How to Search for a Job When You Already Have One

Vadim Guzhva/123RF.com

If you are tired of your current job, don’t worry. There are numerous employment opportunities for healthcare professionals at this time. Consider that for January 2016:

• The unemployment rate was 4.9%
• Healthcare added 37,000 jobs

One thing stands in the way between you and a new job- time! After a long day of working in a clinic or hospital, you often just want to go home and relax. Here are 5 steps you can take to help you look for a job when you already have one.

1. Create a LinkedIn profile - Hiring Managers in sectors such as healthcare increasingly use LinkedIn to find new employees. You list your achievements and work history, and recruiters call you if you meet their needs.

LinkedIn allows you to highlight your relevant healthcare skills. Select your specialty (ex. Internal Medicine for MDs in that field) and choose related skills such as Patient Safety, Patient Education, and Clinical Research. Write a brief bio that showcases your background in the medical field. You want to come up on as many hiring managers’ searches as possible.

2. Work with a Recruiter - When you talk to one recruiter, he or she has multiple job openings. Recruiters often have day and evening availability to speak with candidates they want to represent. That way, you can use a day off to interview with the hiring organization. If they have a long-standing relationship with a client, they can provide you with inside information about the hospital or medical practice that has the opening.

3. Reconnect with Old Colleagues - A study from 2012 found that 80% of people found their jobs through networking. Use tools like LinkedIn or Facebook to contact former bosses and co-workers. They can tell you about open positions before the employer advertises them to the public. 

4. Keep It Confidential - When you are miserable in your job, you might feel tempted to share your frustrations with co-workers. Don’t! Gossip is a part of most workplaces, and you do not want to be in an uncomfortable situation. Make sure you tell all interviewers that you are conducting a confidential job search so they do not call your current employer. 

5. Don’t Take Off Too Much Time - You do not want to take a day off work to interview for a position that is a poor fit for you. By using the aforementioned tools (LinkedIn, recruiting companies, personal networks), you improve your odds of interviewing with clinics or hospitals where you want to work.

Be Professional When Leaving

Once you get a great offer, make sure you leave your current employer on good terms. Give a proper notice, and do not make negative personal comments in your exit interview. Your current co-workers and managers are likely to move to other hospitals and practices in the future. If they can present facts that you acted unprofessionally, that limits your career opportunities.

Healthcare employment grew by over 470,000 from January 2015-January 2016. If you are unhappy in your current position, take advantage of the strong job market now. These tips will help you find a new position with as little time investment as possible.

Sources

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/80-of-today-s-jobs-are-landed-through-networking