Hiring employees for your hearing healthcare practice in 2025 is no easy task. In what many still consider a post-COVID world, the entire process from recruiting, to interviewing, to onboarding and retention has changed. Part of the challenge seems to be that there aren’t enough quality candidates searching for a position. On the other hand, the quality candidates who are searching seem to receive several offers and are forced to consider factors including compensation, benefits, and culture. Audiology practices today need to be competitive in every way possible in order to hire and retain top talent.
Let’s go over techniques you can implement in your practice to find and keep the best hearing healthcare employees:
Smooth Interview and Hiring Process
One of the best ways to attract and retain quality people is to offer a smooth interviewing and onboarding process. When meeting the candidate, make sure they feel welcome, and are aware of what the job entails – transparency is key. Your offer should be detailed with everything expected in the position so there is absolute clarity. Once you make the offer and the candidate accepts, stay connected periodically before their start date to ensure everyone is on the same page, any questions are answered, and they are ready to start.
Positive Culture Beginning on Day One
Starting on your new employees first day, show them all that your company culture has to offer and give them appreciation. Consider having a small welcome gift at their workspace to add an extra personal touch. Coach your staff ahead of time to help the new employee feel welcome and a part of the team. It’s a great idea to have a designated person to train the new person, just make sure to a plan in place for onboarding them correctly and efficiently. Let’s face it, every new employee is nervous! Helping them to feel welcome and ensuring their success with training and resources goes a long way.
- Statistics show companies with strong onboarding processes can increase retention by up to 82%.
- Employees who have great onboarding experience are 69% more likely to stay with a company for at least 3 years.
- Companies with effective onboarding can see a 50% increase in their new employee productivity.
- A well-planned onboarding experience is shown to lead to a 2.5x increase in revenue.
Ensuring a smooth onboarding process may take some effort, but in the long run it is a win-win for the company as well as your new hire. It takes some time and money to invest in this well-oiled process, and the results will work in the company’s favor if the new hire is shown kindness, respect, time, and a well-organized schedule to learn their new responsibilities. They will become a valued employee amongst their peers as well as an asset for the company in no time. Plus, this will set you apart from the crowds as an employer!
- Only 39% of employees would describe their onboarding process as clear.
- 60% of the employees have said they felt disoriented after their last onboarding experience.
Follow the 5 Cs of Successful Onboarding
Paving the way for a structured, detailed onboarding is so important to your new employee’s success. It may take a little longer for some employees to catch on, so give them a little time and coach them as needed. Check in with them on a weekly basis to find out how they are feeling and acclimating to their role. You might even consider following the 5 Cs of successful onboarding: Clarity, Compliance, Culture, Connection and Check-in.
- Clarity – transparency from the first meeting with the new employee through. Make sure they are crystal-clear on their responsibilities, role and objectives.
- Compliance – familiarizing the employee with the company’s internal policies, ensuring a smooth entry into the company’s operations.
- Culture – helping the employee to be aware of the company’s values and social norms to help them adapt quickly.
- Connection – building strong professional relationships within the team is essential to their success as a new employee.
- Check in – regular check-ins with the new employee to complete the onboarding cycle, providing ongoing support, addressing concerns and adapting the process based on feedback.
The CQ Partners Recruiting team has proven success in hiring and retaining the right people for our members. While the average audiology retention rate sits around 60%, CQ Partners Recruiting retention rate in 2024 was 84%. Are you looking to add to your staff or build your best team? Reach out to our proven experts for help.
About the Author
Dawn Troutt is a Senior Recruiter who has been with CQ Partners since 2003. Previously, she spent 15 years working in banking and accounting, including 2 years in CQ’s billing department. When she’s not at work, you can find Dawn either on the beach, in a shoe store, or at a concert.
