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Dylan, Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management: Advize Career Interview
A UCSB graduate's unconventional journey from security work to Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management reveals a dynamic career path shaped by mentorship and proactive problem-solving.
This multifaceted role demands a blend of communication skills, emotional intelligence, and relentless pursuit of top talent across 50 nursing centers and 150 social media pages, even encompassing international recruitment.
The work is challenging, requiring resilience and dedication to navigate staffing shortages, regulatory hurdles, and complex personnel issues; however, the rewards are immense—transforming struggling facilities into thriving, profitable centers while positively impacting patient care, particularly in underserved rural areas.
Opportunities abound in the healthcare industry for undergraduates, with high-paying entry-level positions available.
This individual's success emphasizes the importance of persistence, a strong work ethic, and the ability to creatively approach challenges to achieve significant impact.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dylan Nowe
Director of Recruitment
OPCO Skilled Management
UCSB
N/A
Communications
Healthcare
Human Resources (HR)
None Applicable
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Career Path of a Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan's career path was not straightforward; after graduating from UCSB, they "just took whatever job [they] could get," including security work, before learning recruiting at Maxim Healthcare, a role that provided the "tools" for their career. Subsequently, a supportive manager at their current company, OPCO Skilled Management, was instrumental in their development into a Director of Recruitment, highlighting the importance of mentorship and proper training in career growth.
Main Responsibilities Of A Director Of Recruitment At OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan's role as Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management involves a diverse range of responsibilities, from ensuring "adequate staffing" across 50 nursing centers and managing 150 social media pages to sponsoring nurses from foreign countries and leading a rapid response team. This multifaceted position requires a blend of recruitment, online reputation management, international HR, and team leadership, showcasing a wide scope of skills in the healthcare staffing industry.
A Day In The Life Of A Director Of Recruitment At OPCO Skilled Management
A Director of Recruitment's day involves "a lot of calls" and interviews, proactively identifying promising candidates and "relentlessly pursuing top talent," including cold-calling administrators at 50 local nursing centers to fill leadership positions. This proactive approach, focusing on finding "servant leaders," results in improved staff retention, cost savings, and the ability to expand recruitment efforts internationally.
Top Skills for a Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan, Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management, emphasizes that "communication is absolutely essential," encompassing both interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, for success in recruitment. A crucial element, Dylan highlights, is "ultimate accountability," demonstrated by proactively addressing challenges like staffing shortages instead of merely complaining.
Favorite Parts of Being a Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan, Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role to be "the impact of [the] position," transforming struggling facilities into "fully staffed, highly profitable" ones by placing strong leaders who build successful teams. This includes initiatives like developing social media presence to attract applicants from diverse platforms, ultimately improving patient care, especially in rural areas where recruitment is challenging.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan's biggest challenge as Director of Recruitment is "finding the top talent quickly," a process hampered by the need to align ideal candidate availability with open positions and finding the right "triggers" to attract qualified individuals. This necessitates a keen understanding of candidate motivations beyond just skills and experience.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Long-Term Care Industry As A Director Of Recruitment
Dylan, a Director of Recruitment, finds the most rewarding aspect of the healthcare industry is transforming distressed facilities into "places where residents are smiling, the staff are engaged," creating positive resident experiences during their final years. However, Dylan criticizes state regulations that punish struggling facilities by banning CNA training, arguing that "those buildings are the ones that need it the most" and advocating for more supportive resources instead of penalties.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Nursing Home Industry, According To A Director Of Recruitment At OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan, Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management, highlights the demanding nature of the nursing home industry, stating that success requires "very resilient" and "hardworking" individuals. The work environment presents challenges such as dealing with "residents with behavioral issues" and navigating "false allegations," necessitating thorough investigations and potential suspensions of staff.
What A Director Of Recruitment At OPCO Skilled Management Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Recruitment Industry
Dylan's career progression from recruiter to Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management was driven by proactively identifying areas for improvement, such as enhancing the company's online presence and expanding recruitment strategies. This involved taking initiative and "just kept thinking of different ways to do it," ultimately leading to a promotion due to their irreplaceable contributions to the company's growth.
Entry-level positions for aspiring Healthcare Professionals
Dylan, Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management, highlights numerous entry-level healthcare positions available to undergraduates, including "licensed social worker," "charge nurse," and "respiratory therapist," with salaries ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 annually; however, marketing director roles typically require prior experience within the field, as "the owner of the company's looking...for the top marketers that have a lot of experience."
Significant Career Lesson From A Director Of Recruitment At OPCO Skilled Management
Dylan, a Director of Recruitment, learned that persistence and emotional intelligence are crucial for success; the ability to "laugh it off" when facing setbacks, such as spending "14 hour days" on a recruitment that's ultimately cancelled, prevents discouragement and fosters continued career growth.
College Experiences That Helped a Director of Recruitment at OPCO Skilled Management Succeed
Dylan's intense study habits at UCSB, where they "lived out of the library," instilled a deep understanding of concepts and the ability to communicate complex ideas simply, a skill highly valuable in their current role as Director of Recruitment. This approach, described as "giving them the grand picture item and then how everything lines up to get to that vision," mirrors the structured communication needed to effectively interact with executives.
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