It is important for healthcare employers to recognise that one of the biggest influencers on the calibre of their international nurse recruitment pipeline is word of mouth. At My Healthcare Recruit we regularly find that when candidates have a really positive experience with their UK employer they become the best advocates and marketers for that organisation – referring their friends, family and colleagues. They review the organisation online and post their experiences in online forums for other international recruits. They will also provide feedback directly to their agencies. In this scenario, the organisation has their pick of the best talent and regularly has waiting lists for interview slots. 

  

In comparison, if the candidate has a poor experience, that is equally shared, perhaps even more so. It isn’t always easy for employers to identify these comments online because they tend to be posted in their local language within specific online forums and groups. However, one of the first things candidates will do when preparing for interview with an organisation is to look up references to them online and see what other international candidates have said.  

  

Key areas where employers can focus on the international employee experience are: 

• The quality of accommodation on arrival (inadequate heating in winter is the most common bugbear!) and the availability of maintenance to correct it if required 
• The quality of the OSCE Training provided and how prepared the candidates are for this challenging exam. 
• How rapidly the candidate is able to sit the OSCE test (long wait times for OSCE tests frustrate the candidates because their sponsorship status isn’t confirmed until this is passed and they are usually eligible for higher pay following this exam. 
• The level of pastoral support on arrival for key settling in activities such as opening a bank account, registering with a Doctor and collecting their Biometric Residency Permit from their allocated Post Office (the document which provides proof of right to work).  
• The level of on-the-ground support and training when they start their position 

• Whether the organisation delivers what was promised in their offer letter 

  

In many of the above situations, a good international nurse recruitment agency should be able to assist you and help to deal with any challenges that arise. 

 

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organization, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com.