In my last post, we discussed the various conflicts of interest involving the physician recruiters, the physician employee and the physician candidate. But you should not completely cut them out of your job search strategy. Physician recruiters many times do have access to some great opportunities. If you are able to partner with a good recruiter, job search can be slightly easier.
There are certain rules I used, when I had to deal with physician recruiters. It helped me avoid unnecessary interview trips, sidestep unwanted physician jobs and prevent pesky calls from them at work.
1) What do you want?
As discussed in our post before, develop the criteria of an ideal job. List the must haves and never ever deviate from them.
2) ‘Call me’ preferences.
Let the physician recruiter know in the beginning when and how you would like to be contacted.
3) Push the pushy recruiter.
If the recruiter is too pushy and comes strong onto you, then dump him. If a physician recruiter is trying to dictate which job you should take or which interview you should go to, then he probably has a conflict of interest involved.
4) Don’t please him, they should please you.
Physician recruiters are like real estate agents. The are supposed to find the candidates for the physician jobs and a suitable job for you. Giving them too much say in deciding what you should do will not help. They cannot hire you. They can forward your application in the right or wrong direction.
5) They are not the only one.
Do not forget other ways of physician job hunting. Do not depend on recruiters solely.
6) Ask for a change.
A physician recruitment company may have several agents. If you do believe that the company has a better job opening but your agent is not presenting them to you, then ask for a change. Ask to speak to their supervisor and request a change of agent. Otherwise no matter which way you try to approach them, you will end with the same guy as "he is handling your case"
Dont forget to read the physician recruiters vocabulary guide:)
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