Healthcare Career Blog, Physician Blogs

How to write a winning CV

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 23.06.2009 | Category Healthcare Career Blog, Physician CV, Physicians

Experts reveal physician resume keys to success

Writing a winning physician CV is a necessary ingredient for success in any job search; writing a winning physician resume, with all its density and required information, however, can be a particularly daunting and overwhelming task. For those finishing medical school or completing a physician residency, this could be your first time in the job market; fortunately, there are a number of physician resources available for those who are new to or who may be out of practice with the physician job search.

The key to writing a strong physician resume is remembering that this is your first chance to market yourself to a potential employer. To do so successfully, you need to give employers a clear picture of your experience in the most efficient way possible. Physician resumes, like all resumes, are most effective when they focus on quality over quantity.

Quick tips for writing a winning CV:

• Keep your CV short and to the point.
• Focus on relevant experiences that highlight your specialty.
• List experience and education in reverse-chronological order, including the dates and duration of each.
• Include any relevant honors and awards you have received and any committees, conferences or publications you have been a part of.
• Include licensure and certification information, including dates.
• List professional references, first making sure to ask those who may be willing to speak on your behalf.
• Be professional – avoid informal language or irrelevant personal details, use good-quality paper for both your physician resume and cover letter, and be sure to proofread carefully.
• Make sure to organize your CV in a way that is clear and easy-to-follow.

Visit again next week for more advice about writing a physician CV and cover letter. In the meantime, check out some of our other resources for medical professionals.

Rural Doctor Bill to Help Repay Medical Student Loans up to $160,000

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 04.06.2009 | Category Education, Hospitals, Medical Student Loans, Physician Shortage, Physicians

The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that will make it very attractive for a new medical school graduate to work in rural Texas or areas that are underserved.

HB 2154, initiated by Pampa Republican Warren Chisum who represents the largest number of rural counties in the House, will set up a fund to repay medical student loans of up to $160,000 to any medical school graduate who agrees to practice in a rural county in the state for at least four years. You ask, “Where will the money for this fund come from?” Mr. Chisum added into the bill that the money will come from a tax placed on smokeless tobacco products.

Adding to this exciting news, HB 3485 was also passed that will allow hospitals in counties with populations no greater than 50,000 to hire physicians as their employees. Texas is one of a few states where doctors are self employed, even if they only work at hospitals.

So not only will you get assistance to pay off your loans, you will have the security of knowing that you will have a paying job to go to without having to worry about paying office overhead. For a medical school graduate starting out, this is a wonderful opportunity to jump on!

Read more about Physician Careers

Smart Physicians Choose Locum Tenens - Even on TV

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 15.05.2009 | Category Healthcare Career Blog, Locum Tenens, Physician Career Path, Retired Physician

Dedicated fans of ABC’s hospital-based comedy series “Scrubs” are still wondering if last week’s episode was a series finale or a season finale. But either way, looks like we’ve seen the last of Dr. Kelso, Scrubs’ Chief of Medicine. As the series wrapped up, Dr. Kelso snatched his last muffin and favorite table from “Coffeebucks” and headed off to do locum tenens work.

While he may not exactly be a fuzzy teddy bear, Dr. Kelso knows a good deal when he sees one. He’s had a long and distinguished career as Chief of Medicine, and even though he could be a retired physician, he wants to remain active in the profession, visit new (mostly tropical island?) locations, and retain more control over his schedule and working life. Plus the money’s not bad either. Guess the series writers know that locum tenens jobs are an ideal option for career physicians of retirement age who still want an active role in the healthcare field.

We wish good luck to Dr. Kelso. (Oh, and aloha!)

2009 H1N1 Influenza Update

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 04.05.2009 | Category 2009 H1N1 influenza, CRNA, Family Medicine, Healthcare Career Blog, Hospitals, Locum Tenens, Physicians, diseases, infectious diseases

Candidate Direct urges our clients and friends to closely monitor the evolving 2009 H1N1 influenza or “Swine Flu” outbreak in the United States. For those in the medical field, it is particularly important to stay informed. The following web sites offer Candidate Direct physicians and locum tenens additional updated information.

