A recruiter's perspective on health professionals Published Sept. 14, 2008 By Master Sgt. Dawn Serakowski 911th Recruiting PITTSBURGH IAP ARS -- Boy...am I enthusiastic! For six long, stressful and tumultuous weeks at Recruiter School, I shouted those four words daily. I never imagined that six years later, I would find myself continuing to say them with conviction. It was determined that the Air Force Reserve was in critical demand of physicians. During this last recruiting year, the Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service expanded their efforts to fill a mission-driven need by focusing their recruiting in specialized areas; consequently, physician recruiting emerged and Recruiting Service needed dedicated and motivated individuals to volunteer. When approached about the opportunity to become a physician recruiter, I believed that I was up for the challenge; however, I never imagined that it would be as rewarding. While I am still learning all of the little idiosyncrasies of physician recruiting - from credentials to grade calculations, multiple specialties to length of schooling and training, one thing has remained constant throughout my tenure as a recruiter...resilience. To be a successful recruiter, you must be able to juggle many assignments at one time. It's like a high wire act without a net! As a physician and dental recruiter, what is needed is a consistent work ethic, a professional demeanor, honesty, integrity, and enthusiasm. My job requires me to be the expert. I have to provide guidance, attention, understanding, and maybe even a push, because as an expert I know the process inside and out. It is my job as the expert to understand and recognize what a person's needs and wants are and help them acquire them. Although my job has highs and lows, it's like any other; it provides me a feeling of self-worth at the end of every single day. It offers me the opportunity to meet with professionals who may have always had an underlying desire to join the military. Working with physicians and dentists has definitely broadened my idea as to the reason people may want to participate with the AFR. Of course, every individual has their own reason for wanting to join, but I have recognized a common denominator amongst Health Professionals: Service before Self. As Health Professionals, the extensive training that they endure seems never-ending; they may have always wanted to serve their country but never had the time. Physicians and dentists are in the business of helping others - Service before Self, an Air Force Core Value. As a physician recruiter, I can offer them the ultimate opportunity by fulfilling their need of giving back. There's a myth that recruiters are great salespeople. That's not true. While solid sales skills can always enhance one's performance, asking the right questions and listening to the answers makes you a better recruiter. I like my job because I am a collaborative partner throughout the entire process. I help people who have an underlying desire or need beneath the surface - It's my job to assist them to make a life changing decision. Where else besides recruiting can you have a positive work environment, challenging work, a sense of self worth, the ability to impact and change lives, all while serving our great nation...is there anything better?