If you’re a CRNA or a student getting ready to graduate, you might be wondering why the job market feels so messy right now. Maybe you’ve applied to a role and heard nothing back. Maybe you asked for pay transparency and got a vague answer. Or maybe you’re just tired of the back-and-forth with recruiters who don’t seem to have answers.
You’re not imagining it. The hiring process is broken.
We recently spoke to a recruiter at a major healthcare system. They were open, honest, and frustrated too. The truth is, a lot of the people trying to hire you actually know the process doesn’t work. But they can’t always fix it.
"We already know," they said. "We know the salary isn't competitive. We know we're not moving fast enough. But we can't change it."
That kind of honesty is rare. But it confirmed what many CRNAs already feel: the system isn’t working for anyone, and it’s not about you.
What Recruiters Are Saying Behind Closed Doors
This recruiter knew that CRNAs were turning down jobs because the pay wasn’t competitive. They knew experienced providers would skip their offers for higher-paying 1099 roles. They even knew that job boards weren’t helping them reach the right talent.
But their team couldn’t increase pay without triggering a full salary adjustment across the entire department or region. They couldn’t offer creative sign-on bonuses or flexible shift models unless it was applied system-wide. And they couldn’t promise faster onboarding because everything had to move through leadership, credentialing departments and complicated HR procedures.
The system is often rigid, and it puts everyone at a disadvantage.
Why This Matters to You
As a CRNA, you deserve:
- Clarity on compensation and schedules
- Fast, respectful communication
- A real understanding of workplace culture
- A hiring process that respects your time and experience
But many systems can’t deliver that …yet. Recruiters want to give you better answers, but internal rules often stop them.
This is especially frustrating when you’re trying to make a decision that affects your license, your income, and your day-to-day life. It’s not just a job. It’s your career.
What You Can Do Instead
We built Lokum App because we got tired of hearing stories like yours and as a CRNA owned company, we already share your pain. Stories of CRNAs experiencing a bait and switch or being ghosted after interviews. CRNAs being asked to fill put the same paperwork multiple times to the same job. CRNAs getting misrepresented by third-party recruiters.
With Lokum App, you can:
- See full job details up front, including pay and call expectations
- Message the facility, group or staffing entity directly with your questions
- Get real-time updates on job interest and next steps
- Control who sees your profile and when
This is how job searching should feel. Clear, simple, and built around what CRNAs actually need.
Our Promise: We’re Not Just Guessing
We don’t just build tech. We talk to recruiters, employers, and CRNAs every week to understand what’s really going on.
Have a story about a hiring experience gone wrong? Message us. We’re listening.
Because when it comes to making a career move, you deserve more than a job description. You deserve context. You deserve clarity.
If You’re Feeling Frustrated, You’re Not Alone
The system isn’t set up for speed or transparency. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
You can:
- Use tools that give you control
- Ask the right questions early
- Share your experience to help other CRNAs navigate better
We’ll keep doing our part to fix what’s broken, and to build the kind of hiring experience providers actually want.
Start your search on your terms. Download Lokum App on the App Store or Google Play
You bring the skill. We’ll help you find the right fit.