We asked the College’s New Allergist Committee and other new practicing allergists for their job search tips. Here are their recommendations:
- Start early! Your first year of fellowship is not too early to get started.
- Focus on geographical areas of interest and contact multiple institutions or practices. Even if they’re not hiring now, their needs can change quickly, so do reach out to them anyway.
- The College’s “Find an Allergist” tool or Member Directory can help you identify allergists in your preferred geographic area.
- Pharmaceutical representatives can be a useful source of information about local allergy practices. They travel to most offices and often know a lot about each practice.
- Reach out to former fellows and other allergists who are happy in their jobs and ask if their group is hiring or if they know other groups that are hiring.
- Connect with local hospitals and ask if they have an existing allergy/immunology clinic. If not, consider starting one.
- Ask your mentors to put in a good word for you, especially if searching in Academia. Don’t be shy; be ready with a cover letter/letter of interest and CV.
- Secure references early. Get at least three references and confirm they’ll take phone calls.
- Learn the specifics of the position and confirm they match your requirements. Consider all aspects of the position and not just salary: call requirement, commute, benefits, staffing issues, stability of practice, job satisfaction of others doctors in group, and the camaraderie of doctors/nurses in groups.
- Request a shadow day as part of the interview process. Spending a full day in a potential work environment will give you a great picture of how your colleagues interact, how the staff and physicians work together, clinic flow, practice culture, your day-to-day schedule, and much more.
- Some questions YOU should ask the practice:
- How long has the ancillary staff been employed? Staff longevity can be a sign of good morale and a well-run practice.
- What’s the population growth of the area? A growing area will support a growing practice.
- Are there any clinical practices you don’t agree with? If so, that’s a red flag.
- Is there a high-quality EHR? It’s easier to join a practice with a well-functioning EHR than to have to implement a new one – or do everything by hand.
