Essential Employer Qualities Sought by Radiography Program Students

AHRA November/December 2025 Quick Credit - The credit earned from the Quick Credit (TM) test accompanying this article may be applied to the AHRA operations management (OM) or asset human resource management (HR) domains.

By Ryan D. Williams, MBA-HA, RT(R); Heather Schmuck, EdD, RT(R); and Joy A. Cook, EdD, RT(R)(CT)(MR)

Radiography employers should understand the qualities that radiography students and future technologists prioritize in a workplace. Identifying these key attributes allows employers to position themselves as desirable career destinations and tailor their approach to meet the expectations of emerging professionals. This study examined the essential employer qualities valued by radiography students, revealing that some attributes are significantly more sought after than others. Adequate pay, job security, fair leadership culture, reliable colleagues, and job satisfaction emerged as the top five most important attributes. By focusing on these highly valued traits, employers can enhance their recruitment and retention strategies, ensuring they attract and retain top radiography talent.

Analysis of Employer Qualities Sought by Radiography Program Students

Recruiting and retaining quality employees is a primary focus for nearly all employers. With a plethora of available job opportunities, employers are continuing to compete for current and future employees across most healthcare disciplines. In this increasingly competitive healthcare market, employers need to understand the reasons why future employees choose their employer. Potential employees are in a position to weigh the pros and cons of potential employers and align with employers that best fit with their desires. Specifically, within imaging sciences, new graduates have the luxury in today’s market to compare future employers, leaving department leaders questioning what employer attributes attract radiography students for future employment. This research study sought to examine and identify specific attributes that radiography students and future radiographers seek in a potential employer. Participants were surveyed to determine the importance of various employer attributes that potential employers may offer.1 Results of this study identify ways employers could make themselves more desirable to radiography students and show how individual student traits influence their preference for various employer attributes