​Embarking on a career change at any point in your life can seem daunting. This blog explores the transition from nursing to the wonderful world of recruitment. It is a topic that is close to my heart as both myself and my Team Lead Emily have undertaken this exact career change.

I will delve into and provide insights on how the invaluable skills as a nurse can assist in such a different career path.

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Transferrable Skills

It is important to acknowledge the wealth of transferrable skills that are gained in nursing. Skills such as empathy, effective communication, critical thinking, and the ability to work under pressure are invaluable assets in the realm of recruitment.

Working With Others

Like nursing, recruitment is working to meet the individual need of others. You need to learn the art of patience. It is not always easy to keep others happy but if you have patience, it will make your life easier in this role.

Healthcare Expertise

Having a nursing background provides you with knowledge and a good understanding of the healthcare industry. This knowledge can be priceless when recruiting a healthcare professional. It allows you to comprehend the specific skills and qualities our clients are looking for to make a successful placement.

Meaningful Relationships

It is fundamental in nursing to build and develop relationships with colleagues, patients, and their families. Similarly, recruitment is about nurturing relationships with both clients and candidates. Your ability of effective, strong communication will set you apart in building trust and rapport. It also helps to have the ability to empathise despite it being in a slightly different way.

Candidates' Perspective

Knowing what it is like to be on the frontline gives you the unique insight of what challenges are put on a healthcare professional. Having this perspective helps me have a genuine and tailored approach to help guidance when working with candidates which in turn creates a more positive experience.

Adaptation

Nursing is an evolving field and adaptability is key. The same principle applies to recruitment as keeping up to date with market trends, tools and strategies is essential for success.

Showcase Those Skills!

When transitioning career, it is important to highlight those transferrable skills. Highlight the skills you have developed and how they will relate to the new area of choice.

In my case it was important to emphasise the ability to assess, communicate and connect with individuals as well as knowledge of the dynamics within the healthcare industry.

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To conclude, It is important to recognise the parallels between the two professions and how the outcome to continue to help people’s lives remain the same, despite it being in a different capacity.

I believe every career change is a chance for personal growth and can aid professional development.