Physician profile: Oluwakemi Ajide, M.D.

WORK: Family Practice physician at MedStar Medical Group, Aberdeen, Maryland

MED SCHOOL: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, May 2011

RESIDENCY: Chestnut Hill Hospital/UPenn Community Health, June 2014

Ajide enjoys traveling, knitting and crocheting and is a foodie.

What surprised you about your first post-residency job or job search?

The job search is very different from applying for medical school or residency. Our training does not prepare us for how to search for jobs. There are lots of job opportunities, but it is difficult at times to narrow down which job will suit you best.

What’s your advice for residents who are beginning their physician job search?

Start early. Write down a list of the qualities you are looking for in a job and star the qualities that are non-negotiable. . . . You do not have to accept the interview offer for every job presented.

What was the most important factor in your search for a new job?

Location, location, location. I was looking for a long-term job, so I was looking for a job in a location that worked best for me and my spouse.

How did you find your job?

I contacted the different recruiters for major health care providers in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area. It was in this way I was able to find which jobs they were currently recruiting for.

I used career engines such as PracticeLink to see which opportunities were available in my preferred locations. Then I contacted the internal recruiters directly. I did not use a third-party recruiter throughout the process.