A jolt of excitement hits when a LinkedIn message pops up from a healthcare recruiter. Or you see your dream job on a job board and meet all the qualifications. But when you realize you have no clue what healthcare company these opportunities are with, you might hesitate.

In an age of information, where every company has a website and transparency is the default, confidential searches can initially be unnerving. But not taking a leap of faith means you could miss some incredible opportunities in your healthcare career. Here are some things to consider when you aren’t sure if you should apply:

Healthcare Companies Choose Confidential for a Variety of Reasons

One of the biggest myths our healthcare recruiters must debunk is that companies only hire confidentially because they have a bad reputation or are trying to fire someone. The truth is that most clients opt for a semi-confidential approach simply because they want to keep their focus on running their practices. With little time to review piles of applications, they prefer to only speak to candidates that have already spoken with a recruiter and have the right qualifications.

Or sometimes a company may be in the initial phases of expanding, and they aren’t ready for the public to know their plans. Other times, the company doesn’t want to make waves or disrupt operations during leadership changes. While occasionally these searches do involve replacing an existing employee, a confidential search shouldn’t set off alarms for candidates.

Confidential can mean different things

The term ‘confidential’ isn’t always black and white and a variety of factors can impact the level of confidentiality. The most basic level of a confidential search (and the most common) is the one you find on job boards that do not mention the hiring company’s name. But they still contain all the opportunity’s details: general location, duties, benefits, salary, and type of facility. Once you apply, a recruiter will reach out to discuss more details about the company.

Sometimes job ads contain even less information or are not listed on any job board. You will only hear about them when approached by a recruiter. Again, you’ll learn even more about the opportunity from the recruiter before the first interview with the company.

Then there is a fully confidential search. These are much less common. The company is not revealed until later in the interview process and sometimes a non-disclosure agreement comes into play. While it can sound intimidating, these tend to be high-profile positions and worth an ambitious healthcare professional’s time to hear about.

Confidential Does Not Mean You’re on Your Own

During the process, feel free to ask more questions about the role. The recruiter will happily divulge as much information as possible: position requirements, travel obligations, benefits packages, bonus structure, company culture, etc. Nobody wants to waste time, so if it’s not right for the candidate, it is in the company’s best interest to be upfront.

Partner with Trusted Healthcare Recruiters

Many healthcare facility owners realize that a confidential search is only successful if a candidate trusts the recruiter. Recruiters with reliable reputations, like the ones at Hospitality in Healthcare, can make a confidential search less daunting for candidates. They take time to learn about clients’ and candidates’ needs and prioritize finding the best fit for both. See what candidates say about working with the healthcare recruiters at Hospitality in Healthcare.

Check out more resources for your healthcare job search and meet the recruiting team at Hospitality in Healthcare!