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The Five Steps of a Strategic Job Search
It’s funny how the little things can seem more daunting than the big ones Finish medical school? Check Excel in residency and fellowships? Check Find that first job as a doctor? Uh-oh It’s not that job search is so difficult It’s just hard to know where to begin Unlike formal training programs where the steps and expectations are made clear, job search is one of those life tasks with a very sketchy blueprint That’s largely a factor of uniqueness: Everyone’s career path is different and the jobs needed for that path will differ as well Luckily, some parts of the process are universal to everyone Following are five steps that will help you be strategic about finding your first (or next) job in the field of medicine
STEP 1. Get clear on your goals. You know your specialty, but do you know where or how you want to pursue it? In broad terms, choices for neurologists include practicing, teaching, or researching Knowing which is more important to you is a start, but it’s not quite enough to be helpful in developing your search pattern For example, researchers might work at universities, but they could also work for the government, for corporations or labs, or for small specialty clinics Likewise, practitioners could be working for hospitals, government systems, private practices…or they could go solo Knowing where and how you want to work is as important to a strategic job search as knowing the content of the work itself For this step, stop and think about the first five years out of training and ask yourself: What setting do I want to be in, and what do I want to be doing for the bulk of my day? Once you have that picture in mind, do the same exercise for five-year increments until the date you expect to retire That means that a 30-year old who wants to retire at 65 would have seven five-year blocks of time to imagine The reason for extending the timeline out to retirement is that longterm goals can influence short-term choices A practitioner who wants to teach at some point might choose to practice neurology at a teaching hospital where those opportunities could crop up more readily Likewise, a doctor who anticipates going solo might benefit
from working at a smaller practice where business decisions are shared—this could give a good perspective for making the leap to self-employment down the road Do the best you can on the extended picture, and then return your attention to the first segment of five years after training The work you choose to do in this timeframe is the work you’ll pursue with your next job search Step 2. Learn about the market. Now that you know what kind of job you’ll be seeking, you need a little more information It’s not enough to simply watch for ads in the category you’ve chosen, or tell a recruiter to alert you to opportunities In both those scenarios, you’re placing the responsibility and power for your career in someone else’s hands—that’s pretty anti-climactic after seven or more years of intensive work to get to where you are now That said, you do want to use the ads, recruiters, and any other tools or processes that can make your search easier—but only after you’ve organized these strategic steps so you can control the direction things take Your research doesn’t have to be exhaustive, but it should be thoughtful If you’d like your next job to be focused on practice, for example, it would be good to have a basic understanding of the different practice settings for someone with your skill set, and the advantages and disadvantages of each At that point, you can narrow things down to identify the organizations you’d most like to work for, perhaps based on a combination of the work itself, their reputation, and location This is also the time to consider goals in your personal life, including family issues and continued education Some employers and work settings are going to be conducive to those goals, while others could be less accommodating You get extra points if your research tells you some of the challenges faced by the employers in your target market, and the solutions that are being considered by those in the field To redeem your points, mention some of those findings in conversations and interviews to indicate that you are focused on more than just your own career path when you join someone else’s team Step 3. Identify your top three to five employers. Your research will lead you to this stage naturally, but it’s still important to check this step off the list Without a clear sense of preferred employers, you’re left with no actionable process to follow As you build your list of employers, look for this data: § Organization name and location § Heads of the departments you would work in—their names and contact information § Names and contact information for internal recruiters, if relevant § The reasons this employer made it to your short list (perceived benefit of working there)
Step 4. Reach out to your targeted employers, regardless of
the season. Whether you intend to start working in a few months or a couple of years, there’s no time like now to email a potential employer to note your interest and ask for a conversation If your earliest start date for working is several months away, contacting the department head might make the most sense In this case, you’d be sending a brief note of introduction and general inquiry, perhaps asking for a few minutes of time to meet in person at the next conference, or to talk on the phone in the next few weeks The idea is to establish a relationship and to learn more about the department’s goals and initiatives, but not to worry about making formal application (since that may be premature at this stage) On the other hand, if you’re ready to launch your search, you might make your first inquiry to the organization’s recruiter if they have one This person can arrange a tour for you, ask and answer preliminary questions related to your candidacy and make introductions to key people in a timely way If they don’t have a recruiter, default back to the department head with a letter that expresses your interest in meeting to discuss potential opportunities in the timeframe you’ve chosen
Step 5. Be a joiner and a
doer. If you follow the first four steps, you’ll almost certainly be headed to one or more offers of employment More importantly, they’ll be offers for work you’ve chosen, at organizations you’ve specified, rather than the more random opportunities that come from relying on advertisements alone At this stage, you’d probably (understandably) like to settle into your job and move forward with a somewhat less hectic pace than you’ve been keeping during your training Not so fast! Remember that list of potential career goals in five-year increments from Step 1? Now is the time to begin laying the foundation for those ideas to become reality On the job, there will be opportunities to join or lead committees, programs, business processes, etc The sooner you jump in, the more quickly you can gain the relevant experience while also deepening your contribution to your new employer Likewise, participation in a professional group, such as the American Academy of Neurology, gives you the opportunity to explore options that may not be well-represented in the workplace you choose Being a joiner and doer provides the foundation to be strategic in your next job search, whether that happens in five years or 15 As a final word of advice, don’t hesitate to get started on one or all steps right away, even if you’re currently in training The best employers are always watching for the right candidate, so conversations at an early stage are never wasted n
WHAT’S NEUROLOGY’S NEXT ADVANCE?
