It is almost July and most of the residents should have landed a physician job. If not, but you are mulling over several physician job offers — then you are still good to go. But if you have not done a single interview yet or worse if you have not started applying yet, then you are really getting late. But do not despair, as there are plenty of physician jobs available.  Those who have visa issues need to be extra careful about the deadlines for applying for one.

There are several strategies to catch up for your Doctor job search. These techniques can be used by the early birds too as they are very effective in getting the contract in hand.

1) Networking: Talk to your attending physicians in the hospital and program. Many if them will be looking for a partner in the near future. May be you can fit into that role. Even if they are not looking, they may know someone , who is looking for physician employees.

2) Medical Staff Office: Talk to the Medical Staff Office in your training hospital. They are usually aware of MDs looking for potential partners/ employees. 

3) Pick up the phone!: Yes! pick up the phone and call up all the places you have put your resume to. Ask them for the physician responsible for making hiring decision. Talk to the hiring MD and ask him if you can set up an  interview to discuss the opportunity further. Many a times, a reverse interview offer like this does work.

4) Physician recruiters: Call the physician recruiters in your specialty and they will be do glad to have you signed up somewhere. Why? Because that’s how they make the big bucks.

5) Friends and Seniors: Do not forget friends and seniors who are already employed or own their own medical practice. They can also hook you up with a physician job.

What if the worst fear comes true. What if you graduate and there is no physician job in sight for you. Well that is a rare thing and should not happen if you have read the ‘Secrets of physician job hunt’.  But even if it does, then you still have option of locum tenens and moonlighting. This option is not for you if you need a visa for employment. The biggest drawback of having a  gap between residency and employment — you will have  to explain it on all  your applications  in the future. I hope this sets you on fire to get started!!!

Let us talk about taking a break after a medical residency program. Once we are through with the hard labor of medical residency program, the long hours, and the stress, which has haunted as for at least last three years, there is a natural tendency to take a break, To rest, to rejuvenate.

Lets consider the question of financial implications of taking a break after residency. Since you have not the started a Physician job, it is quiet clear that you will not be paid for this vacation time. Other thing to note is that your salary would almost quadruple after graduation. And so taking a break will cost you more than $10K for each month you do not work assuming your starting salary is $120K. This does not includes the money you will spend to enjoy that vacation. That makes it a very very expensive break!

You should rather start working at the physician job and then take a vacation maybe three to four months later which would be paid vacation at that time. So by delaying gratification by four months, you actually earned more than 15K. If you have a higher starting salary then 150K, then the stakes are even high.

The other issue to be discussed is the timing of your board examinations. Should you give board examination right after residency, or may be two or three years down the road?

The likely reason medical residents try to take a break is because of all the stress of examinations. But remember this stress is something that you have been used to already. So why not go through the stressful medical board exams, while you’re used to taking huge amounts of stress. Almost all hospitals require board certification for approving your privileges to the hospital. If you do not have privileges to the hospital, you cannot enter the hospital to work there.

The problem with delaying the boards is that the longer you are away from the residency graduation, the harder preparation you will need for the boards. It is the easiest to pass the medical board’s or specialty medical boards right after residency. Why? Right after residency the knowledge is fresh in your mind. That reduces the amount of readings you may have to do. Also it is the latest knowledge, which is most relevant for the medical board exams. Not to mention your recent practice in preparing for multiple in-house examinations does keep your efficiency at the highest.

So make sure you avoid these two big mistakes often graduating from the residency program. Number one, do not take a break right after residency whether to relax or to prepare for the board exams. It is not worth it. Number two, take your board exams right away.