Recruitment in graduate medical education

One of the most important responsibilities of any residency program director is the recruitment of resident trainees. Recruitment season is an exciting and busy time of the year. Advanced planning is essential for success, which is defined as matching a full complement of qualified applicants who have the requisite background and skills to become competent and skilled psychiatrists. Program directors should familiarize themselves with and utilize available resources for navigating recruitment interviews and the Match® process, including online and institutional resources. Psychiatry is becoming an increasingly competitive field, and applicant trends are changing. Since rules and regulations also evolve, program directors must stay abreast of regulatory changes to remain compliant. The relevant national organizations such as the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP) usually communicate regulatory changes to the Match® process formally through email notifications. In addition, best practices are often discussed at national meetings and through professional organizations such as the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Matching and graduating a successful class ultimately improves program director job satisfaction.