Physician Job Search Mistakes to Avoid
- Article by:Health Career Center
Physicians looking for employment, either their first opportunity or seeking a new opportunity, are faced with more than a few options. Private practice versus a medical clinic? City vs. suburb? Academic Health Center versus a community hospital? In the flurry of choices that greet you, even seasoned healthcare professionals can experience uncertainty in the midst of a job search.
They simply don't have the time to locate, evaluate and arrange meetings with all employers who post online. Job searching and evaluating these opportunities can be time consuming with little to no results without a strategy. In order to ensure that your efforts are effective in the increasingly complex world of healthcare, here are 5 job search mistakes to avoid while searching for physician jobs:
Having NO Digital Presence
It’s important for opportunity-seeking physicians to use the digital tools at their disposal strategically and efficiently. Having a digital presence eliminates the issue of a limited search; one can cast a much wider net for opportunities – a worldwide net. Use social media to your advantage. LinkedIn is always a great start but Facebook and Twitter can be utilized to make connections, follow industry thought leaders and possibly even become a thought leader on your own. Even more, join groups of individuals like you to learn and share knowledge with other members.
Poor Negotiating
This is one of the biggest pitfalls of job searching and speaks to why you should start your job search as early as possible. Afford yourself plenty of time to consider all choices and to think carefully about the pros and cons of each position. Then, ask for what you want. Your counteroffer can include more than just compensation; review benefits, incentive models, on call obligations and any restrictive covenants.
Bypassing Networking Opportunities (on and offline)
If you don’t have a network—both online and offline—then you’re not fully utilizing your resources. Friends, family, former coworkers and even strangers in your field are there to help, if you utilize them. Physicians should understand that done right, networking can actually be fun. You can connect with individuals that can provide greater insight into career options, industry standards or even details about an organization. It is best practice to set aside a certain amount of time each week for in person, digital or e-mail networking.
Join physician professional societies or associations. Health Career Center is a co-founder of the National Health Career Network (NHCN). In the NHCN alone, there are 100 physician associations. Check out the full list here.
Being Screened instead of doing the Screening
A healthy job search is more than about being seen and selected by an employer. It’s a 180-degree table turn where you also must be in screening mode. You must know what you are looking for so that you are able to identify the questions you should pose to your potential employer.
As you continue your physician job search, keep this information in mind. You will dramatically improve the odds that you next job is your ideal job.