If you are a resident preparing for your first physician job search, you will likely encounter a number of healthcare recruiters, and more specifically, physician recruiters, eager to assist you in your efforts. These professionals seek to understand your career goals to successfully match you with an organization that requires your specific skills and experience. Physician recruiters can be an invaluable resource in any physician job search. However, this is especially true for physicians with limiting circumstances, unique challenges, or specific needs. Keep reading to learn how physician recruiters can ease the job search process and help you find the right opportunity.
Physician Recruiters in Action
While the physician shortage continues to make headlines, this doesn’t mean the search for physician jobs is always easy. Demand for physicians varies greatly depending on specialty and location. However, Jackson Physician Search recruiters have connections to healthcare organizations nationwide while also working closely within their regions. The combination of national reach and regional expertise allows recruiters to know where the greatest needs are in their areas and around the country. They can help job seekers understand the market, prioritize their preferences, and set realistic expectations. A dedicated recruiter proves beneficial to physicians in many common scenarios, including those outlined below.
Obtaining J-1 Visa Waivers, Work-Life Balance, Student Loan Repayment, and More
In his final year of residency, International Medical Graduate Dr. A focused on finding an employer willing to sponsor a J-1 visa waiver. The J-1 waiver was a must, but he also wanted a job with work-life balance and, ideally, loan repayment assistance. When he saw Senior Search Consultant Cori Centerino’s ad for an opportunity that offered these qualities in his ideal location, he excitedly reached out to learn more. She immediately knew he was a good fit. However, she also knew that the client’s need was urgent. Cori spoke to her client about Dr. A and concluded that they were willing to wait for the right candidate. Dr. A was thrilled the organization extended its timeline, allowing him to accept an offer that exceeded his top job search criteria. Read more.
Limited by a Non-Compete Clause
As it did for so many physicians, the pandemic caused Dr. E to reflect on his career decisions. He was unhappy with his current employer, but a non-compete clause in his contract prevented him from finding a new job in the city that he and his family called home. Fortunately, Regional Vice President of Recruiting Tara Osseck found a creative way to work around the clause with a longtime client. Without Tara’s insight and connections, the organization would not have considered Dr. E because of his preexisting contract. Read more.
Dual-Physician Couple Seeking Two Jobs
As Dr. S’s critical care fellowship was winding down, he began looking for a job while his wife was simultaneously seeking a hospitalist job. Senior Search Consultant Stephanie Hutchens found Dr. S’s CV in a job board database and contacted him about a critical care position with her client. When she learned his wife also needed a job, she was happy to present her to the client and advocate for her candidacy – even though there was no current hospitalist opening. The client was thrilled at the prospect of making two hires, and the hospitalist position would not have existed were it not for Stephanie’s involvement. Read more.
Target Location
When a Nurse Practitioner on the West Coast grew homesick, she began watching the job boards for opportunities in Philadelphia. Senior Director of Recruiting Sally Ann Patton received her application and reached out to her about not one but two opportunities in the city. When evaluating offers from both, the Nurse Practitioner leaned heavily on Sally Ann’s insight as to which employer most closely aligned with her needs. She accepted the offer that was best for her and was soon moving home. Read more.
4 Benefits of Working with a Dedicated Physician Recruiter
The examples above demonstrate how our recruiters helped these specific physicians, but what does all of this mean for you? Keep reading for four benefits of working with a dedicated physician recruiter.
1. Healthcare Recruiters Provide a Unique Perspective
Jackson Physician Search is a dedicated recruitment partner for the clients we assist. Our recruiters visit each hiring organization so they can learn not just about the job but the people, the culture, and the community. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and the recruiters who work with them know them as well as (or better than) their internal recruiters. This means a Jackson Physician Search recruiter can give you detailed information about what it’s like to work for the hiring organization and also help you emphasize the traits he or she knows are most important to the client.
Not only do Jackson Physician Search Recruiters know about their own clients, but they speak to hundreds of physicians every week, and through those conversations, they stay aware of market trends and glean insights into the cultures of many organizations. For this reason, it’s especially helpful to have a Jackson Physician Search physician recruiter on your side. You’ll find many examples of this in our other physician job search success stories.
2. Physician Recruiters Share Job Search Advice
Of course, you don’t have to apply to a specific job to connect with a healthcare recruiter. The recruitment team at Jackson Physician Search welcomes calls and emails from physicians actively searching for a job and established physicians just evaluating their options. Our recruiters are happy to offer advice on the current physician job market, share physician job search best practices, and prepare newly trained physicians for what to expect during the physician recruitment process. They’ll also want to learn about you and your family and find out what is most important in your physician job search. Even if the recruiter isn’t currently working with a client that matches your needs, he or she will be happy to add you to the database and keep you in mind for future positions.
3. Well-Connected Physician Recruiters Know Where the Jobs Are
Jackson Physician Search recruiters are not only working to find physicians for their active searches, but they are often aware of job openings that may be coming soon, and of course, they often know about the jobs their colleagues are working to fill. There are many examples of a candidate not finding a match with one recruiter’s client and that recruiter referring the candidate to a colleague for a different job. This kind of teamwork has helped countless physicians.
4. Healthcare Recruiters Know What It Takes to Get the Job
Dedicated healthcare recruiters will not only advocate for your candidacy, but they can also expertly guide you through the recruitment process – providing feedback on your CV, working with you to improve your interview skills, and even helping you negotiate the best offer. Beyond this general guidance, a dedicated recruiter knows precisely what it takes to impress their clients. They may share what is especially important to the client and guide the candidate to demonstrate that specific skill or trait.
As a dedicated recruitment partner, the team at Jackson Physician Search loves working with physicians and helping them find an employer who will meet their needs. Whether they apply to jobs we’ve posted or simply reach out by phone or email to introduce themselves, we are always thrilled to meet new physicians, learn their stories, and eventually match them with their ideal job opportunities.
If you are embarking on a physician job search, the recruitment team at Jackson Physician Search is eager to learn more. Reach out today or search physician jobs online now.
Have more questions about the physician job search?
The Physician Career Resource Center provides articles, Whitepapers, and infographics designed to help physicians through all aspects of the physician job search.
