These leaders ultimately determine assignments for each of the urologists within the active force. Thus, it is vital to proactively engage these leaders years before assignments are made to ensure the preferences of the young urologist can most closely align with the needs of the service. It is also critically important to convey any special requests (e.g., family health considerations, civilian spouse employment, etc.) so that they may be considered as assignments are made. Once in practice, these service leads will remain an important resource for information about career advancement, military-unique training opportunities, and alternative practice locations. It is also helpful to engage other practicing military urologists to seek career guidance and overall professional support. After fulfilling one or several active duty service commitment(s), most military urologists transition to civilian urology practice. Federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service and Military Reserves have programs that credit the time in service, which applies the active duty service towards a federal retirement plan. Each program is specific and is subject to change. It is essential to investigate these benefits before transitioning from military service, while future contracts are being negotiated.
2. APPLYING FOR THE POSITION 2.1 Location A key factor to consider when applying for jobs is geographic location. Research the areas that interest you. Is there a high density of urologists? Are the competitive markets already saturated with urologists (note: more about practicing in a competitive market can be found in Appendix A)? Are there less competitive areas with fewer urologists? What are the typical payer mixes for these regions? What types of insurance do the patients have in the area? In addition to these factors, it’s also critically important to consider whether or not the city or practice location is desirable from a personal perspective. If applicable, is the location desirable/ offer employment opportunities for your spouse/ partner? Become well versed with the social opportunities in the vicinity if that is important to you. Dining, night/family life, and school systems can all play a significant role in choosing a location to practice. NOTE: Three young urologists share their personal perspective on location and more in Appendix E. AUAnet.org
2.2 The Job Search The pursuit of a career in urology begins with four years of medical school, followed by five-six years of urology residency and potentially one-three years of fellowship. Several factors are present when searching for a job upon the completion of training, including: a deadline to begin gainful employment, not-yet-clear clinical and research interests or career objectives and an often limited perspective and unclear expectations on personally-important factors for job satisfaction. In today’s medical job market, urologists are in high demand. A tightening workforce in urology has caused the demand for well-trained urologists to skyrocket. It’s not uncommon for a graduating urologist to receive 9 to 12 job offers prior to selecting a position. Still, it’s important for graduating trainees to begin the job search early. As in all fields, networking and connections can oftentimes lead to job opportunities. Personal recommendations via networking can be one of the best ways to start your job search. Groups looking to hire will often contact program directors in search of graduating residents or fellows. Leverage your attendings, advisers or program director to see if they know of a job opportunity that aligns with your goals. Even if they don’t, they may be able to direct you to someone else who does. Academic positions are often not widely advertised, but come about by word of mouth. If pursuing an academic position after training, your fellowship director or mentor will often be able to identify available positions via their own network. You’ll also want to rely on your own contacts within professional associations/societies. Many times, preliminary interviews happen at major urologic conferences (e.g., AUA Annual Meetings or AUA Section meetings) or at subspecialty meetings. In addition to networking, consider the number of other ways to find a job that best suits your needs. Career fairs can be a good way to begin the job search, as they provide an opportunity to engage with numerous employers, recruiters and groups in a relatively short period of time. The AUA hosts career fairs periodically throughout the year. Working with a recruiter is another way to learn about job opportunities: a good recruiter will consider your needs and recommend you accordingly to employers who seem to be a good fit. Recruiters come in different forms, however. Some work for individual hospitals or large organizations while others work for private companies. In the latter case, recruiters may
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