HOW PHYSICIANS
SEARCH FOR JOBS
Highlights of an independent study conducted by Zeldis Research Associates, Inc.
INTRO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
3
METHODOLOGY
4
EXECUTIVESUMMARY
5
WHERETHEYSEARCH:SOURCEOFLEADS
6
WHERETHEYSEARCH:PRINT
8
WHERETHEYSEARCH:ONLINE
10
WHATMATTERS:ONLINE
12
WHATMATTERS:PRINTANDONLINE
13
WHATMATTERS:INTERESTS
14
WHENTHEYSEARCH
15
WHOTHEYARE:DEMOGRAPHICS
16
For physician recruiters, there are certain key questions that will never change —
When do physicians search for jobs? What sources do they use to generate leads?
What factors are most important to physicians? However, the rapidly evolving
recruitment landscape begs new questions: What social media do physicians
utilize? Who do they connect with? Do physicians use mobile applications?
In an effort to reveal the answers to these and many other questions, the New
England Journal of Medicine Classified Advertising Department commissioned Zeldis
Research Associates, Inc., to conduct an independent, blind study of residents,
fellows, and newly practicing physicians.
The results paint a picture of how the modern physician searches for jobs.
This information can help recruiters adapt their strategies to keep up with
the ever-changing recruitment industry.
3
SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
WHEREPHYSICIANSFINDJOBLEADS
METHODOLOGY
• Nearly nine in ten rate personal/professional referrals as useful.
• Fifteen percent (15%) rate social media as useful during a job search.
HOWTHERESEARCHWASCONDUCTED
• Survey packages were mailed to final-year residents, fellows, and newly
practicing physicians.
WHEREPHYSICIANSSEARCHINPRINT
• The New England Journal of Medicine was not identified in the package or
the survey.
• NEJM is the most popular print source.
• Physicians had the option to respond either online or by mail.
WHEREPHYSICIANSSEARCHONLINE
• The package consisted of a cover letter (with an optional URL response
method), the survey form, and a business reply envelope.
• Five in ten use classified/recruitment sources online.
• Respondents who returned a fully completed survey received an
Amazon.com gift card.
• There was a total of four separate mailings:
September 13, 2010
September 20, 2010
October 8, 2010
November 10, 2010
• Five in ten use classified/recruitment sources in print.
• NEJM is the top online classified/recruitment source.
WHATMATTERSTOPHYSICIANS
• The most important factor for using an online site is quality of jobs.
• Six in ten who look at jobs both online and in print feel that the quality
of jobs online and in print is about the same.
• A total of 4,008 unique physicians were sent the survey.
• Seven in ten use a mobile device with apps, and of those, nearly two in three
are interested in using a job listing app.
• By December 17, 2010, a total of 376 usable surveys were received
(response rate: 9.4%).
• Interest is highest in learning about permanent positions and working at a
hospital or group practice.
WHENPHYSICIANSSEARCH
• Most begin a job search during the final year of residency or fellowship.
• More than half have looked for a position within the past two years.
4
5
WHERE THEY SEARCH:
SOURCE OF LEADS
USEFULNESSOFSPECIFICSOURCESOFLEADSINJOBSEARCH
limited to very/somewhat useful
88%
personal/professional referral
search firm recruiters
68%
in-house/staff recruiters
society/association/
journal online job board
62%
residency program staff
61%
classified ads in print
57%
e-mail alert from job site
56%
on-site recruiting at conferences
48%
commercial/online-only job board
46%
USEFULNESSOFSPECIFICSOURCESOFJOBLEADS
very
useful
15%
social media (e.g., facebook, linkedin)
Based on those who have looked for a position (n=281)
PhysiciansaremostlikelytouseFacebooktomakeconnectionsduringajobsearch.LinkedIn,however,
isalsousedbysometoconnectwithemployersandrecruiters.
