If you are just starting out or your current position isn’t the right fit, when you are looking for your next job as a physician, the prospect can be nerve-wracking.
You need to find a position that meets your expectations and needs but job hunting in the medical field is no piece of cake.
This guide will help you each step of the way.
1. Pinpoint Your Ideal Job
Before you begin the hunt, it’s important that you know what to look for. There are several big decisions to make when it comes to accepting a position as a physician.
First and foremost, you need to decide on a practice type. Each medical practice type has its pros and cons but its up to you to find the one that best matches your style of work.
The next biggest decision is location based on climate, size and type of town, and the amenities nearby.
If you have a family, no doubt you will want to check out the schools and recreation available.
2. Determine Your Fair Market Value
Of course, with any job search, you’ll only want to look at positions that offer a salary that makes sense. How do you know what you’re worth?
In physician compensation, there is a rating scale for the going rate of a doctor with specific experience, specialty, and location.
Learn what your fair market value is and don’t accept any lower than that.
3. Look in the Right Places
As a physician, you have two choices. You can either do the job hunt yourself or leave it up to a recruiter to find positions that match your profile.
If you use a recruiter, make sure they are trustworthy and aren’t affiliated with any healthcare companies or they won’t be fighting for you during the negotiations.
Otherwise, you can do your own job search by looking at online job boards such as ACP Online, ZipRecruiter, or Indeed.
4. Craft Your CV and Cover Letter
Your CV or “curriculum vitae” is a longer version of a resume that explains in detail your experience and knowledge as a physician.
To land a job, this is your first foot in the door, so to speak, so it needs to really shine.
Before a head hunter will even look at your CV, your cover letter needs to catch their eye.
To write a stellar cover letter, follow these guidelines.
5. Prepare Well for Each Interview
Winging it is not the right approach to a job interview. Each company will have a different mentality and will be looking for a special individual to meet their specific needs.
To showcase your expertise and to make the best first impression, it is wise to spend some time in preparation before any job interview you attend.
You should always research the employer that will be interviewing you. You need to have some questions ready to ask and you won’t know what these are unless you know a little something about who you are talking to.
Arrive a little early to the interview and look professional. Turn off your cell phone and make eye contact with a polite smile.
6. Compare Job Offers
If you are lucky, you will have more than one offer that piques your interest.
Before you make your decision, you will need to make a list of pros and cons for each position and compare your notes.
When you put all the information in an easy-to-see table, the winner will be easy to determine.
7. Don’t Sign Your Contract Just Yet
Before you sign any employment contract, you should have a professional contract review done to ensure that you are getting the compensation, hours, and benefits that are in your best interest.
These contracts aren’t always written in the easiest-to-understand language and having a professional who knows what to look for and can point out any potential problems can be a great ally.
Otherwise, you may be strapped into a job that could stall your career advancement or put you in a position that isn’t right for you.
Conclusion
Job hunting as a physician doesn’t have to be intimidating. If you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll soon find yourself in the best position yet.
