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Academy News: August 2003 Searching for your first A/I position:
According to the A/I Physician Workforce Report, prepared for the AAAAI by SUNY-Albany’s Center for Health Workforce Studies, 41% of fellowship program directors report that there will be more opportunities for new graduates to find full-time positions in the future. In addition, recent graduates do not report many difficulties finding positions. The Academy is working to ensure a strong future for allergists/immunologists. FITs focusing on the next stage of their careers are filled with thoughts of new jobs, new cities and homes. Interviewing for their first position in the A/I field can be exciting and confusing. To guide FITs through the interviewing maze, FITs submitted their questions about the interviewing process, and members of the New Allergist/Immunologist Committee (NAIC) offered their insight. As a final wrap up, a group of seasoned A/I professionals provided some perspective from the interviewers’ standpoint. Below is a compilation of their responses. Laying the groundwork Q: What is the best time to send out CVs and start the interview process? A: Begin sending out CVs in the late fall/early winter portion of your final year of Fellowship. This will give you ample time to review your opportunities and contracts. Q: Is the end of the first year of fellowship too early or too
late to begin interviewing? Q: Is there a peak time of year when practices are looking for new associates? A: Practices are usually looking for new associates during late fall and early spring. Job search process Q: Aside from ads posted in journals and newsletters, what are other ways to find job opportunities? Should I send out letters, use a recruiter, make phone calls, read classifieds? A: You can send out letters or make phone calls, but networking is the most effective. Many physicians know of practices that are looking for associates, so become acquainted with A/Is in the regions that interest you. You should also attend local allergy society meetings and talk to alumni of your training program. Q: What is the best way to target a particular geographical location, especially if I’m not from that area? A: Networking is an effective tool in this case as well. Ask
friends or your training program director if they can put you in contact
with individuals in that region. Local allergy societies would also be
helpful in this case. The Interview Q: How can I research a practice in advance to decide if it’s worth my time to travel there and officially interview? A: Networking, networking, networking. If you’ve developed a solid group of contacts you should be able to find out quite a few details about a practice and its physicians. In addition, try to find out as many details as possible over the phone. Ask about things like:
Q: Who should pay for travel expenses related to interviewing, the applicant or employer? A: The potential employer should pay for travel expenses. If they refuse to pay for your travel, that’s probably a red flag, and you shouldn’t waste your time any further. Q: What suggestions/tips would you offer for a successful interview? A: You should know what you’re looking for and know what you have to offer. Be confident and clear about your priorities. Think carefully about whether you really like the work environment, because you will be spending 8 to 10 hours daily in that office. Take plenty of notes, and try to meet all of the partners and staff. Most importantly, be yourself. If you have some concerns, don’t be afraid to learn the opportunity is a bad match. It’s much better to learn early. Q: How many days should I spend with the practice during my interview? A: Spend at least one full day with the practice if you know the region. If you don’t know the area, you might want to add an extra day or two to your trip. Q: Describe any special considerations for interviewing with an allergy-only group practice vs. a multispecialty group. A: The allergy division of the multi-specialty group should have some autonomy. Other divisions of the group shouldn’t dominate the referrals for conditions that an A/I manages best (Ex: sinusitis, asthma, eczema, etc.). Ensure that you truly can become a partner/shareholder in a reasonable amount of time. A multi-specialty group can be very bureaucratic. Be sure to get everything in writing on the final contract. Before you sign the contract, review it with friends and faculty to get their input. If you know a member of the AAAAI New Allergist/Immunologist Committee, then review the contract with him/her and ask for advice. Q: What is the appropriate manner to decline a job offer, via telephone call or mail? A: Decline any offers with a personal phone call. If you want to continue negotiations, a telephone call is essential. Q: Are there any “red flags” I should watch for during the interview process? A: Networking is often the key here as well. The same physicians who know about available positions, also know which job opportunities are unattractive. During your visit to the practice, be observant. Watch for outdated textbooks on the bookshelves, and unusual allergy testing or immunotherapy mixtures/procedures. Full vs. empty waiting rooms are also important. Pay attention to the behavior of the staff toward the physicians - it should be relaxed - and also to the behavior of the physicians toward the staff and patients. Ask to accompany a physician during at least one patient visit. A new physician should be treated as a colleague and not as a “junior associate.” Above all, trust your gut feeling! Financial Considerations A: Discuss financial considerations whenever you are comfortable, but ask during an interview, not at a later date. Depending on the circumstances, most practices will offer a contract within a couple of weeks. Partnership is usually offered in about two years. Do not let a practice keep you waiting if you have other opportunities. Final words of wisdom A: You will definitely find a job, so take the time to make the best choice you possibly can. If things do not feel right during the interview process, they will only seem worse once you join the practice. You should enjoy the people you work with that’s actually more important than money. It’s also essential to ensure that your spouse is happy with the geographical location. The interviewer’s opinion These physicians are looking for a candidate who has excellent interpersonal communication skills and can build a solid rapport with patients. Applicants should also display a willingness to live in the area and possibly raise a family there. Interviewers also suggest that FITs do not place too much emphasis on salary or perks (i.e. vacation time) and focus more on patient care. |
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