Are You Ready to be Scrutinized? Part II

Hiring managers and recruiters are using additional recruiting tools and services to help screen potential health system CIO candidates. As mentioned in Part I, along with phone and face-to-face interviews, you may be asked to complete a candidate questionnaire, go through a verification process of employment and degrees, and take an online leadership assessment or psychometric behavioral assessment. Your future employer will also analyze your Internet and social media persona and call your references. Here are some descriptions and cautionary advice about these additional tools.

Leadership assessment

Personality, behavioral, and leadership assessment tools have been around for many years.  You may have taken a Myers Briggs personality test in the past.  It is fun to go back and take it again to see if you have changed.  There may be a nominal fee charged for an assessment of your personality.  Other online tests offer a greater range of assessment tools, and may also involve a fee, usually paid for by the hiring company. The DiSC Test, taken online, examines your potential Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, as well as your work style and relationship building ability. Leadership skills can be assessed in a 16 point Exceptional Leadership 360° Feedback Survey given by my employer for key executive leadership roles. Analysis of the online tests results will be provided by a trained evaluator.

Cautionary advice – You can prepare for these online assessment tests by being rested, calm, and not hurried. Realize that you are who you are, and trying to outwit or change when taking these tests is impossible. Ask for feedback or the actual copy of the results for your records; it can be a great learning experience.

Internet and Social Media

Before 2003 or 2004, no one worried about their online image. No one had one. Now everyone can be scrutinized on the World Wide Web and on many sites. Here’s a few tips on how you can control, or take advantage of, the power of the Web:

• Google – search your name, and find out what others are reading about you. Influence your Web presence by writing and speaking more on healthcare IT topics. Beware of negative comments on blogs or any website.
• LinkedIn – invest in a professional photograph on your profile, use correct dates and titles for your positions, update frequently or as needed, connect with 500+. Every HR person or recruiter will view your profile if you apply for a position.
• Facebook – consider closing or never opening an individual account, like many IT professionals I interview. If you use it, use all available privacy and security controls, leave off private information, and limit photos.
• Twitter – use it for professional information, connect and follow HIT industry leaders, never Tweet anything negative, handle this site with caution.
• Blog – write a blog to provide expert knowledge or join an online HIT industry publication to share expertise, stay away from selling or negative views, post comments on other industry leader blogs.