A Primer on Job Hunting

Jill Gilbert, MD

Most of us mark our calendars with big events like birthdays, major holidays, surgery dates, etc. that have specific dates. What about those major events that don’t have a defined date but are just as important? Your job search fits into that category.

Although the formal process of investigating a job takes time and effort, the reality is that you started interviewing for your first job on the first day of your fellowship. Even if you aren’t planning to go into academic medicine, the faculty you’re working with now will be your references, and they open doors for you through networking and sponsorship. As such, it is imperative to seek their feedback and apply their advice to be the most mindful steward of your future. Otherwise, you risk being the surprised victim of your perceived actions or inactions.

We are entering the time of active job searching for most second-year fellows, so I’m here to provide some hard-won wisdom.

It Is Never Too Early to Network

If you have a desired geographic location, try to meet with prospective employers in your first year or early in your second year of fellowship. Practices or academic centers do not always know their future hiring needs, so it is good to be on the radar sooner rather than later. Planning ahead to incorporate your talent is easier than creating a job within a short time frame.

Use large membership directories such as those of the American Society of Hematology or the American Society of Clinical Oncology to find contact information for key providers in your desired practice or center. Send an inquiry email that includes your CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should include a brief overview of training, your anticipated completion date, your research and/or clinical focus areas of interest. If you are looking to move to a particular area (eg, if there is an anchoring reason to relocate), specify that in the email.

• If you are seeking a job in academic medicine, ask your division director to also send an email introducing you and your talents to key individuals in the field or at particular academic centers. In order to best help your division director, craft a statement of your professional goals and projected career path that the director can then modify and send to contacts.
• Be aware of approaching key professional society meetings. Reach out to possible employers and set a time for a meet and greet over a cup of coffee in the convention center.
• If you’re doing a Zoom interview, remember that this is still an interview. Dress appropriately. Do not get distracted. Be respectful. Call the interviewer “Doctor” unless they’ve said you can call them by their first name.
• If you do not get a response to your initial inquiry, send a follow up email after a few weeks. Hematologists and oncologists are busy people; a lack of response does not mean a lack of interest. You have a great deal more time than they do.
• Social media is part of our reality, so please recognize that what you post will reflect on you. Publicly viewed posts should remain professional. Be prudent in your choice of public posting, especially while searching for a job. Don’t let your social media narrative close doors before they have opened.

You Got the Interview. Now What?

• Do not ask about call schedule or money during the first interview. The initial meeting is a litmus test of sorts in which both parties are trying to get to know each other. The interviewer will be determining if you can hold a conversation with someone you do not know, if you are able to make eye contact, if you have a personality that may fit the organization.
• When you do request a wish list, be realistic with your requests. You will likely not make $600,000 coming out of fellowship and if that is the offer, be very wary. It likely means that you will be incredibly busy. Inquire about what happens after the guaranteed salary time has ended. Take a look at Medical Group Management Association and Association of American Medical Colleges salary standards for your area and desired type of practice to get a sense of what would be a fair wage—and if it’s enough for your needs.
• Recognize that you will be a low person on the totem pole, and be flexible. To be clear, this does not mean that you should accept unacceptable behavior. However, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education rules do not apply in practice, and you will need to see if a particular practice is a good fit for your expectations.
• Prepare to ask your interviewer questions that demonstrate that you have investigated the particular practice or academic setting. Avoid generic questions that seem to come from a “how to” manual of interviewing. You want to differentiate yourself by demonstrating maturity of thought and sincerity of interest. Avoid such questions as “Is there an opportunity to do research?” Rather, consider phrasing the question the following way: “In my training, I have seen how clinical trials can enhance patient experience and outcomes in oncology. I am particularly interested in clinical trials for this disease. I see on your website that you have trials open in this space. Can you tell me about the clinical trial support in place to provide this opportunity to my patients?”
• If you are interviewing at an academic center, be very specific about questions in terms of your research and your area of interest. Prior to the interview, look up the faculty with whom you will be interviewing and familiarize yourself with their work. You should also research the institution and the resources available, including the mentorship talent. Every potential mentor may not be in the division. Search your area of interest and you can also suggest people you would like to meet with. This demonstrates your insight, engagement, and sincere interest in this opportunity.
• If you are joining a private practice, ask if you will be building a practice from scratch or if you are taking over for someone who is retiring. This will affect what happens at the end of the start-up guarantee portion of your contract. If you are building a practice from scratch, you will likely have a larger proportion of benign hematology cases that don’t generate chemotherapy revenue and you may have a busier schedule than your initial schedule in order to make the salary benchmark. Ask about group’s market share of hematology and oncology, as this will also affect your compensation.
• Ask about availability of tumor boards, patient navigators, clinical trials, and the clinical support model. What ancillary services are at the practice or practice site? Not every practice will have surgical oncology, breast surgeons, neurosurgery, ENT, in-house pathology, endocrinology, gynecologic oncology, etc.
• Inquire how many clinical sites this job will cover. Although this seems like a question for private practice, my first academic job involved 4 hospital sites. When I was on service, I drove to 4 hospitals to do rounds and consults. Every day. It never occurred to me to even ask this question. This may not be a big deal in some places, but you should know what you’re in for.

You Found a Job

Congratulations! Remember that the perfect job does not exist. Instead, be flexible enough to roll with the changes that occur in every career. Importantly, give yourself permission to reevaluate your choice of employment regularly. Your first job does not have to be your last.