USEOFSOCIALMEDIATOCONNECTDURINGJOBSEARCH*
34%
facebook
linkedin
twitter
17%
5%
do not use
social media
33%
colleagues/
friends
potential
employers
physician
recruiters
n/a (do
not use)
30%
10%
9%
31%
12%
11%
10%
46%
4%
3%
2%
57%
personal/professional referral
n=253
in-house/staff recruiters
n=211
residency program staff
n=224
search firm recruiters
n=224
society/association/journal online job board
n=222
e-mail alert from job site
n=211
classified ads in print
n=213
on-site recruiting at conferences
n=191
commercial/online-only job board
n=192
social media (e.g., facebook, linkedin)
n=146
not useful
at all
79%
40%
39%
38%
58%
26%
26%
24%
23%
18%
3%
Based on those who use specific sources
Based on total answering (n=376)
7
53%
17%
23%
14%
21%
48%
26%
51%
25%
48%
50%
27%
17% 3%
43%
28%
*Respondents were allowed to select more than one choice.
6
somewhat
useful
29%
32%
70%
WHERE
Nearlynineintenrate
personal/professional
referralsasuseful.
Mostphysiciansperceivepersonal/professionalreferralsasveryuseful.
63%
WHERE THEY SEARCH:
PRINT
Respondentswereaskedtolisttheirtopthreeprintclassified/recruitmentsourcesinorderofusefulness.
Findingsarebasedon“unaided”recall—respondentswerenotshownalistorpromptedinanywayto
nameapublication.Theresultsinthissectionrepresentthe53%wholistedaprintsource.
CLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTPRINTSOURCES(PRIMARYMENTIONS*)
TOTAL
mentions (percentage)
TOPCLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTPRINTSOURCES (non-weighted total citations)*
jama, ama
acp, annals of
internal medicine
aan, neurology
journal
asco, jco
nejm
97 (66.90%)
jama, ama
31 (21.38)%
aan, neurology
journal
24 (16.55%)
9 (6.21%)
asco, jco
9 (6.21%)
acc, jacc
57 (67.86%)
13 (15.48%)
9 (10.71%)
9 (10.71%)
9 (6.21%)
practicelink
5 (5.95%)
acc, jacc
8 (5.52%)
asn, jasn
4 (4.76%)
practicelink
8 (5.52%)
3 (3.57%)
society of
hospital medicine
acp, annals of
internal medicine
7 (4.83%)
today’s hospitalist
5 (3.45%)
the hospitalist
a total of 112 other mentions fall into the
“4 or less mentions per source” category.
7 (4.83%)
aan, neurology
journal
6 (4.14%)
asco, jco
*Percentages total greater than 100% because respondents were allowed to enter up to three print sources.
4 or less (31.72%)
Based on those who listed a print source (n=145)
*Sources listed as the most useful
CLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTPRINTSOURCES—SUBSPECIALIST(PRIMARYMENTIONS*)
SUBSPECIALIST
mentions (percentage)
3 (3.57%)
nejm
a total of 70 other mentions fall into the
“2 or less mentions per source” category.
Based on those who listed a print source (n=145)
5 (3.45%)
other mentions
3 (3.57%)
Based on those who listed a print source and listed specialties
other than (or in addition to) internal medicine (n=84)
11 (8.28%)
acp, annals of
internal medicine
6 (7.14%)
the hospitalist
gastro
jama, ama
69 (47.59%)
jama, ama
aan, neurology
journal
asco, jco
other mentions
41 (48.81%)
6 (7.14%)
6 (7.14%)
5 (5.95%)
2 or less (30.95%)
Based on those who listed a print source and listed specialties other than (or in addition to) internal medicine (n=84)
*Sources listed as the most useful
8
9
WHERE
WHERE
SUBSPECIALIST
mentions (percentage)
TOTAL
mentions (percentage)
nejm
nejm
WHERE THEY SEARCH:
ONLINE
CLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTONLINESOURCES(PRIMARYMENTIONS*)
TOTAL
mentions (percentage)
nejm
26 (17.81%)
19 (13.01%)
practicelink
Respondentswereaskedtolisttheirtopthreeonlineclassified/recruitmentsourcesinorderofusefulness.
Findingsarebasedon“unaided”recall—respondentswerenotshownalistorpromptedinanywayto
nameanonlinesource.Theresultsinthissectionrepresentthe53%wholistedanonlinesource.