• http://www.hhs.gov/ (Federal HHS website for general information on H1N1)
• http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html (International information from the WHO directly related to the swine flu)
• http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ (Federal Centers for Disease Control updates regarding swine flu)
• http://www.medworm.com/rss/ (Medical Newsfeed for H1N1 news from various media outlets)
• http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ (Centers for Disease Control international and national travel advisories)

The CDC, infectious disease specialists and a multitude of health agencies are collecting data, monitoring and reporting on the latest developments with the H1N1 virus. As of today, they are urging healthcare professionals and the population at large to be prudent, but not to panic. Family medicine and emergency medicine physicians have been inundated with inquiries and visits from patients who are concerned about symptoms and learning how to avoid infection. Every inquiry must be evaluated on a case by case basis, and at this point one of the most important steps that anyone can take is to stay on top of the news. It is also imperative to follow these guidelines to avoid infection:

• Physicians and Locum Tenens should monitor the constantly changing flu event by visiting the web sites listed above and/or watching the news
• It goes without saying that medical professionals must follow the strictest hygiene practices while on duty. Just a reminder to also take personal responsibility for hygiene on your own time. Avoid unnecessary contact with obviously ill people, thoroughly covering your mouth and nose with disposable tissues or the inside of your elbow when sneezing or coughing and dispose of the tissue properly. Thorough and frequent hand washing is also key.
• Physicians and Locum Tenens should carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it frequently through out the day.
• If you develop flu-like symptoms, contact your personal physician as soon as possible.

Help! How Do I Return from Physician Retirement so I can find Physician Jobs in my Specialty?

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 28.04.2009 | Category Anesthesiology jobs, Emergency jobs, Family Medicine, Hospitalist physician, Internal Medicine, Medical doctor jobs, OB GYN jobs, OB/GYN physician jobs, Orthopedic Surgery, Surgery jobs

A happy, enriching retirement always makes a physician’s short list of financial goals, but the reality is not that perfect. Retirement can be a moving target, even more so for physicians than for other professionals.

Those were the days physicians could plan for worriless retirement life. Not anymore! At least not for now, with the country and the world financial problems even wealthy physicians might have to get back to work and postpone their retirement plans. The good news is that there is plenty of work waiting for experienced physicians nationwide; physicians have permanent job options and locum tenens jobs in all specialties.

Medical Doctor Jobs with the greatest demand today are found in Family Medicine; Internal Medicine jobs; Hospitalist physician; Emergency jobs; Anesthesiology jobs; OB/GYN physician jobs; Surgery jobs and more.

In addition, another factor that also keeps physicians in the workforce for a longer period of time is their passion for medicine. However, if a physician is already retired and decides to get back to work, un-retiring is often far more complicated than seeing if the lab coat still fits. Between landing a suitable practice situation, updating your certifications and licenses, and finding a company willing to underwrite a liability insurance policy, there are many issues facing a physician trying to reenter the work force.

Below are just a few questions and answers physicians should know before re-entering the work force:

Q: How does a physician get re-licensed after retirement to work in a locum tenens job?

• If you’ve been out of practice for a few years, you might have to get yourself re-licensed, get caught up on all the continuing medical education you missed, and perhaps join a formal re-entry program.
• If you haven’t seen a patient from 18 to 36 months it is even tougher. If you have three good references and practiced in the last year or so there should be less of a problem.

Q: What are State Requirements for retired physicians to re-enter and search for locum tenens jobs?

• Arizona does not require a re-entry program.
• The North Carolina Medical Board has one of the more stringent programs. Any physician who has been out of clinical practice for two or more years must meet with a board to work on a plan for re-entry. The plan usually includes working with a doctor-mentor in their same specialty for about six months. However, there is no cost to the physician, who can be earning a salary during this time.
• Some states require physicians who have not practiced for several years to enter re-entry programs that can cost between $5,500 and $30,000.

Q: Need to Know More?

Check out physician resources at Locum Physician Career Information, or talk to a physician staffing expert regarding your personal and professional goals in pursuing locum tenens physician jobs Backed by 25 years of health care staffing excellence, Candidate Direct places top physicians in locum tenens medical doctor jobs where they’re needed most.