LIFE AFTER RESIDENCY / Job Search

Here is a list of helpful items that may guide the process of post-residency life. This consists of boards, job search, and fellowship options (bottom). If you are interested in fellowships in podiatry/foot and ankle surgery, click here! Furthermore, Student Doctor Network offers a good thread on "The Job Search Thread: Tips, Tricks, and Experiences" which may be worth a review.

The APMA also provides resources for new physicians here.

While you are preparing your application information, consider reading the following article from Dr. Lowel Weil JR from Podiatry Today (May 4, 2016):
                                                                                                 Are Residencies Really Preparing Doctors for Practice?

Boards:
  • During the spring of your PGY-3 year you will take a boarding exam either ABFAS or ABPM.
  • ABFAS
            - Forefoot and Rearfoot - Multiple Choice and Computer Based Patient Simulation (CBPS) - 4 exams total in one seating, 2-hours each.
            - If you do not pass a section, you must re-take that section (only) during the next exam period. 
            - Upon passing all four, you are now designated to be "Board Eligible." You will have X-years to obtain a case load to present to the board which will be reviewed. If approved you will be granted permission to sit for the "Qualifying" exams (CBPS) which when passed, you will be officially boarded by ABFAS.
Job Search Preparation:
  • When should you start? NOW (regardless of PGY-year)...
    • The big question:
      • Do you want the best job (ex. What you specifically want to be doing, highest salary, best practice/name)?
      • VS.
      • Were do you want to live?
      • VS. (maybe...?)
      • Do you want to do a fellowship?
  • Things to prepare -
    • Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
      • Tips:
        • Format - Should be 4-5 "short" paragraphs.
          • 1st = Start with who you are, quick education background along with the dates of each (podiatry school, residency, fellowship"
          • 2nd = Give some details about your educational background whether it is the kinds of things treated during residency to show medical and surgical background, research done, etc
          • 3rd = Can be more from the 2nd but may pivot on another topic, like non-medical things done (service, research), awards, etc
          • 4th = Something about how education to this point would be a good fit at X-practice because of Y-reasons.
          • 5th = Closing sentence or two drawing it all together
        • Be Specific to (1) Make it personal, (2) Make it seem like you spent more than 2 minutes throwing it together and sent it out but actually took time to review the practice.
          • The "Dear.." or "To..." line should specific to the practice applying to in all possible instances. Either the practices name, doctors name, HR person who handles the hiring, etc. DO NOT if possible just write "To practice manager" or "To Whom It May Concern" and the like.
          • When addressing how you would fit into that practice (maybe based off of a deficit or need to that practice OR something the practice has that you want to participate in like Wound Care, Sports Med, etc) list specifics and short small details about the practice
          • Be specific to the kind of job you are applying to. I had 2-3 different variations of cover letter when submitting them to (1) an academic center/hospital, (2) a podiatric practice, (3) an ortho practice. Each are looking for different things or may require different skills that while you may possess all of them, some are more appropriate to one of the different settings you want to highlight in the cover letter. They'll get to see all your skills when they look at the resume and/or call for a follow-up interview.
            • For a hospital/academic/research center with residents, I talked more about my research endevours, papers published, desire to work in a center with research capabilities, IRB, residents to teach, etc.
            • For a podiatry practice, I talked about my well rounded residency experience for all facets of podiatric medicine and surgery, working at wound care center, and learning in-office billing management
            • For a ortho practice, talked about my fellowship with greater surgical training, recon/trauma/etc.
      • Resources:
    • Resume
      • One of the best resumes I have seen is the one found HERE by Dr. Adam Perler, DPM. I often use this as an example to residents how to arrange a resume. Even mine is done this way.
      • ACFAS provides some content on how to write a good CV HERE.
      • Professional and Personal references
        • These will be needed at some point. While putting your resume together, you should (a) target and identify the references you want to use and get their approval to be contacted so they are prepared, (b) create a separate "references" sheet with the doctors name, titles, relationship to you, office address, phone/fax, and email address to make it a one stop page for your prospective employer to contact. 
        • Once you have a resume out and a dialogue going with a prospective employer, give your references a "heads-up" that someone may be contacting them through phone/fax/email to discuss you or send a form to fill out about you.
    • Business Cards
    • Personal Website (?)
Job Resources (Where to Find DPM Jobs):
    Here are a list of websites that regularly post positions in podiatry. Though the websites are a good starting point, nothing helps more than word of mouth and making personal connections throughout ones residency experience. The website On Podiatry also has a comprehensive list to view.                > NYCPM - Classifieds
               > Kent State - Classifieds
               > TUSPM - Classifieds
               > Rosalind Franklin - Classifieds
  • Source Medical - recruiter website with Ortho-Foot/Ankle and Podiatry job listings
  • Vista - for permanent/local tenems Jobs (search by Orthopaedics)
   
 Other resources that are helpful to consider:
  • Personal Contacts - this includes family, friends, mentors, attendings, medical device reps (ask them to contact in different territories)
  • Conferences - APMA, ACFAS (Career Fair),  PPMA/Goldfarb, etc
  • Google Maps
    • Search on google maps in a specific region key words like "podiatry," "podiatrist," "foot and ankle doctor," "orthopaedics," "hospitals," etc in order to create a list of potential targets to send resumes and information to.
Job Visit, Interview, and Contract Prep:
Below are some articles I found that might be helpful to consider when looking for a job. This includes things about contract negotiation, ​things to look for in a practice, etc. There is more information about contract hints and using a lawyer here. Remember to look at the job and all the negotiation from both sides, you as the prospective employee and also the employer. These articles give you things to think about or to look for in practices.