The uncertainty of the coronavirus has forced many businesses, cities, and states in the United States to limit public gatherings. This leaves some time to do indoor activities for those who are now in self-isolation or social distancing situations.
As a resident or fellow, there are still items you can do to ensure you do not fall behind in your job search later in the year.
The first thing to do is to work on your CV. Whether you have one that you've already created or need to start fresh, this is a great time to get your CV up to par. Take the time to sit down at your computer with no distractions and begin to update the information or build your CV. Have important documents like your publications nearby to reference back to. As you are working on your CV, keep in mind some CV basics: keep the information organized, format dates the same throughout your CV, be succinct with descriptions, and put sections in reverse chronological order. Once your CV is completed, you can even send it to be reviewed by a professional service. Network with physician recruiters on social media. Many physician recruiters are on sites like LinkedIn to not only network with colleagues, but also potential physician hires. A lot of organizations are on travel bans, which means that they are no longer able to go to in-person physician networking events, so connecting virtually allows this to still happen. You can also use this time to connect with colleagues and other medical peers to stay up to date on news in your specialty.
Attend virtual events. Even though there are travel restrictions and social restrictions, virtual events like career fairs allow you to still attend from the comfort of your home. Reach out to your program coordinator or other program leadership to ask about upcoming events. Organizations like PracticeMatch host virtual career fairs based on regions to help you talk to recruiters in the area(s) that interest you. These virtual events are a great way to continue your job search and find out what opportunities will be available once you complete training. This is also a great time to sit in on digital talks or lectures over topics related to your specialty or that interest you.
If you have already signed a contract, don't worry, there are still other items you can do to not fall behind your desired start date.
You can use this time to study and prepare for your board examination. If you haven't signed up for a test date yet, check out the testing schedule and choose a date that will work best for your schedule. From there, you can create a study plan that will not force you to spend the weekend before the test cramming. Plan according to your known schedule as it currently stands. Not sure what to study? Check out tools like SmartestDoc or check with program leadership to find out what other resources are available to you and your program.
Don't let social distancing prevent you from continuing your job search. Are you looking for more job search tips? Check out our physician articles!
Hayley Woszczynski - Physician & Program Relations Manager. You can stay connected with me on LinkedIn for all of the latest PracticeMatch articles and upcoming events.