We’ve all been there. We find the perfect job, make sure our resume is up to date, and send in our application. And we wait…and wait…and then the rejection comes. And if we’ve applied to several positions or organizations at the same time, we get multiple rejections. Or worse, we hear nothing at all. 

Cleveland Clinic has a better way. When someone applies for a job at Cleveland Clinic, they get immediate access to a caregiver, via text or email. If it happens that their skills and experience don’t match a particular position, Cleveland Clinic’s Talent Acquisition team will actively work with them to help them prepare for the next step in their career journey.  

In other words, the candidate isn’t being rejected, says Keith Evans of the Cleveland Clinic Talent Acquisition Workforce Diversity team. “We talk to them about their career and find out what matters most to them,” Keith says. “Then we match them with a potential opportunity at Cleveland Clinic by building their skill sets and making them aware of Cleveland Clinic’s core values, to help prepare them for that career opportunity.” 

Growing the essential skills 

Keith and his fellow caregiver Kim Peavy hold regular Community Employment Sessions with candidates. Keith is at South Pointe Hospital twice a month, and Kim is at The Langston Hughes Community Health and Education Center every Tuesday. The team also hosts online sessions, titled “Essential Skills for Success in Healthcare Careers”, each Tuesday and Friday.

All of these sessions can be accessed here. You can sign up for these sessions at any time, even if you have not yet applied for a job at Cleveland Clinic. 

At the in-person group sessions, caregivers help candidates develop essential skills. “We also do some coaching around resume writing and interviewing,” Keith says. “If they’re not ready for a position, that’s when we dig a little bit deeper and talk to them one-on-one about their experience and skills.” 

Cleveland Clinic’s Skill Development Center, a set of skill-building modules designed to help candidates succeed in their career goals, is also a part of the presentation. These modules help candidates develop the following key skills to enable them to thrive in their careers: 

• Empathy 

• Problem Solving 

• Collaboration 

• Communication 

• Adaptability 

• Active Listening 

The process also goes a step further, according to Keith. “Candidates may have the opportunity to submit their application for a potential position while they’re on-site with us, which may result in getting scheduled with a recruiter.” 

Offering hope and opportunities 

Keith stresses that the career-building sessions are important because they offer hope to candidates. “The candidate isn’t being declined, feeling left alone, wondering what’s next,” he says. “This program allows them to engage with a current caregiver, especially if they don’t know what they want to do or are not even aware of what opportunities we have. They really get an understanding of what we look for in a caregiver to be successful here.” 

The sessions also introduce candidates to Cleveland Clinic’s four care priorities: caring for patients, for caregivers, for the community, and for the organization. 

The team’s work is bearing fruit, Keith notes. “We had an individual from an in-person event at South Pointe who was interested in a certain position. After I looked at her resume and applications, I informed her of a position she wasn’t aware of that more closely matched her skills.  

“Before she left, I had her submit an application for a position at South Pointe. I got her scheduled for an interview with the recruiter, and the recruiter set up an interview with the hiring manager. The hiring manager loved her, and she was hired and started working in October.”  

Never give up 

Keith encourages anyone who is looking for a steady and fulfilling job to sign up for the skill-building sessions through Cleveland Clinic’s careers website. “I always tell people not to give up, no matter how many applications they’ve submitted or interviews they’ve had. This new service that we’re providing is an opportunity for the community to learn about Cleveland Clinic and our values and get an understanding of those essential skills to be a success here.”