PracticeLink’s physician job board is an exciting digital smorgasbord of physician opportunities just waiting for you to come find them.  The feedback-driven interface makes it easy for job seekers to upload their resume and explore what’s out there. As you navigate the search results, you might get overwhelmed with so many options. To narrow it down to only strong contenders, experiment with different keywords. After that, it’s a matter of reading through each offering carefully, paying attention to what’s written and not written. Here are tips on what to look for in a great physician job posting:

Does it spark the imagination?

Select the posts that amplify all the reasons you became a doctor or chose your specialty. Those internal motivations helped drive you through medical school and residency. Now is not the time to yield. Starting with the headline, some simply list the name of the specialty- such as Endocrinologist, Gastroenterology Physician or Hospitalist Needed. Others try to draw attention with a strong enticement like “Opportunity in Upstate NY” or “Up to $100k Sign On Bonus.” There’s nothing to infer by either style. It’s like choosing to greet your patients with, “Hello,” or “Good morning, it’s a beautiful day and I’m so glad you’re here!”  

In addition to the headline, the initial job results page includes whether the posting comes from a search firm recruiter or an employer direct recruiter at the healthcare organization. It also states if the role is full time or part time as well as what city it’s in.

As you start clicking job postings that catch your eye, allow yourself to smile when you find something you’ve dreamt of like “Busiest ER in the city” if you want something fast paced. Or “Collaborative team environment” if you’re tired of having to figure everything out for yourself. Maybe, “100% clinical” is perfect because you have no interest in moving into academics or administration.

Be mindful of posts that seem too good to be true. PracticeLink works with certified physician recruiters and verifies all jobs are legitimate. However, as you hear about opportunities through networking, be aware of recruitment scams. Avoid job postings that list an unusually high salary or that use pressure tactics such as saying the offer will be gone soon.

Do the benefits and opportunities show the company’s commitment to employees?

While you look after patients, you want a job with an organization that works just as hard to look after you. Look for a benefits package and lifestyle-based perks that will help you feel valued, enjoy a solid work-life balance, and reach your two-year or five-year goals. A 401(k) match could be three percent starting after three months at one location, but six percent starting after 18 months at another. 

Does it offer relocation expenses? Is there a promise of flexible schedules or mention of what the on-call expectation would be?

Be guarded with job-posts that seem to include work-life balance as a general goal without anything specific to back it up. Some organizations might be working on several initiatives for a healthier work environment, but you could find that their progress is slow or the extent of the initiative is just a parking pass and a meal voucher. 

Does it match up with your list?

To find a role that fits your personality and skill set, allow your job wish list and list of deal breakers to serve as a compass. When reading the physician job posting, confirm the items on your list. Consider how many of your ‘wants’ are listed, and if anything on your dealbreaker list is there. If you can start a new job that will add value rather than pain points to your life, you can expect to feel significantly happy about the position.

Personal and Professional Needs

Ensure the job meets your career goals. Can you envision yourself still working there in two years; five years? If you are looking for personal development, look for the ability to pursue your passions, opportunities for promotions and areas to gain more responsibility. If you’re interested in professional growth, will you expand your skills, develop new skills, or make new connections?

Be careful about the location. Being “close to” big attractions such as national parks, the mountains, the ocean or a big city is great, but what does “close” actually mean? One hour from New York can put you in Trenton, Long Beach or Stamford—all great communities with top hospitals like Capital Health, Mount Sinai South Nassau and Stamford Hospital. But if you want to work in New York City, look for opportunities in New York City.

Pay close attention to the company’s list of deal breakers as well. If it seems like an amazing opportunity but you live in Iowa and the posting has “Active and unrestricted medical license in the State of RI” then your current location is that organization’s deal breaker.

Does it come across as transparent?

Is the job posting clear about the shift times or call schedule? Does it include what would be expected of you as a person, such as “Strong analytical abilities,” “Excellent decision-making, interpersonal and communication skills,” or “Strong organizational and researching skills?” 

Look for clear information about the company culture and community. HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress includes an inspiring summary about their organization: “Founded by local physicians who wanted to create a sophisticated, upscale, patient-friendly healthcare environment for their community.” To really pull in the right candidates, HCA Houston also describes its services as: “…the latest, state-of-the-art medical technology and equipment, well-respected area physicians, and an upscale 5-star hotel-like ambiance.”

Some job postings include the name and contact information of the physician recruiter. That’s often the organization’s policy and not necessarily an indication of how welcoming the physician recruiter might be. If the contact information is included, use that to your benefit by networking with them on LinkedIn.

It’s OK to be cautious of “competitive salary” or “competitive compensation and benefits” in job postings. In theory, it’s meant to evoke confidence that the position’s salary is on par with the industry in practices or hospitals of similar size. In reality, it can feel disingenuous or elicit concerns of being gaslighted, particularly for women, people of color and foreign physicians working on visas. The phrase ‘competitive salary’ is nebulous as many states have passed pay transparency laws that mandate companies with a specific number of employees disclose pay or pay ranges for each position. In addition to the physician’s salary, Colorado job postings must also describe all benefits and other compensation. Some states, like Connecticut, only require disclosure if the applicant asks or at the time of hiring.

Does it allude to a company culture that aligns with your values toward patient care and workplace cooperation?

Most people have a preference or disinclination for certain workplace behaviors. It’s important to know what yours are and to look for opportunities where you can thrive, be engaged and feel a sense of belonging. People who feel closely aligned with their company’s culture are more likely to feel comfortable and happier in the workplace.

A vague line about the organization’s commitment to patient care can seem as trendy and disingenuous as work-life balance without anything concrete to back it up. Is productivity based on metrics, potential funding, winning awards, or something else? The only way to really know if their mark of patient care aligns with yours is to do additional research. Talk to current and past employees, see what’s been written about them in the papers, on Reddit and other outlets.