A bigger salary. More flexibility. The opportunity to work in a specific city, work at a specific hospital,, or provide care to a specific demographic of patients.
There are dozens of reasons why physicians change jobs and look for new positions with new employers throughout their career. Yet most will agree that the job application can be somewhat daunting.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make the job application process easier and help you land the oh-so-important interview.
From researching employers to creating an impressive CV and cover letter, here are five job application tips for physicians to help you land the job you want..
Do Your Research
Every employer has their own culture, mission, and values. Before you apply to an open position, do your research to learn as much as possible about the employer. Location, schedule, and salary potential aside, this can help you determine if your goals and mission align with theirs.
Researching a potential new employer is the best way to gain insight into how they practice medicine, learn more about the patients they serve, and get a feel for what type of care they provide. In addition to helping you figure out if the role is a good fit for you, this will help you formulate a list of well-crafted questions to ask in your interview.
Update Your CV
In addition to including all of your most relevant experience, your CV should be tailored to the job opportunity you’re applying for. If you’re applying for different types of positions in different practice settings, you’ll need to create more than one CV.
Your CV should paint you in the best light possible for the position you’re applying for. It’s important to put more emphasis on the experiences that are most relevant to the job.
For example, if the role is strictly clinical, emphasize your practice experience and call attention to any new technologies or new procedures you’ve been trained in. If the role is more research-focused, play up your research experience and be sure to cite any publications where your research has been published.
Check out this article from the American Medical Association for a refresher course on how to create a great medical CV.
Master the Art of the Cover Letter
While your CV details your education and professional experience, your cover letter is your opportunity to showcase and demonstrate some of your other skills.
A well-written cover letter will make it clear that you have excellent communication skills. In it, you can also elaborate on your leadership skills, showcase your professionalism, and touch on why you want to work for this particular employer in this particular position.
Your cover letter is more than just a way to introduce yourself to a potential employer. It’s also an opportunity to showcase your personality in a professional way that will help you stand out from other candidates competing for the same role.
Check out this article from Physicians Thrive to learn how to write a physician cover letter that will help you land an interview.
Update Your References
Make sure that anyone you list as a reference is someone that you still have a professional relationship with. As you advance in your career, old references should be replaced with up-to-date ones. That way, if an employer calls your references, they can provide them with current, relevant information about who you are and what you do.
It’s also important to make sure that the people you want to list as references are willing to serve as references for you. Never assume that a physician or supervisor you worked with in the past is willing to give you a reference unless you’ve confirmed it with them first.
And when you do start sending out applications and going on interviews, let your references know the names of employers you interviewed with. That way, when the employer contacts them they’ll be sure to answer the call.
Review Your Social Media Profiles
What you post on social media can make or break your job search. When applying for new positions, assume that potential employers will Google you and find your social media profiles.
Do a social media audit of all of your existing profiles to make sure that your online persona is a respectable and professional one. If you’ve posted content that you’d rather employers not see, it’s best to remove it. At the very least, consider adjusting your security settings to private so that any potentially damaging content isn’t public for the world to view.
Double check your LinkedIn profile as well. The experience and work history on your LinkedIn page should be consistent with what’s on your CV.
In Conclusion
No matter what stage you’re at in your career, job searching can be time consuming and stressful. But it doesn’t have to be.
Do your research on potential employers. Tailor your CV and cover letter to each position. Line up great references to vouch for you. Make sure your social media profiles present you in a professional light.
Follow these tips, and landing your dream job can be a whole lot easier than you may think.
