Starting Out in Practice

& Job Search

Michael L. Sganga, DPM

Orthopedics New England

Natick, MA

Overview

• When to look for a job

• Networking & cold call

• Starting out

• My first year out

• Q&A

Overview

• Job search

– When to start

– Where to start

– How to start

• Landing the job you want

• Understanding your job offers and

contracts

When deciding on which

road to take, choose the

one less traveled and

leave a path!

-P. Basile

Who Am I?

When to Start

• NOW

• Seriously… Right Now!

• Keep a resume updated monthly

throughout residency – go over it

• Introduce yourself to everyone and ask for

cards/contacts

• Network

Where & How

• Target regions

– Cold call practices in your target

– Set-up times to meet and network

• Where to look:• PM News, APMA, ACFAS website…

• State organizations

• Headhunters/recruiters

• Job posting websites/classifieds

Where & How

• Ask around

– Your attendings & mentors

– Network at conferences: contacts & cards

– Ask your reps!

• ME = over 80 cold calls, 60+ resumes sent,

mutliple contacts, several interviews…

– Current ortho group 2 cold calls... No response

until referred by friend

– DON’T GIVE UP

Following Up

• Follow-up on your calls & resumes

• If you make a contact follow-up and say

thank you for their time

• Make sure you close the loop

• Don’t annoy people, but be direct and try

to gauge interest in hiring

Present Yourself

• Professional

• Resume: long & short

– Podiatry/Academic & “ortho” versions

• Cover Letter: get to the point

• Information about you and what you can

bring to the table

• Have some one review all of this!!!

• ASK you residency director or mentor

Contracts

• Know what a fair wage is

• What are they asking of you

• NO VAGUE LANGUAGE

• Have a lawyer take a look

• Salary:

– Base

– Base + bonus

– Production: RVU

Starting Out

• BUILD & PROMOTE YOURSELF

• Visit running stores, local gyms…

• Lunch & Learns – LECTURE

• Sell your services

• Visit local PCP & other referral sources

• Marketing materials

Practice Pearls

• 5 A’s:

– Availability: be there, know ppl

– Accountability: notes, f/u, call PCPs

– Affability: likeability, friendly

– Ability: Walk the walk

– Attitude: more important than you think

Practice Pearls

• 2 P’s:

– Persistence:

• Achieve your goals

• Never give in or up

– Perseverance:

• Stuff happens

• Bumps, bruises, complications…

Build Your Practice

• Every pt is an opportunity

• Don’t get discouraged

• Remember your As and Ps

• Get on the phone… thank a PCP or

update a referral source

• Publish info about yourself

– Ithaca alum, TUSPM, hockey, cycling, golf..

– Pt’s look for some one like them

Thank you!

Questions