Whether you’re fresh out of your residency or training program or are an experienced practitioner seeking a change, you must prepare for a meaningful job search. We will walk through the essential steps to make your journey more successful.

Have a Conversation with Yourself

What matters to you? What matters to your family? What type of practice are you seeking? Where do you want to live and work? The answers to these questions will affect how your CV is presented, and that’s perfectly fine. Your CV and cover letter should be tailored to the job you are targeting. A common mistake residents and new graduates make is initially keeping their options too open and only narrowing their focus as their job search progresses. Instead, consider starting with a clear and specific vision for what you want.

You’ll want to dig deeper to envision where you want to be in 10, even 20 years. There’s no shame in changing your mind. Being in a position where you can take advantage of training and certification opportunities is a real plus once you’ve established yourself in your first professional role.

Many larger practices and healthcare systems offer opportunities for advancement, and they prefer to work with known providers to fill mid-level management and leadership roles. They may also provide educational benefits for existing employees. If you choose to practice in a smaller, more intimate environment, you’ll want to learn as much as possible about those practices, their leadership, and the organizational structure.

Location, Location, Location

The next step is to gauge the job market in your field and your desired location. Then, begin by casually browsing job postings for that region.

Some resources to kick off your job search include association websites, specialty job boards, medical conferences, job fairs, and medical journals. Connect with friends and colleagues to gather information about facilities where you want to practice. By casually exploring job opportunities before reaching out to potential employers, you’ll better understand what you want and what is available.

It’s also important to assess the housing market and the cost of living. Even if you’re familiar with the area, you may be in for a surprise when it comes to paying the bills for housing, transportation, and food. While a potential job may offer appropriate compensation, if the cost of living in the area is too high, the advantage of a higher salary will be wiped out. If you genuinely want a specific high-cost area, consider positions that offer relocation and signing bonuses to help offset the price tag.

As a recruiter, I have had a couple of experiences with providers that highlight how important it is to consider location:

• A provider (fresh out of residency) I spoke with was insistent he wanted to live in the city of Seattle. As a longtime Washington resident, I knew the cost of living in that area and that the institutions in the region were aware of their “desirable” status. This meant that they could afford to be extremely picky about who they hired and didn’t necessarily need to coax candidates with signing bonuses and other perks. With home prices of almost $1 million, there was not much chance that this provider could afford to live in the city. Our solution was to look at opportunities close to the city and to seek placement in practices affiliated with the “downtown” healthcare facilities that might offer opportunities to transfer eventually. This would allow him time to assess the area and build some savings.
• Another instance was a physician (also fresh out of residency) who was promised a job in a specific location in Southern California. She had worked with a recruiter to secure this position and was told it would just be a matter of a few months until she could start. She had not interviewed with the facility leadership, but the recruiter assured her the job was hers. However, that recruiter left the company, and the physician’s job went to someone else. I was able to break the news to her, and it was awful. Her spouse had accepted a job in the area, and they had put a down payment on a house. We were lucky to find an opportunity close enough to the area for her to commute. My advice is to get the offer in writing!

Who Do You Want to Work For?

What is your ideal working environment? What gives your work meaning? What inspired you to go into medicine? Finding a position with like-minded people will make a world of difference in your job satisfaction. When you’ve narrowed down the location, seek out information on the organization’s leadership and upper-level management. LinkedIn is an excellent place to start – you can review the individual’s affiliations, experience, and the outside organizations they work with. You can also scroll through lists of people who have worked there, past or present, and you might find they are associated with somebody you know. Reach out and ask questions, find out if past associates were happy there, and do what you can to get a feel for the organization’s mindset.

Prepare to Interview

You will be expected to commit to several interviews as you move through the recruitment process. The first will be with the recruitment team, and if all goes well, you will be expected to interview with people in the practice hierarchy. Take advantage of these conversations – use them to ask questions pertaining to your priorities.

Here are some basic questions for the recruiter:

1. How many providers are you speaking with about this position?
2. What can you tell me about the organization’s leadership?
3. What can you tell me about the interview/hiring process?
4. Do you have any relationships with realtors in the area who can assist me with my move?
   This one is important if you have pets or children—a good realtor can help you find youth activities, family-friendly organizations, and moving companies.

For the organization leadership:

1. What is special/unique about your organization?
2. Tell me about the long-term benefits of working with your organization.
3. What do you look for in providers?
4. How long do providers generally stay with your organization?

Start Preparing Early

The preparation process unfolds over several months, and its significance should not be underestimated. Unfortunately, many residents start interviewing before fully understanding what their preferences for a practice will mean. It’s not just a paycheck; this is your career and future.

Preparing and defining your goals are your best shots at securing your ideal working environment. With these tools in mind, you’ll have better odds of rising to the top and finding greater career satisfaction.