Job hunt 2008

[objdoc]

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For those finishing in 2008, how's the job hunt going?

For myself: recruiters seem fairly worthless, basically regurgitating what's already on Gaswork. That site seems to have every job that's being advertised, although a very few practices appear to recruit by word of mouth as well.

Financially, sorting out opportunities is difficult. 1099 income seems to mean no guarantee even before partnership. How much call is reasonable, I have no idea. It looks easy for groups to take advantage of new hires, no one wants to show the books. Employee spots look safer, even AMC positions like with the infamous Sheridan.

Any other thoughts and experiences?

 

[bubalus]

Recruiters are a waste. I've told them all to go away. Plenty of good jobs out there. I've got more interview offers in desirable locations than I can do. I still have this nagging thought in the back of my head that I should do a fellowship, but those offered salaries shout much louder than that nagging little thought.

 

[mdjobexchange]

The job market in anesthesia is great. I agree, recruiters are not that great.

I have been out for six years and incomes just keep going up. If you want to get a feel for different areas, do locums. I did it for 2 years and it really gives you great experience and you find out about non-advertised jobs. It is paying about $1300/day for 8 hours work now, so you can make some serious cash quickly with no malpractice tail/obligation.

When looking at anesthesia jobs, make sure you ask how many ASA units they are billing a year. Average is 10,000 for an anesthesiologist working 60 hours a week. Average reimbursement per unit is around $41 bucks, so usual package is worth around $400k. If a group tells you their average unit is only worth 30 bucks and they are making $400k, they either are working 100 hrs a week or have some special hook-up where they are extracting money from the hospital for call.

 

[objdoc]

MDjobexchange - thanks for the tips. Any agencies in particular you liked for locums work? Or did you do it independently?

 

[mdjobexchange]

Most of the agencies do a reasonably good job, but the one that really stood out was Daniel and Yeager. One of the guys who started that company just spun off his own company, Daniel Staffing Group. It has some of the people I used to work with at D and Y and I know they will do a good job.

I also liked Bay Area Anesthesia/Fastgas. They set me up with a really choice assignment.

What really made those companies for me was that my contact was always the same person and they knew anesthesia. When I asked them about high-risk OB, they had a clue and could talk intelligently about it. Some of the bigger companies have newer, younger people without that experience and knowledge. I got sent on some bad assignments with other companies and it can really be miserable. Ask a lot of questions and make sure they give you Hertz or Avis and a nice place to stay. Call the hospital and ask the staff about the hotel you are given.