Finding Your Best-for-You Job: First Things First

© BartPhoto / Fotolia

It may be time for a new job if you’re unhappy in your current job, in your final year of residency, or looking for your first job. There are many factors to consider and decisions to make; it can be anxiety provoking! A systematic approach will make the process smoother, with a greater chance of finding the right “fit.”

Identify your key issues. Consider the following factors. Answering in writing will help you clarify your needs and wants.

1. Describe your perfect job. List the things you’re good at doing, e.g. procedures, communicating with support staff, etc. Do you like doing them? At what kind of job will you be able to do those things most of the time?
2. Imagine that you’re at the end of a great day, relaxing with a friend. Your friend asks what made your day great. What are the top three things you’d tell your friend?
3. Examine your values and goals, both personally and professionally. What do you want to achieve? What kind of practice will allow you to reach your goals? How much time do you want to spend at work? How close do you want to live to your family and friends? What part of the country and type of community appeal to you?
4. What type of non-clinical activities interest you?
5. Do your spiritual beliefs guide your practice?
6. What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Finding practice opportunities. With your key issues in mind, identify practices that match your preferences.

1. Do your homework. Learn about different types of practices. Talk with physicians who work in a variety of practice settings, and have them explain what they like or don’t like. If possible, shadow one of the physicians during a typical day. Keep your eyes and ears open.
2. Update and polish your curriculum vitae (CV). In the first few sentences, summarize your professional abilities, career goals and the type of opportunity you seek. Organize the rest of your information with section headings in a slightly larger, bolder font; this makes it easier for potential employers to scan visually. Examples of headings are: education, credentials, experience, publications, committees and presentations. You can include information about your interests outside of medicine; such information can be an effective conversation starter.
3. Take charge of your search. Remember these three “C’s”:  a) Control – the people recruiting you have an agenda. Don’t lose sight of your own agenda.  b) Courtesy – be courteous to everyone you interact with. It opens doors. Rudeness locks doors.  c) Common sense – heed your instinct. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
4. Don’t believe everything recruiters tell you. Quality varies greatly. Some independent recruiting firms charge $20,000 or more for each position filled. That can be a strong incentive.
5. Uncover your own opportunities. You can contact potential employers directly. There are websites which list openings. Professional journals have classified ads. Attend conferences and look at job boards. Your professional association may have a placement service.

Your initial discussions and site visits play important roles in your impressions of a particular position or practice.

Next: Evaluating a practice