HIGHLIGHTS OF AN INDEPENDENT STUDY CONDUCTED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE How Physicians Search for Jobs
How Physicians Search for Jobs Physicians can choose from many job-search vehicles today, from traditional sources like colleagues, medical recruiters, and print ads to new tools like recruitment websites. How do they use these job hunting tools? Which do they find most effective? And at what point in their careers do they begin the job search? To find the answers to these and other questions, the New England Journal of Medicine commissioned Zeldis Research Associates to conduct an independent study of,000 residents, fellows, and young physicians. The goal of the study was to determine current trends in physician job hunting, including: the sources currently used by physicians, residents, and fellows searching for jobs the perceived effectiveness of these sources the extent to which job-seeking physicians use online recruitment sites About the Study Conducted by Purpose Date May 003 Methodology Sample Source Usable Responses Zeldis Research Associates To determine current trends in physician job hunting Blinded mail survey with $ incentive, using aided and unaided-recall methodologies,000 total, consisting of final-year residents, final-year fellows, and physicians in practice three years or less Random selection, AMA physician file 448 (3.8% response rate)
Executive summary Physicians Use Multiple Sources for Job Leads Although personal and professional referrals are most often cited, respondents use a wide variety of other sources for job leads. One-third or more of respondents mention physician recruiters, online job sites, recruitment ads in print journals, and mailings to physicians. In terms of effectiveness, personal and professional referrals rank highest, followed by recruitment ads in print, online job sites, and physician recruiters. Print and Online Sources are Equally Important Two-thirds of respondents consider jobs in print and online to be of equal quality. The New England Journal of Medicine in print and online is called useful more often than any other source. In an open-ended, unaidedrecall question, almost three out of five respondents indicate they would use online job search sites if they began a search today. Journals and recruitment ads in print also rate high, as do referrals. In addition, 16% of respondents mentioned the New England Journal of Medicine by name. Quality and Reputation of Online Sources are Paramount As might be expected, physicians favor sites that offer quality listings, have excellent reputations, and are easy to use. Physicians are Searching for Jobs Earlier and More Often More than half of respondents now in practice began their search in residency; 4% began in fellowship. Both groups, particularly fellows, began their search well before their final year of training. Half of respondents are now or have recently been job seekers. Almost one-third have looked for a position within the last two years; one in five is looking now. NEJM Ranks Highest in Usefulness More than half of respondents call the New England Journal of Medicine the most useful recruitment section in print. Among physicians who have not yet looked for a job, 60% consider NEJM the most useful recruitment section in print. NEJM was also the most frequently mentioned online job source.
Physicians use a wide variety of job-hunting vehicles Top sources of job leads include personal and professional referrals, physician recruiters, online job sites and print ads. Base: 389 respondents who used any source of job leads Personal/professional referrals Physician recruiters Online job sites Recruitment ads in print Mailings to physicians Program director Residency/fellowship matching process Hospital staff recruiters Chief resident On-site recruiting at conferences Other 50% 43 4 40 34 7 17 16 6 6 8 Helpfulness of sources Personal and professional referrals are most frequently rated as helpful. About one in four respondents find print and online job sources extremely helpful or very helpful. Top sources of job leads include personal and professional referrals, physician recruiters, online job sites and print ads. Percentages reflect sources rated as extremely helpful or very helpful. Base: 448 respondents 3 Personal/professional referrals Recruitment ads in print Online job sites Physician recruiters Residency program staff or materials Hospital staff recruiters Mailings to physicians On-site recruiting at conferences Chief resident 57% 6 17 16 14 10 10 8
