What Is a Hiring Manager vs. Recruiter? Healthcare Facility Guide

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Written by Kayla Tyson Editor, B2C Content, IntelyCare
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Reviewed by Danielle Roques, BSN, RN, CCRN Content Writer, IntelyCare
Hospital administrators and nurse managers trying to decide between a hiring manager vs. recruiter.

Staffing a healthcare organization is not a simple task. Developing a strategic recruitment team is essential to finding the right candidates for your facility’s open positions. Hiring teams can come in many forms, which might make you wonder: What is a hiring manager vs. recruiter?

While the two roles share many similarities, there are also some key differences. We’ll help explain the distinctions between hiring managers and recruiters when it comes to their roles, responsibilities, and the types of interviews they conduct.

What Is a Hiring Manager vs. Recruiter?

Recruiter

Healthcare recruiters are responsible for identifying and attracting qualified candidates for specific job openings within a company or organization. They can be employed by third-party staffing agencies or by healthcare organizations themselves.

A recruiter’s main focus is sourcing candidates, performing initial screenings of qualifications and experience, and keeping the interview process running smoothly. They’re typically the main point of contact for candidates, answering questions and scheduling new rounds of interviews.

You may be wondering: Do recruiters have a say in hiring? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a simple “yes” or “no”. While recruiters can certainly influence the hiring decision by making recommendations and suggestions, the final decision belongs to the hiring manager.

Hiring Manager

A hiring manager is typically an employee of the company with the final authority to make hiring decisions. They provide oversight in the recruitment process, which can include drafting job requirements for the posting, conducting formal interviews, and ultimately selecting the individual who will be hired.

While a recruiter’s role focuses solely on finding candidates, a hiring manager is usually a leading member of the unit that the new hire will be assigned to. They have a more intimate knowledge of the role and are experienced in the areas of healthcare required for the position.

In the hiring process, it’s important that the recruiter and hiring manager relationship is strong because a coordinated effort will allow the hiring process to go more smoothly. Communication between the two roles should be consistent, clear, and purposeful.

What Is a Hiring Manager vs. Recruiter? Responsibilities

Every organization runs their hiring process in their own way, and may assign various parts of the hiring process to different positions. When comparing hiring vs. recruiting teams, here are some key responsibility differences to consider.

Recruiter Responsibilities
Sourcing Qualified Talent
  • Post and advertise new positions.
  • Actively search for candidates through online platforms, job boards, professional networks, and healthcare-specific databases.
Screening Candidates
  • Review resumes, applications, and other required documentation to assess a candidate’s experience and qualifications.
  • Conduct preliminary interviews to evaluate suitability for the role.
  • Forward qualified applicants to the hiring manager.
Coordinating Interviews
  • Schedule interviews between candidates and other members of the hiring team.
  • Serve as a point of contact to coordinate availability and reschedule as necessary.
Collaborating With the Hiring Team
  • Share information with hiring managers and department heads to understand job requirements.
  • Align candidates to particular roles and provide recommendations for next steps.
Hiring Manager Responsibilities
Identifying Staffing Needs
  • Work with department heads to address short staffing and determine staffing needs.
  • Develop a plan to meet patient ratio requirements.
Reviewing Top Candidates
  • Review application information from top candidates.
  • Conduct interviews (in-person or virtually) to gather information about a candidate’s skills.
  • Determine whether a candidate’s values align with the organizational culture.
Assessing Qualifications
  • Use specialized knowledge of the role and the day-to-day operations of the facility to assess a candidate’s fit.
  • Weigh different perspectives with other members of the hiring team.
Communicating Hiring Decisions
  • Share the hiring choice with the recruiter or directly with the chosen candidate.
  • Coordinate with the recruiter to negotiate the compensation package if necessary.

What Is a Hiring Manager vs. Recruiter? Interviewing

Recruiter

Interviews with recruiters are typically the first step after submitting an application. They’re focused on a candidate’s general qualifications, with the goal of determining whether they meet basic requirements for the position. The recruiter’s goal is to generate a list of candidates to send to the hiring team for further consideration.

Questions may cover basic healthcare knowledge, but without the specificity and depth that would take place in future interviews. Recruiters might ask questions about a candidate’s career goals, overall experience, and reasons for applying to their healthcare organization.

Hiring Manager

Interviewing with hiring managers usually takes place further along in the interview process, after the initial applicant pool has been screened. The goal here is to assess a candidate’s specialized skills and expertise, and gain information about whether they would be able to perform the job successfully.

Hiring managers are responsible for asking more in-depth, targeted questions, and need to have a better idea of what to look for when hiring healthcare professionals. Their interview questions may address how a candidate would react to a hypothetical situation, the ways in which their past experiences have prepared them for the role, and how they respond to adversity.

Find the Quality Healthcare Professionals You Need

Now that you can answer the question, What is a hiring manager vs. recruiter? you might be interested in finding a quicker and easier way to fill your facility’s job openings. Posting your vacant positions to our healthcare-specific job board can provide you quick access to the quality professionals your facility needs.


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