Finding the Right Job in Clinical Practice or Academia

Abstract

Over the many years of my academic career, I have often been consulted by cardiology and internal medicine trainees who are completing their education and who are now looking for the “right job” for the rest of their professional lives. I have tried to give them practical and, I hope, common-sense advice about their job searches and the negotiations that follow once they find the position that they desire. When I was asked to write this essay, my first thought was “I really don’t have that much to say about this topic.” In gathering my thoughts further, it seemed reasonable to explore the Internet for some concise and organized comments on the topic. I was pleasantly surprised when 2 Google searches on the topics “finding a job–general rules” and “finding a job–physician” produced a wealth of excellent articles with just the right amount of practical, common-sense recommendations. Thus, this article is based on my own experience over >3 decades in advising trainees about their job searches, along with material gleaned from my Internet search. The list of recommended reading at the end of this article contains the Web addresses of those sites that I found particularly helpful in defining this topic. The remarks in this article are organized around a number of simple strategy questions that, if followed in the order given, should assist any trainee in finding the right job. One of the wonderful things about a medical education is that it offers so many potential career paths: clinical investigation, basic science investigation, clinical practice (private or group practice), clinical practice combined with teaching, industry-related positions, hospital-based employment, and healthcare administration. Each of these paths can be followed at universities, private hospitals, government institutions, industry, and/or the armed services. This is the first thing that the physician seeking employment …