If you’re searching for your first job after residency, knowing how to find positions can be a little challenging. There are many different ways to go about searching for a physician job, and each of them have pros and cons. Depending on your personality, schedule and desired position, you might want to utilize a few different search methods, or you might stick with just one.
Let’s look at the most common ways that today’s graduates begin searching for the right physician job. If one search method doesn’t fit your tastes, you have plenty to fall back on.
Physician Job Boards and Postings
Physician job boards are one of the most popular career search methods. Similar to sites like Monster and Career Builder, these sites are geared towards physicians. Usually, you can sort jobs by criteria such as specialty, location and compensation. They’re rather convenient in that they allow you to search a large number of jobs at once.
If you’re searching through job postings online, try and stick with specialty organizations if you can. The American Academy of Family Physicians and The American College of Physicians are both good examples. These are reputable organizations that will most likely deliver the most relevant search results.
You shouldn’t necessarily stay away from physician job boards, but you should utilize them with caution. Some organizations use these job boards to post false leads, with the end goal of fishing for your personal information. Many physicians also have problems being bombarded with phone calls and e-mails after creating profiles. Lesson learned? Try to keep your personal contact information to a minimum when creating a profile.
Social Networks
Savvy with social media? You can definitely use sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to your advantage during your physician job search. Many hospitals and groups use social media to communicate their opportunities.
You can start by developing a list of potential organizations you’d be interested in working for. Then, simply follow them on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Some hospitals and groups have separate pages for their recruiting divisions, so be sure to double check.
You probably already know by now that you should be very cautious using social media during your job search. Make sure there isn’t any incriminating or unsavory information on your profile that could leave a bad impression with employers.
Career Fairs
Career fairs are great for physician job seekers because they let you get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time. They’re a great place to have face-to-face interactions with recruiters and get to know different organizations.
If you attend a career fair, always remember that you could be meeting with your future employer — you never know. With that in mind, dress as you would for an interview, and bring several copies of your physician CV.
These are just a few of the most common ways physicians begin their job search. You should also consider search avenues like alumni and medical associations, professional recruiters and your own personal network.
For more tips on how to make your physician job search effective, visit the Adventures in Medicine Resource Library.
What’s your preferred approach to the physician job search?
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Though the views expressed above are solely the writer’s, Southern Illinois Healthcare supports “The Dose with Dr. Goodhook” and is partnering with Adventures in Medicine to create an open, inspiring and insightful community for residents and physicians. Click here to learn more about ways that Southern Illinois Healthcare is making practice purposeful.
