county lines.

Katy Perry has a new song out: The One That Got Away. While it's a story of love lost, such a lesson can be applied to some of our careers. Often, the individuals in leadership positions are those that were willing to "roll the dice" and move 1,500 miles away to a remote location where they had to start over. We've moved our fair share of senior executives including one recently from San Juan, Puerto Rico to South Dakota; New York City to rural Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida to a little hospital in Alaska that only has an air strip for several months a year. While some might have argued with the likelihood of success, each has worked due to our diligent screening process as well as an open employer/employee relationship that allowed for concerns to be addressed in a relaxed atmosphere where the new team member was made to feel a part of the family.

Experience in relocation is one of our hallmarks, and it is why we Merraine Group offers s full-service approach including relocation coaches available to help with every possible question that might arise throughout the process. If you've ever dreamed about "The One That Got Away," imagine if you had taken that opportunity, moved far away but landed the career of your dreams working for an organization that valued you as an integral member of their leadership team.

While relocation isn't right for everyone, it's important to remember that many opportunities are worth exploring because you never know where The Path Not Taken might have led.

Merrainiac

2011....Our Watershed Year

Merrainiacs:

One of my resolutions for 2012 was to be certain I was writing a blog entry with a little more frequency. So it was no surprise when my boss walked by me in the hall and said with a grin, "I really liked your blog post from August." I kind of got the hint.

So much happened in 2011, I think we'll look back on it as our watershed year. After ten years in business we saw our revenues more than double, our contract staffing business almost triple, we opened our third office, grew our staff significantly, added a key seat to our leadership team and appointed Meg to our Board.

Our retention rate is at an all-time high, our retained business has grown and a number of clients are coming on-board with our HR outsourcing solutions. All in all, 2011 was a great year and that is thanks to the wonderful candidates we represent, our amazing staff and the very best clients in the industry.

To be sure, we're not patting ourselves on the backs. As our leadership team has said, "We've got a long way to go." However, the signs are pointing in the right direction and for that, we are grateful. I'll be blogging more and updating you as we go forward in 2012....or else I might get another wise-crack. That's OK. I know my boss loves me :>)

Merrainiac

Where's the Beef?

Merrainiacs:

Y'all remember this commercial from 1984: Where's the Beef? It was so popular it even became featured in the presidential election.

Today hospitals need to be asking the question: Where is the value? When you read articles such as this one about the turnover hospitals are experiencing in nursing, it makes sense to ask your recruiting firm: How can you help us? After all, if your recruitment firm is only focused on the recruitment piece, they are obviously forgetting a key component of the puzzle: the retention piece.

Many search firms will argue that this is "beyond our scope" for the simple reason that they provide multiple candidates and ultimately the selection is up to the hospital. However, what retention strategies are in play and are behavior predictors being utilized to understand each candidate's long term goals? Are discussions taking place with the spouse to understand their role in the decision or is this just another quick deal?

Granted, the turnover rates the article above talks about are what keep us in business. However, we'd like to think many hospitals and medical centers have come our way because they they are fed up with having to replace their leaders every couple of years. So how did we get to a place where we could brag about a 97% retention rate? It's rather unheard of. What is your search firm's retention rate?

Merraine Group offers the "best-in-industry" guarantee. When we rolled it out, we were told it was ludicrous and that it would cost the industry far more than it was worth. Funny how that works. It's helped our business and we've yet to see another firm that will match it. We'll be talking about our guarantee at the ASHHRA show in Phoenix next month. For more information, come see us in Booth #724, at our hospitality suite or simply e-mail us: info@merraine.com.

The bottom line is if 25% of your nurses are really looking for new opportunities, you've got some issues we need to address and quick. Not to worry, that's what we're here for.

Merrainiac

Habits Die Hard

Merrainiacs:

I have learned that regularly updating a blog is like all of those other things that fall by the wayside....at least in my life. They include exercise, long walks with my dog, flowers on the weekend, regular maintenance on my computer, checking in each week with Aunt Tillie bless her heart and now.....updating the blog. Not sure how this got looped in there, but it was my idea after all! Alas, live and learn.

Truth is, we have been busier than ever. May was our best month in the company's history breaking our previous record by more than 30%.....so it wasn't just a "modest uptick." It was more like an explosion. We've also just closed our best first half in the firm's history, and we think we're on our way to our best year ever although I'll confess we do have our share of worrywarts. You know the nervous type always looking for those storm clouds. Interim placement is up, permanent placement is up, HR outsourcing is up, contingency search is up, retained search is up and our newest division Merraine Select is off to an auspicious start. (Note to self: I must tell you more about Merraine Select.) So, all in all it's looking like some of those habits I was trying to get better at may have to wait because it's been an incredibly busy summer with no sign of letting up.

Whatever you do, just don't tell Aunt Tillie. Her memory is so bad I just keep telling her I called yesterday and she lets me off the hook.

Merrainiac

We are Ten!

Merrainiacs: Excuse my absence. There has been so much going on. Our tenth anniversary bash was a hit. We received cards and flowers and even a few boxes of chocolate from clients and candidates alike as we celebrated a decade in business on April first! The letters and testimonials from people whose lives we have changed have meant so much. I'm convinced we are the beneficiaries of your kindness! This business is so incredibly meaningful....to be able to impact someone's quality of life while enhancing the leadership team and patient care at a hospital has enriched all of our lives. This past decade has gone by in a flash, and we have placed director level candidates at more than four hundred hospitals! Over the next decade, we hope we can do even better. We're focused on our customer care, our retention rates, our confidentiality, our speed to market, our sourcing methods and your reputation! Thank you to our clients and candidates who have made this such an incredible ten years! Our Founder & Managing Director, David Gantshar told the story at our company party of starting the firm in New City, New York where he shared offices with three law firms. On April 1, 2001 he was the only employee of the company, and he brought in a folding chair and a laptop and started dialing. Over time he kicked out each of the law firms as more space was needed and more team members were added. The firm moved to Montebello (our current location) years later and expanded from a regional staffing firm focused on the New England healthcare market to what it is today....a national search firm focused on placing the very best candidates in both permanent and interim positions at hospitals across the globe. It's been an incredible ride and for that, we have you to thank. Here's to the next decade and our teenage years! Merrainiac

Not Rain nor Shine....

Merrainiacs: Hats off to the "Merrainiacs." Nothing will stop our Nurses on their way to work. Not rain, nor shine, nor falling debris. Indeed, this story out of Detroit was one of ours. Happened yesterday as one of our Interim Directors of Nursing was on her way to work. We're all thanking G-d today for her miraculous journey. Although it was a most frightening experience and did quite a bit of damage to the car, everyone was fine and arrived without injury. Truth be told, our Interim Directors take their roles very seriously. Our interim assignments generally run between thirty days and two years, and they cover all healthcare disciplines from nursing and allied health to finance and the executive suite. Our interim team knows they are being counted on and as a general rule, we're filling interim leadership roles in a matter of days. Most of these dedicated folks are traveling across the country or far from home for several months at a time to ensure deadlines are met, conflicts are avoided, inspections & audits go well and patient care doesn't miss a beat. It remains the one of the fastest growing segments of our business due in large part to the dedication of our team. We're grateful that everyone was allright and thanking our team members for the work they do day in and day out. Bless you! Merrainiac