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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Trials and Tribulations of the Job Hunt

          Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with 2 former PCOM PA classmates! I have seen a few PCOM people since graduation.  It is unfortunate that many are in different states otherwise we would meet more often.  Over dinner we discussed the cons of job hunting.  Unfortunately, there are not many pros.  It was a pretty prevalent theme that job searching was not fun.  However, I am not a very aggressive job hunter and at times you really need to be.  It was definitely a learning process. It is important to follow up sending applications with a call but also it is just as important to know the line between aggressive and annoyingly pushy.  For example one of my classmates has even shown up to ground rounds in order to get a job.

          We also discussed stories of the let downs we have had in "the processes".  Many of us have had leads to jobs or the prospect of an interview that fell through.  For example, I was offered an interview a few weeks before taking the job I have now. The email stated they wanted to set up a phone interview that week.  I gave them my schedule and waited for them to contact me, a few days went by and and heard nothing so I called and emailed and still heard nothing.  To this day, 2 weeks later, I have yet to hear about setting up an interview. Luckily, I was offered a job somewhere else.

          Similarly, I was called in November by a place I interviewed in back in August.  In the voicemail it seemed like I had gotten the position and that they wanted to speak to me.  This was a Family Medicine job close to where I live, basically what I was dreaming for.  I called them back within 10 minutes and left a message. Over the course of 2 months I repeatedly called and left messages with no call back. How companies can do this to applicants is beyond me, but unfortunately it happens.  Some of my classmates have had similar stories.

          Another problem my classmates have faced is "the choice".  This is when you have more than 1 job offer and you are forced to choose within a certain amount of time.  During this time you could also be waiting for a call back for a position that you have always wanted.  So, the question is do you wait for the job you have always wanted with the potential of not getting the position BUT losing an opportunity on the job you were offered. Conversely, do you give up on the job you hoped for and take the job you were offered.  It is a tough game out there. I am lucky enough to no have the problem but the 2 girls I met with are in that predicament.

          Lastly, there are many places you will interview that will just never call you back.  I have had many interviews that I thought went great and I never heard anything.  It is definitely discouraging. I almost wish they would have called and told me I did not get the position. This way I could have asked what I could have done better for future interviews.

          This blog was not meant to discourage anyone, it is merely to show that this is what happens in real life.  If you know then you can prepare accordingly.  So, don't put all your eggs in one basket! Thankfully, it seems that my 2 classmates have job offers.  In this economy and job market, we have to be thankful for jobs. I know I am, especially right before the New Year.  It must be the holiday spirit in the air!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Peace of Mind

     I woke up this morning feeling so refreshed and happy. It is so amazing how much of a difference a job makes.  I just wanted to write a quick post for those who are still searching for jobs. DON'T give up and DON'T be down.  I was feeling like maybe there was something wrong with me, the truth is some places want people with more experience or a certain personality that I just did not fit.  Keep up hope, you will find something that fits you.  That being said, don't settle if you get a bad feeling. I had that happen to me twice. Once I felt like I was settling with the Long Term Care job and I felt uncomfortable with a Physician I met with in a Family Practice last week. My advice would be open your mind to new possibilities.  Dig deep into your personality, for me I wanted a job that I would get experience and LEARN.  It took me 5 months to find a job, initially I was searching for the perfect Family med or Peds job and when I could not find it I tried to get a shoo-in job.  Once I got that position, I realized that I was settling and not happy.  After that I learned that even though I have an interest in Family Med and Peds, I should be looking for a job that I should ultimately be learning from.  I chose a job that has a lot of promise and opportunity that allows for personal growth. I am very anxious about this position but I know deep down that I am confident in the training I received from PCOM and in my own abilities as a Physician Assistant.  I can't wait to start on my new journey!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Hired!

I can finally post that I have a job! After months of interviewing and job searching, I finally got a good offer and I took it.  I will be working in Orthopedics.  It was not a field I was initially looking for, I wanted primary care, however, if you read my last blog, I am looking for a job that I can learn from.  I did not think I could learn from the homecare job. I enjoy being part of a team. From that point on I decided to broaden my job search to positions I know I would enjoy and learn from. I immediately added ER, Urgent Care, and Orthopedics. I am so glad I got a hit.  I will be working with postoperative orthopedic patients. I know this job will be challenging but I am confident that with my training from PCOM and the additional training I will receive in this job that it will be a good fit. I am hoping to start in Jan or February! In the meantime I am going to enjoy the holidays and read up for the new job!