The Audiology Recruiter

Dylan Yarborough, a successful and inspiring audiology recruiter at Consult, talks to Hearing Aid UK about his experiences in the industry, his journey so far and why he does what he does.

What was the pivotal moment in your life that sparked your interest in audiology recruitment?

Funnily enough, it was attending the 14th annual BAA conference in Bournemouth that first opened my eyes to the world of Audiology, and the technology that drives the market. I was on my university placement with Consult Search & Selection at the time, working across the ‘clinical desk’ – so actually I had very little exposure to the world of audiology in the build-up to the BAA in 2017.

Meeting all the manufacturers (who are trusted clients) as well as seeing the relationships that my colleagues Rob Wilson & Patrick Reed had formed was also an attraction to me, as operating in a niche market allows one to form those relationships. After 2 days at the BAA, I knew from then on, that Audiology is where I wanted to be!

How does it differ to other medical recruitment?

I believe that the size of the market makes it different, it’s quite narrow and specialised. That means that your immediate network/relationships are everything. Everyone knows everyone in audiology and word travels fast – it means you always have to be honest, show passion, go the extra mile and demonstrate a level of expertise in order to develop and maintain key relationships. In other, more generic industries it may be less relationship led.

How has your role in this industry changed you as a person?

It’s enhanced so many of my skills that were formed in university and in my placement year at Consult. Now I’m in a full-time position, focusing solely on Audiology – The specialism of the industry means it’s essential I do my homework, whether that be reading books authored by Geoffrey Cooling (to name a few) or reading published papers by clinical audiologists, the demands of an ever-evolving healthcare industry means I must be proactive and always keep up to date with what’s going on and any market developments must be capitalised on quickly in an empathetic and consultative manner.

You were heavily involved in the BAA in Liverpool earlier this year – what was the most memorable part?

For me, being able to hold technical conversations with Audiologists was a huge part of it for me. It showed the work I’d been putting in at home was paying off.

Also, there were certainly some very memorable outfits on display this year at the Cuban Night at Revolution De Cuba – The GN team dressed as rum bottles and Pineapples is a memory that will stick with me for a long time!

For those who don’t know much about the BAA – could you tell us what the focus is for you, your role there and also the benefits of attending such events?

For us, the BAA is all about networking and making delegates aware of us and the value Consult Search & Selection can offer to their career. It is also a brilliant opportunity for us to put “faces to names” with so many of the manufacturer’s employees whom more often than not, we’ve placed.

It is a highly informative few days, albeit a fantastic networking event, it is a great learning experience on new technology, clinical research and KOL’s within the industry.

What’s been your ‘shine’ moment in your career. A time when you’ve felt the proudest?

Although I’ve only been in Audiology a short time – I think my favourite moment so far as placing a recent graduate (like myself) in his dream role with a leading independent; it was a pleasure delivering that particular offer and the gratitude that you receive from such individuals, really highlights exactly why we do what we do!

What advice would you give to all those studying audiology now? How should they be planning their future career? Any tips?

I myself know how quickly university flies by, one moment you’re moving into student halls and the next you’re on the stage for graduation with all of your family watching you. So firstly, I’d recommend enjoying every second of it! I’d advise really embracing your work placement, whether it be in an NHS hospital developing key clinical skills, or in the private sector gaining valuable commercial experience. I’d also strongly recommend having a discussion with my colleagues Patrick Reed or Rob Wilson, they have been recruiting in the industry for several years and have extensive market knowledge and insight, they can offer strong career advice and a lot of information around the potential career avenues available.

From a recruiter’s perspective - what excites you about the future of audiology?

The technological advancements that are dominating the industry and shaping the future of it are just incredible, we’ve seen AI assistants that can detect falls and hearing aids are moving towards being used as a lifestyle accessory in addition to a hearing device. The stigma associated is also decreasing thanks to increased awareness and exposure to the market. Everyone knows someone with a hearing aid, right?

What has been the biggest challenge of your career so far?

I think day one is always the hardest, from then on if you apply yourself in the correct manner and have a passion to learn about the market and network with individuals on a daily basis, you put yourself on the right path for success – but discovering that took some time!

Any sneaky peeks into your future projects?

We’re in a privileged position in the UK market in the sense that we have an industry-leading professional network, thanks to Rob Wilson and Patrick Reed’s work over the years – Many of our clients have an international reach, I think that’s where we’ll soon see Consult!