How To Convince Staff to Take Up Work in Rural Areas

Several organizations have invested in career fairs and developed partnerships with medical schools to meet this shortage of healthcare professionals. And yet, there’s a huge deficit of health workers in rural areas.

But as employers, you will have to develop a strong Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to bring out the unique benefits that an employee gets for choosing your company. Some of the ideas that I can suggest include:

As humans, we tend to attach good times and good memories to certain places. You can replicate this idea to retain medical staff and convince them to stay where they are trained. Why would they consider moving to a place that’s outside their comfort zone? What are you willing to offer beyond a vacancy? It’s worth giving this some consideration.

The pandemic seems to have positively influenced our relationship with nature. Post-pandemic, people are rethinking their priorities and making work-life balance a priority. You could strategize your EVP around this idea and sell the rural experience where children can be closer to nature and with a little more freedom. You can research the needs and wants of your potential employees and see your role from their perspective.

Offer mentorship programs and provide career support to make sure medical staff feel there’s a clear career structure and that they’re not being left behind. This will help you break the myth that only urban landscapes can offer better research prospects. With good internet access and proper guidance, this shouldn’t be a problem anymore.

Working in a rural setting can be challenging. Before starting the recruitment process, here are a few things you must consider:

Moving to a new place is a huge deal when you have a family. For one, there are others to consider and not just the person applying for the role. Will the location offer educational opportunities, entertainment opportunities, and work opportunities for other family members? Is the local population predominantly senior?

Are you offering job prospects as a whole package that includes a favorable lifestyle? Empathize with potential applicants and offer answers even before they ask the questions.

Rural locations aren’t just sparsely populated but far away from large cities as well. Some of the facilities that the urban population takes for granted will not be available in rural areas. Similarly, they could be distanced from their family.

If you recognize any or all of these challenges, contact us for a confidential and absolutely no obligation conversation. We’ll use our experience and expertise to find the right people to drive your organization forward.