If you’re like many other physicians who have made it through undergrad, medical school, and then residency, chances are you like to study. You were in the top of your class, most likely, and excelled at a variety of medicine-related subjects where people were impressed with your knowledge and work ethic.
So when it comes to being hired as a physician at a hospital, why haven’t you had the success you may have been accustomed to in your previous life in school? Surely it isn’t because of a poor economy – after all, there is a very strong need for healthcare related services, regardless of a down economy.
No, it’s something else, and that something may be a factor or two that you are completely overlooking. Here are four important attributes of the best physician candidates, that surprisingly have very little to do with your grades or experience, and more to do with your logistical place in medicine:
Just like real estate, it’s location, location, location
The best physician candidates for hospitals and health care facilities are attractive if they are trained at in-state medical schools. Quite simply, it’s because those hospitals, and the patients who use them, know and are familiar with the quality of training that goes on in their own state’s medical schools. If you trained in California, and are finding it difficult to land a job in Maine, it simply may be because your prospective employers don’t know the quality of your medical school across the country; stay in-state to possibly find better options available to you and a better fit within a hospital.
Have an active state medical license, or at least an application in process, before you start
Active state medical licenses can take a very long time to get, in some states 6 months to over 1 year, and hospitals and facilities often need doctors who are ready and licensed to work within a much shorter time frame that their state’s licensure process allows. Knowing that, have your state medical license active and in good standing as soon as possible when seeking out jobs.
Personal ties to an area really do matter
Hospitals and other health care facilities don’t want to hire a physician who moves on after a year or two to a better hospital or community; they want candidates who have ties to their area and may be in it for the long haul. Do you have ties to a certain area? Family, friends, school and more all matter – go where you love to live and have a connection, and you will find hospitals that want to build not just a job with you, but a long-standing career.
When can you start work?
Finally, most physician candidates can’t start for 6-12 months upon applying, usually because they are finishing up their last year of training, or because they are still under contract obligation from their current position. That’s fine – and it’s good to apply early and feel out the situation – but many hospitals seek out physicians who can start within the month if they are qualified and a good match. How soon can you start work as a physician? If the answer is “very soon,” you may find yourself a match for a local hospital who needs a qualified and talented doctor on staff now!
