After so many years of undergraduate studies, medical school and residency you can finally say you’re ready to walk in the door, chin and stethoscope held high. It’s been a long road, but you’re almost there.
Or maybe you’re moving to a different state or are just looking to change jobs anyway. Either way, you’re going to have to put yourself out on the prowl.
Job hunting is never fun, but fortunately for future medical professionals it’s a bit easier. You already have your main focus nailed down and chances are you’re going to be honing in on your job search with a laser pointer instead of a net.
You might already be prepared for the job search but nonetheless, below are some tips to help you get started on your job hunt.
Make Your Resume Personal
It may have been awhile since you’ve had to update your resume or even make one, but that’s nothing to worry about. One quick easy way to get a refresher is to simply look online and find lots of different examples.
Even though you’re bound to find countless prime resumes, it’s important that you make yours more about you. You don’t want to sound too general about your work history. And remember, don’t be afraid to brag a little bit. Talk about your past accomplishments and remember to try and sell yourself to any potential employers.
Double Check your Requirements
Different states may require different licenses, authorizations or specialities to work in the medical field. Just because whatever your friend did doesn’t mean that’s exactly what you should do. You two may be in different states with completely different requirements.
If you’re considering a speciality, make sure you look at what else you have to do. It may mean an extra year of residency, more training, an exam or board review. Whatever path you end up taking, you want to make sure you’ve exhausted your research capabilities in order to have everything in perfect order.
Be Meticulous on the Job Boards
When perusing job boards, it might be easy to go through multiple job postings and simply hit apply on all of them using your same resume over and over again. This isn’t the greatest idea because: you may not remember every place you applied to and it can come off as lazy to potential employers.
Make sure you’re selective when looking at job postings and finding something that matches what you’re looking for. Even though it may be tempting to go gung-ho and spend all day sending out tons of emails, it’s better to be precise here. Go ahead and leave no stone unturned.
Or else, you may take the first job offered to you and it could turn out to be a disaster. Then what? You’re stuck in a place you don’t enjoy. The last thing you’d want is to be in a toxic environment with no place out.
Consider Your Other Life Circumstances
Naturally, you’re going to want a great job that lets you grow as a person and provides a great work environment. If you’re single, that really might be your only requirement. If you have a family or other responsibilities, you might have lots of different things to consider.
If you’re still paying off your student loans, you might want to sit down with a financial planner and see how this new job will affect your schedule. You don’t want to fall behind on any payments.
If you’re considering moving, make sure and investigate your new home. Is there a big need for doctors in the area. If so, is it your type of speciality or area of focus? There could be hospital expansions in certain areas of the country where you’re more like to get a job quicker and faster. As they say in real estate: location, location, location.
There are loads of other questions to think about, like is it close to home? What are the working hours like? What is the schedule for getting time off? Is it close to my child’s daycare? What is the commute like?
Remember to look at your future job in a big picture as well.
0 Comments