4 (2.74%)
asco, jco
4 (2.74%)
google
4 (2.74%)
idsa
4 (2.74%)
kaiser
4 (2.74%)
locum tenens
4 (2.74%)
monster
4 (2.74%)
TOPCLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTONLINESOURCES(non-weighted total citations)*
TOTAL
mentions (percentage)
nejm
practicelink
SUBSPECIALIST
mentions (percentage)
nejm
50 (34.25%)
29 (19.86%)
practicelink
31 (35.23%)
20 (22.73%)
10 (6.85%)
jama, ama
7 (7.95%)
8 (5.48%)
asco, jco
7 (7.95%)
8 (5.48%)
asn, jasn
5 (5.68%)
8 (5.48%)
idsa
5 (5.68%)
google
7 (4.79%)
practicematch
5 (5.68%)
locum tenens
7 (4.79%)
acc, jacc
4 (4.55%)
6 (4.11%)
endocrine society
4 (4.55%)
5 (3.42%)
kaiser
4 (4.55%)
asn, jasn
5 (3.42%)
aan
3 (3.41%)
cejka
5 (3.42%)
career md
3 (3.41%)
comphealth
5 (3.42%)
comphealth
3 (3.41%)
idsa
5 (3.42%)
locum tenens
3 (3.41%)
monster
5 (3.42%)
society of
hospital medicine
a total of 85 other mentions fall into the
“2 or less mentions per source” category.
5 (3.42%)
Based on those who listed an online source and listed
specialties other than (or in addition to) internal medicine (n=88)
jama, ama
acp, annals of
internal medicine
asco, jco
practicematch
career md
acc, jacc
a total of 151 other mentions fall into the
“4 or less mentions per source” category.
other mentions
Based on those who listed an online source (n=146)
*Sources listed as the most useful
CLASSIFIED/RECRUITMENTONLINESOURCES—SUBSPECIALIST(PRIMARYMENTIONS*)
SUBSPECIALIST
mentions (percentage)
nejm
practicelink
17 (19.32%)
12 (13.64%)
asco, jco
4 (4.55%)
idsa
4 (4.55%)
kaiser
4 (4.55%)
aan
3 (3.41%)
acc, jacc
3 (3.41%)
other mentions
2 or less (46.59%)
Based on those who listed an online source and listed specialties other than (or in addition to) internal medicine (n=88)
*Sources listed as the most useful
Based on those who listed an online source (n=146)
*Percentages total greater than 100% because respondents were allowed to enter up to three online sources.
10
3 or less (50.00%)
11
WHERE
acc, jacc
WHAT MATTERS:
ONLINE
WHAT MATTERS:
PRINT AND ONLINE
Thelargemajorityofphysiciansfeelthequalityofthejobsavailableataparticularsiteisvery
importantwhenlookingforajobonline.
Medicaljournalandassociationwebsitesreceivethehighestqualityratings.Halfofthephysicians
surveyedratedthequalityofthejobsonmedicaljournal/society/associationonlinejobboardsas
“thebest.”
IMPORTANTFACTORSWHENLOOKINGFORAJOBONLINE
very
important
somewhat
important
not important
at all
quality of jobs
n=249
92% 7% 1%
detailed employer information
n=249
82%
reputation of the website
n=238
17%
73%
1%
23%
4%
WEBSITERATINGBASEDONQUALITYOFJOBSLISTED*
4 or 5
medical journal/society/
association online job board
n=220
commercial/online-only job board
n=214
66%
41%
Individual bases vary based on respondents’ usage of each type of job board.
salary/compensation data
n=250
69%
27%
4%
ease of site use
n=247
68%
28%
3%
64%
27%
9%
confidentiality safeguards
n=238
61%
32%
7%
number of jobs
n=238
60%
33%
7%
program director recommendation
n=239
45%
career tips and advice
n=238
40%
automatic e-mail alert
n=235
36%
multimedia presentations of
employer information
n=226
27%
35%
43%
20%
17%
41%
23%
50%
23%
WHAT
WHAT
colleagues’ recommendation
n=243
*Rated 4 or 5 on 5-point scale where “5” means best and “1” means worst.
