Suggestions for cold calling/emailing about jobs?

[transitioning19230]

Finishing up my fellowship, behavioral medicine focus (wide range of health disorders). I would like to return to my home city (population 50k). There's 3 hospitals in the area, none of which are hiring psychologists. I reached out to 3 recruiters, 2 agreed to hold my application, the 3rd never responded. I am early in my career but have great training and could likely fit into a few different roles. I'm looking for advice on how best to proceed.

One of the hospitals has a psychiatry chief, so I am planning to send him a brief email with my CV.
The second has about a dozen psychologists, but no division head or chief, so I was planning to just pick one and email them, asking them to pass along my cv.
The third has no psychologists on staff and only a few psychiatrists, but again no division chief. I was thinking of emailing one of them, but also had the thought to go directly to one of the administrators and make the case for integrating mental health into various clinics. Has anyone had experience with this? If this does not work out I am likely going to take a private practice position which is not my area of expertise of preferred work environment. My mentors have advised I consider moving elsewhere in service of my career, but I want to be close to family.

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[psych.meout]

Are these AMCs or community hospitals?

 

[WisNeuro]

Do you have a niche skill? In terms of general therapy positions for psych, the hospitals here are pushing to fill those slots with midlevels. Niche providers are still highly sought after, so if you can highlight something there, that's what I'd do.

 

[transitioning19230]

Are these AMCs or community hospitals?

One (small) AMC, others are community hospitals.

Do you have a niche skill? In terms of general therapy positions for psych, the hospitals here are pushing to fill those slots with midlevels. Niche providers are still highly sought after, so if you can highlight something there, that's what I'd do.

I do have two areas of expertise. I emphasized that to the recruiters but it didn't help. I am hoping a medical director or division chief might have a better understanding of what it is I bring to the table.

 

[R. Matey]

FWIW, I think you're on the right track. It's just tougher than it should be to target a specific area in this field.

 

[Sanman]

One (small) AMC, others are community hospitals.

I do have two areas of expertise. I emphasized that to the recruiters but it didn't help. I am hoping a medical director or division chief might have a better understanding of what it is I bring to the table.

The former is unlikely while the latter may work assuming they have the pull or the interest. For example, a pain doc or a sleep doc might be interested in integrating a psychologist into the clinic.

The hard part about this and something that the field does a poor job of explaining to many folks is that specialty psych jobs are not that common. An AMC or even a VA hospital may have one opening for each type of specialty psychologist and in a city with a population of 50k, I imagine only the AMC would consider it and it may not be in the budget. That leaves you with the choice of practicing your specialty full-time or moving home and doing something else.

 

[PsyDr]

1) Determine how those hospitals financially operate. It's usually either:

a. Physicians as employees (i.e., AMC model)
b. Physicians as contractors (i.e., three letter corporation owned model).

If the hospital operates under B, you'll never get a job there because they don't employ people. But you can call the credentialing department and ask if you can get credentialed there. After getting credentialed, reach out to their physicians for referrals. Be advised, you are essentially opening up your own PP. So you'll have to learn about billing and workflow, etc.

2) Psychiatry usually "adds on" psychotherapy codes to their billing. If you are trying to offer psychotherapy, this may be seen as competition by psychiatry.