Age influences perception of helpfulness Although all respondents rate personal and professional referrals as most helpful, respondents aged 30 to 40 find ads in print and online more useful than younger respondents, who perceive residency program staff and their chief residents as particularly helpful. Physicians over 30 also found print ads twice as helpful as younger physicians. Age 30 to 40 Under 30 Personal/professional referrals Recruitment ads in print Online job sites Physician recruiters Mailings to physicians Residency program director Chief resident 66% 9% 7 14 4 7 0 9 14 3 13 5 5 13 Base: Under 30 = 103; 30-40 = 87; total 390 respondents Sources to use if beginning a job search today In an open-ended, unaided-recall question, physicians were asked which sources they would use if starting a job search today. Almost three out of five respondents indicate they would use online job search sites, demonstrating that these websites are now an important source of job leads. Journals and recruitment ads in print also rated high, as did referrals. The New England Journal of Medicine was mentioned by name by 16% of respondents. Base: 403 respondents. Answers total more than 100% due to multiple responses * Respondents did not specify in this open-ended question. Online job search sites Journals and recruitment ads in print Referrals Recruiters* The New England Journal of Medicine Colleagues Physician recruiters Residency program directors Mailings Hospital staff recruiters Word of mouth 59% 49 34 19 16 16 16 8 6 4 4
Jobs in print and online are of equal quality Two-thirds of respondents consider jobs in print and online to be of equal quality. Of those who did not find listings to be of equal quality, twice as many believe jobs in print to be of better quality than jobs online. Jobs in print and online are of equal quality Base: 5 respondents who have used both print and online sources Jobs are of about the same quality Better quality jobs online Better quality jobs in print journals 66% 11 Quality and reputation are important in online site selection Two-thirds of respondents rate quality of job listings as important in looking for a job online; more than half note the site s reputation and ease of use as important qualities. Percentages reflect respondents who ranked each criterion as 8, 9, or 10 on a 10-point scale, with 10 being most important. Base: 414 respondents (average) Quality of job listings Reputation of site Ease of use Colleagues recommendations Number of job listings Security of site Career tips/advice Relocation information Ability to post CVs Salary calculators E-mail job alerts Program director recommendation Online resume builder Jobs in PDA format 67% 5 5 46 46 40 40 36 35 34 33 3 4 17 5
NEJM is most useful source More than half of respondents cite the New England Journal of Medicine as the most useful recruitment section in print. Among physicians who have not yet looked for a job, 60% perceive it to be the most useful recruitment section in print. Most useful source in print Base: 43 respondents NEJM JAMA Neurology AIM JACC Other unspecified journals Other print listings 54% 11 6 3 5 14 Most useful source online Base: 163 respondents NEJM CareerCenter PhysicianWork.com JACC Hospital-affiliated sites AACE Monster.com None 0% 7 4 4 3 3 11 Most useful source in print among physicians not yet actively searching Base: 57 respondents NEJM JAMA Neurology AIM New York Times AMA News Journals (unspecified) 60% 7 7 4 7 6
Physicians begin the job search before their final year of training More than half of respondents who are now in practice began their job search in residency; 4% began during their fellowships. In many cases, respondents, particularly fellows, began to search well before their final year of training. Began job search Base: 189 respondents In residency In fellowship Other 54% 4 4 Year of residency in which search began Base: 189 respondents Year 3 Year Year 1 84% 14 Year of fellowship in which search began Base: 189 respondents Year 3 Year Year 1 30% 53 17 Half of respondents are now or have recently been job seekers Almost one-third of respondents have looked for a position within the last two years: one in five is looking now. Base: 447 respondents Looked within the last two years Looking now Looked three or more years ago Have not looked yet Other 31% 1 1 35 1 7
Study demographics Age Average age = 34 Under 30 30-40 41+ 4% 65 11 Gender Male Female 59% 41 Current position Practicing physician Resident Fellow 47% 7 6 Practice type Answers total more than 100% due to multiple responses In residency or fellowship program Office-based Hospital-based HMO Industry or research Other 46% 6 6 3 8
Methodology The study was conducted by Zeldis Research Associates of Pennington, NJ among,000 final-year residents, final-year fellows and physicians in practice three years or less. Recipients were chosen randomly from the AMA physician list. Specialties represented included both Internal Medicine and IM subspecialties, including cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious diseases, nephrology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology and rheumatology. A survey package consisting of a cover letter, two-page questionnaire, return envelope and $ incentive was mailed to recipients on April 5, 003. The survey was mailed on Zeldis Research Associates stationery, and the New England Journal of Medicine was not identified as the sponsor. A repeat mailing was made on May 9, 003. The response period ended on May 7, 003, when 448 usable responses had been received (response rate: 3.8%). Responses were compiled and analyzed by Zeldis Research Associates using standard statistical methodologies. 9
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NEJM CareerCenter Where physicians find jobs. 860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA 0451 800-635-6991 www.nejmjobs.org