Finding the Right Job
Finding Your First Job in EP
Eric M. Grubman, MD, FHRS, gives an overview of what to look for when searching for your first job as an electrophysiologist. Topics covered include a comparison of practice settings, personal and professional considerations, and how to go about finding your first job. This presentation was initially recorded during the HRS Fellows-in-Training Webinar: Preparing for a Successful Career in EP on November 17, 2021.
Curriculum Vitae Resources
Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) are summaries of educational and academic background designed to outline qualifications and credentials for an academic position, fellowship, or grant. Depending on experience, CV length can range widely, but always aim to present a clear and well-organized CV that highlights your capabilities — you want to make the recipient want to interview you.
Elements of a CV
Career Tip: As you're creating your curriculum vitae (CV) drafts, remember that what's listed first depends on your background or the available job. Those beginning their careers will generally begin with their education while those further along in their career will generally begin with their experience. Generally, the earlier in a document a particular block of information comes, the more emphasis it is given by the reader.
Writing an Effective CV
Each decision you make when writing and formatting your curriculum vitae (CV) should consider conciseness and ease of readability to your proposed audience.
Career Tip: In general, cover letters accompanying your CV should be limited to just one page. Craft your letter so that your responses to the employment posting's required and desired elements are concise and engaging. See more on cover letters below.
The definition of curriculum vitae (CV) is “course of your life.” This critical tool serves as a comprehensive and professional summary of your educational and academic background, employment experience, career accomplishments, and related activities. The Heart Rhythm Society provide the following formatting, content and delivery tips for producing an effective CV.
Writing a Cover Letter to Accompany Your CV
Write a cover letter tailored to the job for which you are applying. Information in the cover letter should explain succinctly how you fulfill the required and desired skills and meet the education and experience expectations. Use phrases from the position announcement in your cover letter.
The point of a cover letter is to get potential employers (or their screeners) to look at seriously at your CV. The point of the CV is to motivate the employer to call you for a phone or in-person interview. The point of the interview is to provide an opportunity to paint a fuller picture of your background, skills and character, and to help each party to assess the fit. Each step has its own requirements; don't squeeze too many details into your cover letter. Focus instead on telling a compelling enough story that will get you to the next step in the process.
Résumé Formats
One of the first decisions job-seekers must make when preparing their résumés is how to organize its content — the following summary of the pluses and minuses of common formats will help you make your decision.
Comparison of Three Major Résumé Formats
One of the first decisions job-seekers must make when preparing their résumé is how to organize its content. Résumés generally are chronological (more accurately, reverse chronological, listing all your experience from most to least recent); functional, which lists experience in skills clusters. (There are also formats combining those two types, sometimes known as a chrono-functional format.) Curriculum Vitae (CV) are most often used for academic, research and medical positions. The following is a brief summation of the pluses and minuses of these formats:
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Career Tip: When writing their résumé, job seekers need to consider what format best shows off their experience and abilities as well as what is the "norm" in their desired field.
Chronological Resume
Functional Resume*
*Not generally used in medical fields
Interviewing
The Society's "Top 10" lists will give you tips for ensuring your job interview is effective as well as what mistakes to avoid.
Top 10 Interview Tips to Remember
- Research the institution, hospital or group inside and out. Have a clear understanding of the institution, hospital or group’s identity, the specific services they provide, and how the position you are interviewing for is viewed within the organization.
- Project a professional presence: be punctual, dress appropriately, use a firm handshake, make eye contact, sit up straight, stay alert.
- Be prepared to answer the question, “Tell me a little about yourself,” in 60-90 seconds (also known as “the elevator speech”). Let the interviewer ask you to elaborate on points of interest later.
- Think in advance about key points you want to make about your experience and your interest in the job. Be ready for likely questions about your strengths and areas you want to improve, why you are interested in the job, why you are leaving your present position, etc..
- Ask “What are the characteristics of the ideal candidate for this position?” Ask follow-up questions to learn more about what the organization is looking for and the traits of successful members of the group.
