Struggling to Hire Receptionists for a Mumbai Clinic: Seeking Advice on What I'm Missing

Hi All, I am trying to set up my own recruitment firm. I have worked in recruitment before and have a total of 10 years of experience as an HR Generalist.

Current Recruitment Challenge

Currently, I have a contract to hire 12 receptionists for a Healthcare Clinic in Mumbai. The salary offer ranges from 15,000 to 25,000, and the requirement is for any graduate who is proficient in English communication.

Efforts Made So Far

I have been working on this for the past month, but so far, there have been no positive responses. I have utilized database searches on TimesJobs, reaching out to over 500 potential candidates through email and phone calls. Unfortunately, most of them have shown no interest in the clinic position.

Additionally, I have posted the job in over 50 Facebook groups, yet there have been no responses. I have also utilized many free job posting sites, but have not received any replies as of yet. The few responses I did get did not meet the required communication skills.

Direct Contact Approach

At this point, I have started directly contacting hospitals and clinics, inquiring about receptionist positions and leaving my contact information for them to reach out. However, very few have responded by calling back.

Request for Guidance

I would appreciate guidance from more experienced individuals on whether I am making mistakes in the receptionist search or if I should consider moving on from this particular offer.

Your prompt response would greatly assist me and like-minded individuals on CiteHR.

Thanks in advance.

Regards, Sanjukta

Sanjukta, in today's job market, many candidates may lack seriousness in pursuing a career due to confusion. For example, when presenting opportunities, try saying something like, "Our client is a rapidly expanding Healthcare Chain." It's essential to sell the opportunity to candidates to make it more appealing.

By the way, walk into some of the clinics or hospitals that are in the locality near your client and try to speak to the nurses or other staff there. They may be able to recommend people to you. Hope this helps.

Understanding the Candidate's Perspective

Put yourself in the candidate's shoes and ask yourself, "Will I say yes if someone else asks me the same way you are now asking?" If the answer is no, then figure out ways how you would respond positively and repeat it with those you are talking to.

This is what Fred means when he says, "You have to sell the opportunity to the candidate to make it look interesting."

Highlighting the Job's Unique Advantages

First and foremost, stop offering them another job. Show them why this job is better than their present one. For this, you first need to be clear on the pluses and minuses of the openings you have vis-a-vis those of the candidates you are speaking to.

Even though you haven't mentioned how you are projecting or presenting the openings, most likely your body language could be suggesting that it's your interest you are taking care of. Would you respond when someone else speaks to you and you are able to see through that it's their interest they are catering to and not yours?

This applies across the board for any position or level in your field.

All the Best.

Regards,
TS

Dear Sanjukta, we fully endorse the views expressed by Mr. Tajsateesh that "You have to sell the opportunity to the candidate to make it look interesting." First and foremost, STOP offering them another job. SHOW them WHY this job is better than their present one.

Try to make the prospective candidates understand why the present opportunity is better after doing thorough research on this job opportunity. It may be true that some candidates may not be interested in a particular job opportunity, but it remains a fact that it may not be difficult to search for suitable candidates in Mumbai Mahanagar.

Ultimately, even if it becomes difficult to search for candidates, try to evaluate the reasons and discuss those reasons with the HR head and management of the company. We hope that some positive solutions will emerge.

You may have to put in some more hectic efforts to search for suitable candidates.

Regards, Optimus Consultants
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Dear Fred, Ts, and Jatin,

Thank you for your explanation. I have noted three things:

1. I have to work harder to break the ice.
2. I have to sell the opportunity to the candidate to make it look interesting.
3. I need to put myself in the candidate's shoes and look at the job offer.

Thank you very much for your valuable inputs.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Sanjukta

It's rewarding that the inputs from the members are useful to you. However, a slight mid-course correction of your action plan: instead of saying "I have to work more harder to break the ice," consider saying "I have to work smarter to break the ice." The difference is that you begin to evaluate every step/action of yours "along the way" and make mid-course corrections to refine your methods and steps to ensure the end result. Sometimes, the attempt to work "harder" can be misunderstood by others (in your case, the candidates) as a suspicious attempt to persuade them into accepting your point of view.

All the best.

Regards, TS

Dear Sanjukta,

In your second post, you mentioned:

"I have made a note of three things:
1. I have to work harder to break the ice.
2. I have to sell the opportunity to the candidate to make it look interesting.
3. I need to put myself in the candidate's shoes and look at the job offer."

You need to add one more point to your working style, and that is promptitude. After your first post, four senior members of this forum replied. However, your acknowledgment of their replies came after 79 days! Asking for guidance on a public forum and then abandoning it does not bode well. Members of this forum provide selfless services. Therefore, speedy recognition of their selflessness is your obligation. Hope you keep this in mind.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar