“Marketing” is a term routinely thrown around when speaking about products and strategizing how best to promote them. But as a physician, you yourself are also marketable and your skills and experience are products that need to be promoted as well. Knowing what will make you and keep you marketable is the secret to becoming the top candidate.
Keep those certifications active. Certifications like ACLS, BLS, and PALS do double duty for physicians of all modalities by maintaining your knowledge base while fulfilling CME requirements. Though they may seem tedious and elementary to some, being actively certified in multiple CMEs presents you as a dedicated and active physician. With the majority of certifications remaining active for two year increments, put yourself on a rotating schedule to enroll yourself in a recertification class every nine months to a year to remain up to date. Becoming certified will also give you the benefit of decreased recertification costs later down the road.
Continually update your CV. If considering an opportunity with a new facility, your CV is often the first source of information a recruiter or CEO reviews when getting to know you as a potential candidate. New publications, presentations, and volunteer experiences should be added to keep your resume current. Be sure to double check the contact information for both yourself and for any references you may include.
Consider becoming board certified if you aren’t already. Being boarded in your specialty is an immediate “pro” for anyone involved in your hiring process. Though becoming boarded can be a long and difficult process, the months spent studying will be worth it when you receive higher hourly rates and better signing offers. More and more facilities are requiring their physicians to either be board certified or to sign a contract with the intention of becoming boarded within a year before offering them a position. So even if you have no interest in becoming board certified, a facility or opportunity may make it a requirement for you to do so.
Keep your scope of practice broad. Limiting your abilities and preferences as a physician is a sure way to disqualify you as a candidate. Despite more facilities than ever before offering qualified support staff and specialists, keeping your abilities and comfort levels will benefit you in the long run. The convenience your facility provides today may limit your opportunities in the future.
Though every physician and modality is different, devoting the time and a little bit of money today will bring greater benefits professionally in the years to come.
Molly Tagg has been with Aureus Medical Group since May of 2014 as a Search Consultant for the Physicians Division. Involved in both the locum tenens and direct hire areas of the medical recruitment industry, Molly spends her work days finding the most qualified and capable physicians for facilities nationwide. In her free time, Molly enjoys running, live music, exploring downtown Omaha, and spending time with friends.