Networking in the transition to practice is an entirely different animal for physicians who are finishing up their graduate medical education than it is when they are applying for residency programs. That’s why it can help to have a clear plan and strategies to create organic, long-term connections, say experts and those who have gone through the process, offering tips for early-career physicians on how, when and where to network.
“Apply to jobs, network, go to career fairs and meet people outside of your own network of people because it'll be good for your job-search process,” said Greg Chang, the general manager and vice president of CareerMD, a platform that helps connect resident-and-fellow physicians with job opportunities. “It'll be good for building your long-term network of opportunities down the road, and it'll only help you become smarter as you make career decisions.”
Physician job seekers also should explore the JAMA Career Center®, which presents physician career opportunities, news and information relevant to the full spectrum of medical practice. Search for physician jobs by specialty and location or browse all of the physician jobs by specialty.
And if you’re searching for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet from the AMA now.
Consider moonlighting or locum tenens
Get an early start on the process. Physicians who want to develop connections in a particular geographic area or even a specific health system may want to try working there on a temporary basis during residency or fellowship training.
Both moonlighting and locum tenens work can be ways to flex your clinical independence, showcase your skills and meet other physicians and leaders.
“As you're building your network of peers, when you have exposure to other locations—not just clinically—you get to meet new other people. It also helps you to understand when it is time to sign your name on the dotted line with a group or health system,” said Brian McKillop, president of locums at physician recruiting firm AMN Healthcare. “You sort of have a network of folks to rely on and help you understand who you can speak to or reach out to help with that next step or that process of going into a permanent position.”
Don’t be shy about connecting
Laura Halpin, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Los Angeles. Dr. Halpin contacted a recruiter at Kaiser Permanente before they had a position open in her specialty. She said it can be immensely helpful to know where you want to be and who can help you land a position.
“In terms of the networking piece, sit down and think about it,” she said. “Ask yourself where are the places where that employer may be? Who are the key decision-makers and how do I want to reach them?”
A great place to start is a health system’s career website. Many organizations will have in-house physician recruiters. Introduce yourself and keep in touch throughout your job-search process.
“Get some exposure, and even if you don't feel like you're going to end up at an institution, you may be surprised. It may be a great networking opportunity for you to come back around to later,” Chang said.
Attend events and job fairs
You likely will have some preferences on where in the country you want to live and practice, due to professional or family ties or other factors. In Dr. Halpin’s case, she preferred to stay in the city in which she was a fellow and ended up doing so. Whether you hope to stay local or make a move, going to events put on by specialty societies and state medical associations offers the chance to meet potential leads.
“Look for organizations and figure out when they hold career fairs,” she said. “For example, the Southern California Psychiatric Society holds a career fair at the Kaiser Permanente facility in West Los Angeles.
In-person career fairs start happening around November. So, around October of your last year of training, be on the lookout for such events.”
Dr. Halpin also said conferences within your specialty could be a beneficial place to meet physicians who can connect you with potential job opportunities.
Find likeminded professionals
You can also consider joining professional organizations—such as the AMA—and attend events where you can meet other physicians at the same stage in their careers, no matter what stage you are in. Learn more and become an AMA member.
Also, it is worth exploring the AMA Career Advancement Collective, a powerful new suite of educational programs and training that helps physicians develop and advance at every stage of their career.
Use your existing physician network
If you worked with physicians during residency or fellowship who have since moved on to a program in which you have interest, reaching out makes sense. Also look to past and current faculty members with whom you had a working relationship to help you connect or to put in a good word on your behalf.
“I actually talked to recent grads who were working at other places that I was considering,” Dr. Halpin said. “They were able to make email introductions and tell me about those organizations. I ended up realizing from those conversations that those places weren’t the best fit for me. So, that was also helpful information to have.”
Learn more on evaluating practice environments to match your priorities with the AMA STEPS Forward® toolkit, “What to Look for in Your First or Next Practice.” It is enduring material and designated by the AMA for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Read up on AMA CME accreditation.