Rochester Regional Health’s Neuroscience Institute is seeking board-certified and board eligible candidates for the following positions:
GENERAL NEUROLOGY | NEUROHOSPITALIST | NEURO SUBSPECIALTIES
Benefits include: Competitive salary, sign-on bonus, defined benefit pension plan, corporate relocation package, comprehensive benefits package.
About the Rochester Regional Health Neuroscience Institute:
Home to more than 50 recognized leaders, Rochester Regional Health’s award-winning Neuroscience Institute is dedicated to providing comprehensive neurologic care for patients in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. Through a strong core of clinical and educational programs, we are providing regional care and leadership for national concerns. To learn more about the Neuroscience Institute, please visit rochesterregional.org/neuro
Please Submit Your CV To: Kathleen Vavrick, Physician Recruiter
Kathleen.Vavrick@rochesterregional.org
Or call 585.922.1389
GENERAL NEUROLOGIST OPPORTUNITY
Penn State Health St. Joseph in Berks County, Pennsylvania is seeking a general neurologist to join our existing practice. The selected candidate will have both inpatient and outpatient responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity for a neurologist who wishes to enjoy a high-quality of life while providing care within a community of approximately 400,000.
What We’re Seeking
• Medical degree – MD, DO • BC/BE in Neurology • Candidates with subspecialty training encouraged to apply
What We’re Offering:
• A competitive salary and generous benefits • Outstanding program and highly collaborative culture • Interaction with dynamic clinicians • Routinely ranked among the Top 50 Heart Hospitals in the country in quality metrics • Nationally certified as a Center of Excellence in Chest Pain, Stroke and Heart Failure • Nursing care that has also earned the distinction as a “Pathways to Excellence” accredited facility
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
EXCITING NEURO OPPORTUNITIES
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is seeking compassionate Neurology physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to join our rapidly growing Neurosciences team. NGHS facilitates quality-based Neurological care for a medically diverse population of over 1.2 million patients spanning 19 counties.
AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES: Outpatient Neurologist
Movement Disorder Specialist Cognitive Dysfunction Specialist Inpatient Neurohospitalist Epileptologist Academic Neurologist Tele-Neurology Specialist Neurology Advanced Practice Providers Inpatient Vascular Neurologist Neuro Intensivist
INTERESTED? QUALIFIED? WE WANT YOU ON OUR TEAM Please email CV to Jennifer McCalla, Physician Recruitment jennifer.mccalla@nghs.com
Join one of the most respected and awesome Neurology teams in British Columbia!
These opportunities are both exciting and lucrative. Kamloops…Kelowna…both paradise communities.
Did I mention leadership and teaching is part of it?
For a sneak peek at the details go to: www.betterhere.ca
Call or e-mail me to discuss all the details about these extraordinary positions:
GENERAL NEUROLOGIST OPPORTUNITY
Neurologists with clinical expertise in General Neurology are invited to apply for an open position at Penn State Health Holy Spirit located in Camp Hill, PA. Join our growing community practice now! This search represents part of a major institutional commitment to expansion of the neurosciences. This position is supported by one other Neurologists, in a patent-focused community practice setting. With NO ON CALL and an 8 am to 5 pm schedule the selected candidate will fl ourish in a supportive work life balance environment. Leadership opportunities are available to those with relevant experience.
Ideal Candidates Will Have The Following:
• Medical degree - MD, DO, or foreign equivalent • Completion of an accredited residency program • Excellent patient care abilities and interest in teaching
As a member of the Department of Neurology you will be associated with:
• An outstanding program with a national reputation • A highly collaborative culture • Cutting-edge basic and clinical neuroscience research and top-notch facilities at both the Hershey and the University Park campuses • Interaction with dynamic clinicians across all neuroscience-related departments and participation in innovative educational approaches
Competitive compensation and generous benefi ts, including:
• Relocation Assistance • Medical, Dental, Vision • 401K, 403(b), 457(b) retirement plans
• Penn State Tuition Discount • Back-up Family Care
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Anderson Smith, Physician Recruiter at asmith50@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Penn State Health is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is unapologetically expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences. We are an equal opportunity and affi rmative action employer. All qualifi ed applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affi liation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.
