Pros
For anyone out there who is looking for an opportunity to make a lot of money and be in a relaxed 9am-5pm environment (but who is also intrinsically motivated), then this is the perfect job. I started at CMC a little over two and a half years ago and since then have paid off over 30k in student loans, bought my first car, and live in one of the nicer areas in downtown Cleveland.
The job is most closely related to an inside sales role where you will spend part of your time finding clients to use our services and another portion of your time seeking candidates for the roles that we are currently working on. I personally like this aspect of the job because I know that if I show up and make the necessary calls, it will pay off for me in the long run.
In regards to culture I would say that there is a very healthy team environment. Coworkers commonly go out to lunch together or get drinks for happy hour at some of the local bars. At this point in time there is not a single person I could say that I dislike, or who I think would do something negatively to affect my work. With every sales environment there is also a healthy amount of competition between recruiters. No one owns specific clients so sometimes arguments arise when recruiters compete for similar business. You will be hard-pressed to find a sales job that does not have similar issues but what I can say is that our team communicates extremely openly and if there is a true issue, our manager has always helped settle the manner fairly.
In regards to management, I consider my manager a close friend. It is obvious that she makes an effort to get to know each recruiter well and she does not attack you if you do not meet the goals that she sets. I have heard how many sales environments can be toxic in that respect and I know that I would not have done well in that type of workplace. If you are not meeting specific expectations she will sit down with you to figure out what you can do differently and will check in on you periodically to see how things are going. This was my first job out of college and I had minimal sales experience which was very intimidating. Despite this she gave me a chance and a.) was always helpful when I had questions b.) offered books to read that helped me improve on certain skill sets c.) gave me responsibilities that pushed me to become a better professional which has also carried over into confidence to pursue opportunities in other aspects of my life.
One more thing, we just moved into a gorgeous new space on the East Bank of the flats overseeing Nautica and the Cuyahoga River. Tall ceilings, brick walls, custom desks, and an outdoor patio where we can eat lunch in the summer and occasionally hang out after work.
While this post may be long and seem over-the-top to someone who is looking for a job, I feel that this company has given me so much and this is just about the least I can do. Beyond work, the financial benefits have allowed me to pursue hobbies, travel opportunities, and educational pursuits that I would have never thought possible 2 and a half years ago. If you are a driven and self-motivated individual who is willing to invest in the long term benefits of working here then this is a great opportunity.
Cons
-If you are afraid of making calls to people you don't know, getting on the phone in general, or have trouble motivating yourself, then this job is not for you. The only people who I have seen who have been unsuccessful are those that are not intrinsically motivated and willing to push past the discomfort of cold calls/ warm calls. There is a certain amount of grit that comes with doing the job. You will get told "No" 30 times for every "Yes."
-Also, although nearly every hospital system in the country will employ recruiting firms to assist with their hiring needs, it does not mean that they will enjoy speaking with you. Oftentimes the hiring managers that we speak with can be quite rude or just want nothing to do with what what we have to say. If this scares you or you don't think you have tough enough skin to handle difficult clients then this job also may not be for you. This was one of the hardest things I had to acclimate to as a recruiter. Over time I became immune to it and it just became a part of the job but some people never acclimate and then they stagnate because they are too intimidated to call. As long as you are aware of this and can learn to push past it then you should be fine.
-There is a steep learning curve when you first start the job which can be intimidating for some people. Healthcare is a broad field and you have to know what you are talking about when it comes to selling CMC's services. This is something that every recruiter struggles with from time to time but usually you get over the hump after the first 3 months. If you are open to learning more about the healthcare field then you will not see this as a Con (I only included this because some people truly struggle to learn or just have no desire to do it. You will need to do this to be successful).
-Ramping up to making placements takes several months and can be very frustrating. After that it is smooth sailing.