- Ask other thoughtful questions that engage the interviewer’s interest, e.g. “If you could change one thing about _________ [this institution, this practice, her/his job] what would it be?” “What would you keep?” or questions about the impact of emerging technologies or changes in the healthcare system on the field or institution.
- Look interested and take notes; stay focused on what the interviewer is saying. Observe and discreetly mirror the interviewer’s physical movements. If she/he is relaxed and uses open gestures, subtly do the same; if she/he sits forward or leans back in the chair, follow suit.
- Try to stay relaxed and not feel nervous, especially when it is a group interview.
- Have your CV in front of you and use it to refresh your memory when asked about your past experiences. Include personal stories to add interest.
- Immediately follow up with a thank you letter.
Career Tip: It's important to be engaged and interested in what the interviewer is saying. Observe and discreetly mirror the interviewer’s physical movements. If he or she is relaxed and using open gestures, subtly do the same.
Top Ten Interviewing Mistakes to Avoid
- Being unprepared. Not being able to answer the question, “What do you know about this institution, hospital or group?” might just end your quest with this employer.
- Unprofessional dress, chewing gum etc.
- Poor communication skills.
- Inattentive nonverbal communication. Make sure your nonverbal signals reinforce a positive image.
- Talking too much. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point. Stay focused and don’t ramble — simply answer the question.
- Not talking enough. Be responsive and fully answer the question as best you can.
- Providing unclear answers — be perceptive to nonverbal clues that the interviewer isn't following your train of thought.
- Giving the wrong answer to the question. Make sure you listen to the question and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you respond.
- Badmouthing past partners or groups.
- Forgetting to follow up. Be sure to follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position and the institution, hospital or group.
Compensation
Top 10 Tips for Negotiating Your Compensation
- Discover what you're worth by researching salary surveys for your occupation, experience and location. Some resources include:
- Research your level of skill (assistant professor, associate professor, private practice) so you can sell your skills, talents, accomplishments, work ethic and experience for top pay.
- Get the facts on the costs of relocating (if applicable). Some websites include:
- Research the institution, hospital, or group to see if they’re flourishing or hurting financially. If flourishing, go for a higher salary, benefits and perks. If not, negotiate what you can comfortably live on, but think seriously about your future financial stability.
- Politely but firmly sidestep discussions of specific salary (say it’s negotiable, open, or competitive) until you’re confident they want to hire you. If asked point-blank about salary, counter by asking what the range is, so you know the boundaries.
- Inquire about additional professional benefits and perks, so it appears that you’re compromising if you don’t get them, or attempt to trade them for a higher salary.
- Command rather than demand, while working toward a win-win situation.
- Be eager and enthusiastic, but not a pushover — you should be ready to politely end discussions and "walk away" if you’ve reached an unsatisfactory negotiating ceiling.
- Even if you get what you want, wait to accept for a day or two to think it over, time permitting.
- Consider the value of benefits and perks too, such as protected research time, incentive bonuses, conference / travel time, and promotion potential.
Career Tip: Check out the webinar, "How will I get paid as an EP?", on Heart Rhythm 365.
Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid While Negotiating
- Lying about your past salary, job title, or other employment conditions. Reference checks will almosst certainly expose you!.
- Being aggressive in negotiations. Strive for being polite but firm.
- Short-term gains may not lead to long-term gains.
- Focusing on "perks" — vacation time, perks, employee benefits, etc. Concentrate instead on your job duties; once you both are in agreement with that critical base, negotiating additional vacation time in lieu of a higher salary, etc. can be considered.
- Expecting to "start at the top." If appropriate to your experince level, express your willingness to work your way up the ladder.
- Setting your own timetable for decisions to be made. It may take time for employer to make decisions based upon the institution, hospital, or group’s policy.
- Being one-sided in negotiations. The goal should be a win-win resolution.
- Threatening to take a job with another institution, hospital, or group if the employer doesn’t hire you right away.
- Overpromising what you will do if hired.
- Reacting emotionally — e.g., expressing anger or frustration; physically storming out of negotiations.
Awards & Scholarships
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