Q. Should a doctor sign an agreement with a recruiter? I've come across this issue in various forms over the years. Here are some thoughts on the subject:

A. The cardinal rule should always be "read before you sign." That being said, I don't ask my physicians to sign agreements with Staffphire because I don't think it's ethical for a contingency based firm to contractually obligate its physicians when the firm itself is not equally contractually obligated with its candidate-seeking clients in terms of exclusivity. Retained firms, as in the field of executive search, are another matter perhaps.

Further, I caution each physician to take great care in signing agreements with any firm or entity. Some physicians come to me with agreements already in hand, signed with other recruiters, and I always offer to review the agreement with them to delve into what it actually obligates the physician to, or bars him/her from doing for a certain period of time. My primary emphasis is on the level of trust established between a physician seeking a new practice and Staffphire rather than pursuing contractual obligations compelling the parties on matters of performance and proprietary sourcing "possession". Without trust as the essential element, it doesn't matter what agreements have been signed prior to coming to Staffphire seeking practice opportunities.

Lastly, I believe it to be imperative for physicians to keep a log of who/when/where their CV has been sent to. Disregarding the value of such guidance does more damage overall than placing your signature on an agreement with a particular firm, generally speaking. If a firm requires exclusivity, it should be at the physician's request only. Otherwise, don't sign anything. Period.

Respectfully submitted to post,

Philip Prosen
Staffphire
316.992.9217
info@staffphire.com
http://www.staffphire.com