What does it take to get to the top of the healthcare technology management profession? Jenifer Brown knows. As a former recruiter for ARAMARK Healthcare Technologies, Brown placed talent in hospitals all over the country. Now she has started her own recruiting business called Health Tech Talent Management.She talks here about the skills a candidate should have, where the profession is going, and the biggest “oops” that a biomed can make in an interview.
How did you first get involved with recruiting biomeds?
For the past 22 years, I have been involved with all technical industries, but biomed really became a major focus for me when I was the technical career advisor for ECPI College of Technology.
Biomedical electronic technology was one oftheir major curriculums that was really growing because at that time there weren’t many colleges across the United States with that focus.
Is there anything unique about recruitment in healthcare technology management? If so, what?
Compared to other industries outside of healthcare, this industry has continued to have steady growth and forward change throughout the years.
The mindset of the people involved in this industry is so much more humanitarian due to the effect on patient care. Other industries I recruited in were more “dog eat dog”—bottomline
focused. Even with all of the changes in healthcare today where hospitals and/or systems have to run their operations like a business, they still maintain that human element, which is what I love about this industry!
What skills do you most value in job candidates?
That varies greatly on the level and type of position, so this is hard for me to answer in a blanket statement.
However, for anyone in this industry, I would suggest that they stay abreast of the constant change that is going on in healthcare to ensure they are retooling their skills in alignment with those changes. This could be continual education or degrees for management, or advanced technical training with an emphasis on information technology and integration.
Why did you decide to start your own company?
I felt that with all of these combined years of experience, I could make a bigger impact in healthcare by owning my company. I feel that I have a true understanding of the industry and what employers are looking for in their talent needs, whether it’s a hospital, manufacturer, or a service organization.
What’s your dream scenario for your company over the next few years?
To be THE solution provider that all sectors of the medical equipment service industry come to for their talent management needs.
What’s your forecast for the healthcare technology management job market over the next decade?
It will continue to see growth for at least the next twenty years due to the aging population. I feel, though, that the picture will look somewhat different, with more large hospital systems and/or investment groups involved.
What is the most common job interview mistake biomeds make?
It is asking about salary and benefits on the first interview. That event is the first opportunity for the employer to find out more about the candidate and vice versa. Salary and benefit discussions should not occur until the offer stage.
What’s the best advice you have for biomeds looking for a new job?
Get involved in their local/regional biomed association. Not only is it a great way to gain employment opportunities through networking, this will keep them informed on what is happening in the industry.
The more they know, the more confident they will feel, which will communicate across to the employer in an interview.
