Beginning the Search for Specific Employers
Residents who are ready to target specific employers have two options: (1) do the work themselves or (2) hire a recruiter. This blog will highlight the options, benefits, and drawbacks of each choice.
Dr. Shaw mentions several ways to locate leads on your own. The staff physicians whom you work with are some of the most obvious information sources. These physicians may have valuable contacts. Another option is talking to residents who graduated ahead of you. They will have a good sense of the job market’s current state and an intimate knowledge of the entire job search process; a brief conversation could give you insight into a certain employer. Finally, pharmaceutical reps can be a good source of information because they interact with many physicians and have an idea of how efficient each practice is. The general drawback of locating leads on your own is that it can be time-consuming.
If you feel that you do not have time to find potential employers on your own, then you should consider using a recruiter. Some residents use more than one recruiter because each one might have access to different opportunities. A resident should never sign an exclusive agreement with one recruiter. There are lists of physician recruiters online, but recruiters also might contact you. Dr. Shaw opines that the recruiter you choose should have at least five years of experience; experience with your specialty; and should charge your future employer—not you. If you use a recruiter, be sure that you still do some homework on your own before signing a contract.
Dr. Shaw mentions several ways to locate leads on your own. The staff physicians whom you work with are some of the most obvious information sources. These physicians may have valuable contacts. Another option is talking to residents who graduated ahead of you. They will have a good sense of the job market’s current state and an intimate knowledge of the entire job search process; a brief conversation could give you insight into a certain employer. Finally, pharmaceutical reps can be a good source of information because they interact with many physicians and have an idea of how efficient each practice is. The general drawback of locating leads on your own is that it can be time-consuming.
If you feel that you do not have time to find potential employers on your own, then you should consider using a recruiter. Some residents use more than one recruiter because each one might have access to different opportunities. A resident should never sign an exclusive agreement with one recruiter. There are lists of physician recruiters online, but recruiters also might contact you. Dr. Shaw opines that the recruiter you choose should have at least five years of experience; experience with your specialty; and should charge your future employer—not you. If you use a recruiter, be sure that you still do some homework on your own before signing a contract.
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