When should physicians seek career advice?

When should physicians seek career advice? By Alexis R Small, Physician Career Agent

“The Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report,  says that 46% of all physicians responded that they had burnout, which is a substantial increase since the Medscape 2013 Lifestyle Report, in which burnout was reported in slightly under 40% of respondents. Burnout is commonly defined as loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of cynicism, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.” (Medscape.com – January 26, 2015)

Physicians labor through 4 years of medical school acquiring 6-figure debt. Then, they fight through 4 more years of residency with little to no sleep. Finally, they start a much-anticipated career in medicine, only to constantly worry about how they are going to pay back that 6-figure debt in this current healthcare environment that offers less freedom to practice medicine. Or, after all the time and money they’ve invested, some come to the realization that a career in clinical medicine is not for them. At what point during those 8 years of medical training do physicians receive any guidance related to career development and planning? One option is the Careers in Medicine website offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

But, what do you do if you are several years into your medical career before you come to the conclusion that clinical practice or medicine, in general, is not the career for you? Who’s going to help you navigate the winding highways of career options available to you at this stage in your career or decide which way to travel at the crossroads of your career journey? Are you even comfortable seeking the advice of a career professional? I mean, you’re a physician, deemed a member of one of the most intelligent professional groups, as well as one of the most sought after professionals in the world. Why would you even need any career advice? You can figure this out on your own, right? You make 6 figures or more on an annual basis. You own your own practice or you work for one of the most highly accredited institutions in the country. You diagnose chronic diseases and treat complex illnesses. Surely you can figure out this career thing!

Dear Physician, If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning to go to work and have decided that it is time to make a change, you might want to seek some career advice.
If you know that you want to pursue a different career, but have no clue where to start, you should seek some career advice.
If you know that you want to change jobs, but don’t have the time to look for available openings, then you should consider seeking career advice.
If you love medicine, but hate clinical practice, you should seek some career advice to help you research your career options.
If you enjoy your job, but can no longer stand the people you work with or the environment you work in, you might want to seek some career advice.
If you are in private practice, but have become exhausted by all the red tape, then maybe you ought to consider getting some career advice.

Often times, the THREE best reasons to seek career advice are if:
1. you don’t know what to do
2. you don’t know how to do it
3. you don’t have the time do it

You have invested so much time, money and effort in pursuing your medical career and everyone is telling you that you would be crazy to give all that up. Or you feel you would be crazy to give it all up. What do you do? You know you need to make a change, but you have been out of the job market for a long, long time. If you can’t fill out a paper application or mail your CV via the United States Postal Service, you are clueless. You see more than 30 patients each day, have charts/EMR notes to catch up on and have to fight with the insurance companies to get the prescriptions your patients need. Who has time to search for a new job or career?

If any of these reasons or scenarios apply to you, then you should consider reaching out to a career professional who:
*Has experience working with physicians
*Enjoys helping physicians find the best career/job fit
*Understands the healthcare landscape
*Is adept at navigating the recruiting/hiring process
*Has your best career interest in mind
This career professional could be a Career Advisor, a Physician Recruiter or an Executive Coach. Take your pick. Just make sure you get the help or advice you need to move forward in your career. The options are endless!

Contact Alexis Small by email at [email protected] or by phone at 704-975-0844