You’ve completed your training and now it’s time to take the next step in your medical career as you get close to an offer. Even in your extensive education, you may not have learned what to do in your job search, how to interpret a contract or what the interview and offer process look like.
Here are tips to help as you approach the offer stage of your interview process:
Start early
The ideal scenario for physicians is to be close to signing an offer six months prior to the end of residency, so you should begin looking for jobs one to two years before completion of your training.
When you wait to apply and start the interview process, you might miss out on available opportunities or receive offers well after you had hoped to start practicing.
Follow timelines
Recruiters appreciate when you follow a customary timeline. When you receive an offer, you will want to review it with a contract attorney and request or negotiate changes at that time.
If you delay asking for anything until after you’ve signed the contract, it can stall the process and become a frustration since the signed offer is now a legally binding document.
Be prepared to negotiate and accept a contract when offered
Recruiters know you will be looking at multiple opportunities, but you should have an idea of what you want while interviewing.
Before you go too far through the interview process and receive offers, you should have a feel for which position and organization work for you, so you aren’t taking an offer away from other candidates or making the recruiter wait on your answer.
Respond to recruiters
You probably receive communication from many recruiters, but it’s important you remain responsive and respectful. Their time – like yours – is valuable and they don’t want to have to bug you or wait to hear from you before moving on with other interviews and offers.
Recruiters will appreciate you following these four tips, and they’ll also help you in your job search. Avoid frustrating recruiters by being considerate of their time and efforts, and stand out as a knowledgeable candidate with an awareness of the job search process and timeline.
July 5, 2023
