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The light at the end of the training tunnel is now in clear view for many residents about to finish their post-graduate training. And while many of you have a fellowship ahead, now is the perfect time to begin your job search. Even if your fellowship will last longer than one year, it is never too early to begin organizing your job search. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Understand clearly what you're looking for in terms of the type of practice you want to have, and the type of city in which you want to live. Make sure you consider all angles of your next move, and what aspects of your new life will hold the greatest importance. This means understanding not only the lifestyle points that are critical to you and your family, but also the day-to-day operational characteristics of your ideal job.
- Know what you're worth in different geographic regions, and how pay differences might be offset by cost of living differences. If you're able to access the Medical Group Management Association's Physician Compensation Data, you can easily see how different areas of the country compensate all different types of physicians. Using this information together with cost of living data in different cities can give you a good understanding of what each dollar you earn will get you when you go to buy a house, spend money on groceries, etc.
- Also keep in mind the fact that it's simply cheaper to practice medicine in certain states than in others. This isn't necessarily due to the fact that some cities have lower costs of living, but because the state has laws that favor physicians, especially in times when things have gone wrong. Some states have medical malpractice damage caps or patient compensation funds that assist physicians in paying damages that have been awarded to a patient in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Also, some states have more favorable non-compete laws, which allow physicians who are displeased with their current job to practice more freely in the same or nearby market without having to bear the pain and expense of a move to a new city or state.
- Organize your outreach efforts! If you're going to embark on a thorough and comprehensive job search, you will need to do your homework - a lot of it. Not only do you have to research all potential employers that meet your ideal opportunity criteria, but you also need to have your marketing efforts in order. This means perfecting your CV, drafting strategic and effective cover letters, and knowing all targets in potential employers.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help! This might be the most important tip we offer (if even a bit self-serving, we admit), but it is true. The physician job search process is a long and time-consuming one. So if you have the opportunity to work with an expert in physician job searching, that might be the right way for you and your family to approach this process. Physician agents are able to complete many burdensome job search tasks on your behalf, not to mention putting their expertise to work to make sure no stone goes left unturned.
For more information on the physician job search process, and how the physician agents of Lauth O'Neill Physician Agency can help, call Leigh Ann O'Neill at 317-989-4833 or email at loneill@lauthoneill.com.
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