Questions to ask at a Job Interview

[MetroPath]

What are some good, tough questions I should be asking when going on a job interview for private practice?

I’m looking for a job at a 200-300 bed hospital. I’m Surgpath/cytopath trained.

How much pay is to be expected at such a group? The group covers four hospitals. How much can I negotiate in terms of pay based on their initial offer?

I’ve asked some questions already just wondering if I missed anything. Thanks for any advice.

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[bauber]

Someone gave this to me at some point, there is some useful stuff in it.

200-250k probably. Depends on if it is a private group versus a hospital employee position. When I was in the process of getting my job I read two pieces of advice regarding compensation - if they offer you a fair salary that is in line with the national average, ask for no more than 10% additional. If they lowball you then ask for the national average or a bit above.

 

[MetroPath]

Someone gave this to me at some point, there is some useful stuff in it.

200-250k probably. Depends on if it is a private group versus a hospital employee position. When I was in the process of getting my job I read two pieces of advice regarding compensation - if they offer you a fair salary that is in line with the national average, ask for no more than 10% additional. If they lowball you then ask for the national average or a bit above.

Thank you very helpful!

I have some questions:

What is considered a good sized group to join? Does it matter?

What is considered a good volume of surgicals a pathologist should be signing out a year?

If a group has a freestanding anatomic lab is that considered a plus?

 

[ScubaV]

I'm employed at a large hospital system, so that's different, but almost nothing was negotiable. The salaries (minus first year) for all the pathologists are the same, except for stipends for laboratory directorships at various campuses. One of my co-workers was able to get the non-compete clause geographically reduced, but otherwise nada.

 

[Med Director New England]

Try to find out as much as you can about the local market for any group you interview with. You can probably do a lot of this on your own and on the day you are interviewing be a good listener. If their are local threats to existing business it will likely be mentioned by the group.

It’s a tough balance b/c you want to probe with questioning but keep in mind they’ll likely have a lot of applicants (I think you’ve indicated before youre entering a tough market).

AP lab ownership not nec a positive anymore and likely not a huge revenue stream - if any. Does allow the group better control of slide quality and what time slides are out for review.

salary negotiation depends a lot on howgood the fit is for you and how confident you areon other opportunities if you do pass. Try to let them make an offer first rather than you giving a salary requirement / range.

GL - and please update the group if you feel comfortable doing this

 

[MetroPath]

Try to find out as much as you can about the local market for any group you interview with. You can probably do a lot of this on your own and on the day you are interviewing be a good listener. If their are local threats to existing business it will likely be mentioned by the group.

It’s a tough balance b/c you want to probe with questioning but keep in mind they’ll likely have a lot of applicants (I think you’ve indicated before youre entering a tough market).

AP lab ownership not nec a positive anymore and likely not a huge revenue stream - if any. Does allow the group better control of slide quality and what time slides are out for review.

salary negotiation depends a lot on howgood the fit is for you and how confident you areon other opportunities if you do pass. Try to let them make an offer first rather than you giving a salary requirement / range.

GL - and please update the group if you feel comfortable doing this

Thanks. I don’t think it’s a good job market overall despite what some say on here.

Stalked a few pathologists online who mentioned their group isn’t hiring.

Have two leads on jobs so far been looking since September.

Emailed my CV to a bunch of jobs from pathoutlines and I didn’t hear back from most places. Some places want people who are local which I’m not for some of these jobs (they don’t want people to bail which is understandable).

Thinking about going to a state pathology society next year to beg for a job.

Called a remote place and they questioned me why I wanted to go there. Had no good solid reason so I never heard back.

Had a phone interview with a medical director of a hospital but they are interviewing another person and gave a contract to another person.

Was told by a pathologist that people find jobs from their fellowship director, from state pathology societies or by pathoutlines. I think that’s how most get their jobs-via fellowship director-so it’s important to do your residency and fellowship in an area where you eventually want to work.

Trying and it’s not easy.

The thing is if I get offered a job I have a feeling I may just have to take it as I may not get many offers but I’ll keep you updated.

I didn’t apply to every state just a few so far btw.

 

[pathslides]

What is considered a good volume of surgicals a pathologist should be signing out a year?

Atleast 5,000 accessions consisting of 70:30 biopsy/bigs-complex mix should be expected.

 

[deleted314957]

Thanks. I don’t think it’s a good job market overall despite what some say on here. Stalked a few pathologists online who mentioned their group isn’t hiring. Have two leads on jobs so far been looking since September. Emailed my CV to a bunch of jobs from pathoutlines and I didn’t hear back from most places. Some places want people who are local which I’m not for some of these jobs (they don’t want people to bail which is understandable). Thinking about going to a state pathology society next year to beg for a job.

Called a remote place and they questioned me why I wanted to go there. Had no good solid reason so I never heard back.

Had a phone interview with a medical director of a hospital but they are interviewing another person and gave a contract to another person.

Was told by a pathologist that people find jobs from their fellowship director, from state pathology societies or by pathoutlines. I think that’s how most get their jobs-via fellowship director-so it’s important to do your fellowship in an area where you eventually want to work.

Trying and it’s not easy. The thing is if I get offered a job I have a feeling I may just have to take it as I may not get many offers but I’ll keep you updated.

I didn’t apply to every state just a few so far btw.

This post says it all about the path job market. Can you fathom such a letter being written by a primary care physician or surgical specialist?