When to apply for attending jobs

[satori47]

When's the typical time period to apply for attending positions? I'm in my last yr of residency, ideally want to start ~ sept '10 for a hospitalist position.

Perhaps the alternate version of the questoin is when is it too late? and is right now too early?

thanks

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[NotAProgDirector]

It's not too early to start looking, but many practices may not be sure of how many positions they will need to fill in Sept '10 yet.

In general:

Look / Learn: July - Sept
Send letters of interest / apply: Oct - Dec
Interview: Jan-Feb
Sign contract: Feb - March
Apply for license: April
Start work: July

Since you are anticipating a Sept start, you can be a bit looser with this timeline.

 

[efex101]

****, I am already looking at what is out there for hospitalist positions now and I just started second year 😉 trying to see what the baseline pay/vaca/bonus/insurance/etc is so when it comes time to sign on next year....I will be informed. I am OCD and most of the peeps in my residency have yet to start looking although there is one person who signed on already during his second year.

 

[Winged Scapula]

It's not too early to start looking, but many practices may not be sure of how many positions they will need to fill in Sept '10 yet.

In general:

Look / Learn: July - Sept
Send letters of interest / apply: Oct - Dec
Interview: Jan-Feb
Sign contract: Feb - March
Apply for license: April
Start work: July

Since you are anticipating a Sept start, you can be a bit looser with this timeline.

Is the time frame really that quick for medicine jobs?

Every surgery interview I had required second interviews, trips and phone calls back and forth, etc. I started interviewing in October and didn't accept my job until May (which is because I waited for the right one to come along) but many of them would take a couple of months to bring back the "short list" of candidates for the job.

 

[satori47]

I've been getting emails from what looks like recruiters/headhunter groups regarding job openings. Should I use those (from whom I suppose will take a cut of my ultimate salary due to commission) or is it just as convenient to directly apply to hospitals?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Is the time frame really that quick for medicine jobs?

Every surgery interview I had required second interviews, trips and phone calls back and forth, etc. I started interviewing in October and didn't accept my job until May (which is because I waited for the right one to come along) but many of them would take a couple of months to bring back the "short list" of candidates for the job.

My residents' experience suggests that it may be faster in IM. Many programs are desperate for hospitalists and outpt IM docs, so they don't fool around. And, they may be trying to fill several slots.

However, to be fair I have had some residents who run into trouble -- usually a contract with some funky issues, and then the negotiations get drawn out, and then if they collapse, it's late into April/May and it's a big problem. So, starting earlier cannot hurt.

 

[brc12]

I've been getting emails from what looks like recruiters/headhunter groups regarding job openings. Should I use those (from whom I suppose will take a cut of my ultimate salary due to commission) or is it just as convenient to directly apply to hospitals?

You have it backwards. Recruiters make money from programs looking for doctors, not from doctors looking for jobs.

And to answer some of the above questions, typically you'll want to start looking for positions in sept/oct. Most interviews generally occur in dec/jan, occasionally into feb. (My first job after residency i interviewed for in march, but most applicants to my current program interview in dec/jan). You'd probably want a position lined up in march. Licensure varies by state so if you're accepting a position in a different state you want know how long it can take. (Some states take much longer than others, and if you're an IMG it can take quite long). Credentialing for hospital privileges also typically takes 2-3 months.