20 Years of Hiring Success: What Works (and Doesn’t) in Healthcare Recruiting
SimiTree’s Executive Vice President, Eric Scharber, shared real-world insights from over two decades of experience in healthcare recruiting during an exclusive webinar this month. As the founder of Exact Recruiting (now SimiTree Talent Solutions), Eric has led over 3,500 recruitment and interim leadership engagements across home health, hospice, and behavioral health.
If your organization is struggling with employee retention in healthcare or can’t seem to find the right clinical or leadership talent, this webinar breaks down what top-performing agencies are doing differently. Keep reading for a full recap!
Need answers now? Make a meeting – Talk to a talent expert about improving retention and hiring better candidates.
What’s Driving Today’s Healthcare Hiring Challenges
The U.S. healthcare sector is projected to add 6.7 million jobs by 2033, but most providers can’t fill their existing openings.
- Millennials now make up 75% of the workforce in 2025, and most are not engaged at work.
- Behavioral health is facing a severe staffing shortage, with less than 25% of the workforce needed to meet demand.
- 95% of home- and community-based care providers report moderate to severe staffing shortages.
- Turnover is draining resources, with 77% of agencies turning away referrals due to lack of staff.
If you’re in home health, hospice, or behavioral health, your recruiting and retention strategies must be built for these realities.
Recruiting and Retention Are Not the Same Thing
One key message from the webinar: You can’t retain employees if you don’t hire the right people to begin with.
SimiTree’s data-backed approach to healthcare talent acquisition starts with understanding what attracts the best candidates—what Eric calls the “top 20%’rs.”
These top performers are looking for:
- Fair pay and transparent compensation
- Flexible schedules and work-life balance
- Stable, mission-driven organizations
- A clear path for growth and leadership
- Trustworthy, supportive managers
If your agency doesn’t offer these, you’re likely spending more on recruitment than you should, and seeing low retention in return.
Learn how to align your recruiting strategy with what high-performing candidates want.
Where Are the Best Healthcare Candidates Hiding?
Most qualified healthcare professionals—especially in home health and hospice—are not actively applying for jobs. They’re already working and waiting for a better opportunity to come their way.
That’s why SimiTree trains clients to:
- Use social media to find and attract passive talent
- Launch employee referral programs that actually work
- Keep job applications short, mobile-friendly, and easy to find
- Promote their employer brand consistently across digital channels
- Make every staff member part of the recruiting effort
According to the Aberdeen Group, 73% of job seekers under 35 found their last job through social media. If your agency isn’t recruiting there, you’re invisible to the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Why Most Healthcare Job Ads Don’t Work
Top-tier candidates rarely apply to generic job ads, especially in leadership or clinical roles. Instead, they’re drawn to:
- Job postings that are clear, concise, and include salary ranges
- Career pages that are easy to navigate and mobile-optimized
- Organizations that know how to pitch their mission, benefits, and culture
- Hiring teams that can make quick decisions and communicate well
Posting on the wrong sites or failing to follow up quickly can cost you your best applicant.
Want to audit your job ads or referral program? Let’s schedule a call.
How to Keep Your Best Employees
The same effort you put into healthcare recruiting should continue after the hire. SimiTree’s clients see better retention because they invest in:
- Onboarding programs with 30/60/90 day check-ins
- Mentorship and buddy systems
- Ongoing leadership development and training
- Competitive pay structures and performance rewards
- Real flexibility in schedules and PTO policies
What are the most common reasons employees leave?
- Poor management relationships
- Lack of growth opportunities
- Burnout from understaffing
- Misalignment with company values
These aren’t just HR issues—operational risks affecting referrals, revenue, and reputation.
Struggling with staffing gaps or burnout?
Get our free eBook and explore proven healthcare staffing models for home health, hospice, and behavioral health. Download eBook now
Final Takeaways
You don’t need more job ads. You need a recruiting and retention strategy that’s built for the demands of home health, hospice, and behavioral health.
With 20 years of proven success, SimiTree Talent Solutions helps healthcare organizations hire smarter, retain longer, and build teams that stay.
Ask us anything: https://choose.simitreehc.com/SimiTree-Talent-Solutions-Expert-Healthcare-Recruiting-and-Interim-Leadership
Connect with our team to talk about how we can help with your hiring goals.