QUALITYOFJOBS:PRINTVS.ONLINE
Threeinfour
physicianslookat
jobsbothonlineand
inprint.Nearlysix
intenwhouseboth
sourcesfeelthese
sourcesareabout
thesameinquality.
more quality jobs
online
29%
about the same
more quality jobs
in print
58%
13%
Based on those who look at jobs both online and in print (n=207)
Based on those who use specific factors
INTERESTEDINJOBLISTINGMOBILEAPPLICATION?
12
63%
yes
Sevenintenuseamobiledevicewithapps,
andofthose,nearlytwointhreeareinterested
inusingajoblistingapptosearchforavailable
positions.
no
37%
Based on those who use a mobile device with apps (n=259)
13
WHEN THEY
SEARCH
WHAT MATTERS:
INTERESTS
INTERESTINLEARNINGABOUTPARTICULARTYPESOFPOSITIONS
60%
permanent
Physiciansaremost
interestedinlearning
aboutpermanent
positions.
part-time
27%
POINTINTRAININGPHYSICIANSBEGINAJOBSEARCH
21%
locum tenens
research
13%
military
4%
Physiciansaremost
likelytobeginajob
searchduringthefinal
yearofresidency/
fellowship.
29%
none of the above
21%
prior to final year of residency/fellowship
Based on total answering (n=376)
67%
during final year of residency/fellowship
8%
after finishing residency/fellowship
4%
other
Based on total answering (n=376)
INTERESTINPOSITIONSBYPRACTICEENVIRONMENT
61%
group practice
61%
clinic/community health center
30%
27%
hmo/ppo
military/va hospital
20%
government agency
19%
18%
1–2 years ago
Morethanhalfofthe
physicianssurveyed
havelookedfora
positionwithinthe
pasttwoyears.
20%
3–4 years ago
5 or more years ago
2%
have not looked yet
other
12%
25%
2%
Based on total answering (n=376)
none 10%
Based on total answering (n=376)
14
34%
within the past year
56%
university/medical school
research lab
WHENDIDTHEYLASTLOOKFORAPOSITION?
15
WHEN
Aboutsixinten
physicianssaythey
wouldbeinterested
inapositionata
hospital,inagroup
practice,orata
university/medical
school.
hospital
WHO THEY ARE:
DEMOGRAPHICS
POINTINTRAINING/PRACTICE
GENDER
physician in practice
62%
male
Nearlytwo-thirdsofthephysicianssurveyed
aremale.
female
38%
Halfofthephysicians
surveyedarecurrently
inpractice.
50%
28%
resident
22%
fellow
Base (n=371)
Base (n=376)
AGE
NUMBEROFYEARSINPRACTICE
30 or under
21%
54%
31–35
Themajorityofphysicianssurveyedfallbetween
31and35yearsofage.
36–40
less than 1
18%
41 or older 7%
Base (n=375)
Thephysicians
currentlyinpractice
havebeenpracticing
foranaverageof
nearlytwo-and-a-half
years.
1%
22%
1
35%
2
31%
3
4 or more
11%
Based on physicians in practice (n=177)
WHO
16
17
WHO THEY ARE: DEMOGRAPHICS
SPECIALTY*
im
Morethanfourinten
physicianssurveyed
specializeininternal
medicine.
44%
66%
other specialty
Base (n=346) (unique physicians who answered this question)
*Total does not equal 100% because some physicians reported having multiple specialties.
HOSPITALIST
yes
Oneinfivephysicianssurveyedisahospitalist.
OTHERSPECIALTIES
19%
no
81%
Base (n=370)
TOTAL NUMBER
35
gastroentorology
33
cardiology
30
nephrology
22
oncology
20
infectious disease
19
neurology
17
hematology
14
endocrinology
geriatrics
3
anesthesiology
2
opthamology
2
radiology
2
other specialty
PRIMARYWORKACTIVITY
hospital-based patient care
Physicianssurveyed
spendmorethan
halfoftheirtimein
hospital-basedpatient
careandone-thirdof
theirtimeinofficebasedpatientcare.
53%
office-based patient care
33%
industry or research
5%
teaching
5%
administration
2%
other
1%
Base (n=375)
28
WHO
18
19
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