Getting a job as an (academic) plastic surgeon

1. Getting a job as an (academic) plastic surgeon Ivan Hadad, M.D.

2. Disclosures / Background • Faculty at Indiana University • August 1, 2013 • General surgery training at the same institution

3. Timeline • Penultimate Year: • Figure out who you are (and want to be…) • Decide where you will focus your efforts • By AAPS (April), have your CV and cover letter done • Try to meet people at AAPS

4. Timeline • Chief (or fellowship) year: • August and September: • Send out letters and applications • Set up ASPS interviews • ASPS (October): First stage interviews • November: Thank you letters and follow ups • Winter: Invited interviews at institutions • Feb/March/April: Weigh job offer(s) and decide • Spring: Accept an offer / negotiations • Paperwork (a 3-4 month process)! • Get to work! (August?)

5. Location, Location, Location • Narrow focus, narrowed opportunities • Less jobs on the coasts • Less jobs in big cities • More jobs in smaller cities • More jobs in the midwest • But if you need to be somewhere, go there…

6. Fellowship or job? • Only do a fellowship that you want to do! • Don’t do a fellowship to compete for a job you don’t want • Recognize that a fellowship may paint you as more specialized than you want to be… • Microsurgery fellowships are the new commodity for academic plastic surgery • Private practices are much more flexible

7. Fellowship or job? • Only do a fellowship that you want to do! • Don’t do a fellowship to compete for a job you don’t want • Recognize that a fellowship may paint you as more specialized than you want to be… • Microsurgery fellowships are the new commodity for academic plastic surgery • Private practices are much more flexible • NO ONE CARES YOU WENT TO HARVARD!

8. Curriculum Vitae • Make it clear and well organized • Sections should be in chronologic order • Probably don’t mention anything pre-college • Don’t lie! • Have it looked over.

9. Curriculum Vitae • Sections: • Education • Post Doctoral Training (residency & fellowship) • Honors and Distinctions • Research Experience • Research Grants • Publications • Presented Abstracts • Organizations • Volunteer History • Board Certification(s) • Medical Licensure • Personal information • Country of Origin, Citizenship, Date of Birth, Birthplace, Languages Spoken

10. Cover Letters • Addressed to Program’s chief • Make a stock version • Have a few people review it! • Tailor to the program • 1st paragraph: • Who you are • Where you trained • When you want to start • 2nd paragraph: • Sell yourself • Note areas of strength and interests • State your career goals • Mention research if relevant to career goals

11. Cover Letters • 3rd paragraph: • Sell why you are interested in that program • Clinicals strengths • Previous encounters • Location • 4th paragraph: • State that you are including your CV • Name your references • 5th paragraph: • Thank you’s • Willingness to offer more info

12. Letters of Recommendation • You will be asked for these at some point • Get 3 letters early • Plenty of people here to choose from • Get them on letterhead • Get them signed • Try to get a “To Whom It May Concern” version as a PDF that you can send out

13. Organization • Have one folder with EVERYTHING • Dropbox is great • Always accessible • Synced • Sharable • Scan all documents • Include: • CV’s • Cover letters • Letters of recommendation • Spreadsheets / To do lists • Image of Passport, Diplomas, Drivers License, Medical Licenses, any other applications!

14. Organization • Spreadsheet

15. Finding advertised listings (websites) • Most institutions determine their funding for new employment in September • Check all your resources q 2 -4 weeks • www.plasticsurgery.org • The ASPS website • Registration required • Job Opportunity Board • Post your CV (Useless) • Career tips

16. Finding advertised listings (websites) • www.acaplasticsurgeons.org/jobs/ • The American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS) • All academic listings • Focused towards more experienced surgeons • Fellowship listings

17. Finding advertised listings (websites) • www.hercjobs.org • Higher Education Recruitment Consortium • Very good listings

18. Finding advertised listings (websites) • www.simplyhired.com • Scours a number of job websites and periodically emails you results • www.doccafe.com • Only physician listings • www.indeed.com • www.careermd.com • Sends tailored email results by region • Lots of wound care jobs • Plastic Surgery News • Michele Barnes & Bernie Lee

19. Finding advertised listings (websites) • Note: • Listings may be sham listings • Program already has an internal candidate • Some H.R. protocol states that the job must be advertised publicly (“equal opportunity”)

20. Finding unadvertised jobs • Low yield, but necessary effort • Focus on your “must-have” job locations or interests

21. ACGME Plastic Surgery Residencies • https://www.acgme.org/ads/Public/Reports/Report/1 • Search by Plastic Surgery • Gives addresses & phone numbers • Unfortunately, only lists Program Directors • So… • Go to the residency’s website • Figure out who’s the chief • Go to www.plasticsurgery.org • Look them up • Get their email & phone numbers

22. Finding unadvertised jobs • Create “personalized” cover letters • Email your CV and cover letter to the Chief or whoever makes decisions there • Some people say real mail is better • I disagree • Try a “follow up” message, just prior to ASPS, to ask if they would like to get together • Be assertive • Not pushy! • Not pathetic!

23. ASPS • Plastic Surgery: The Meatmarket • PSA: Senior Residents Conference is mixed into it now • Lots of speed dating • Get as many interviews as possible scheduled • Keep it positive • This a much more adult process • There is no pimping • They won’t ask “What’s your greatest weakness?” • “I care too much!”

24. ASPS • Other tips: • Know their program before (have questions ready) • Take notes right after • Collect business cards • Wear a suit everyday • Be prepared to drink a lot of coffee! • Don’t ask about call (He’s lazy!) • Don’t ask about salary (He’s greedy!) • Seriously: Don’t ask about call or salary! • Don’t be hungover!

25. Visiting interviews • They will pay to fly you out there • Meet the partners • Know who you are • Know what you’d like your practice to look like • Know what you bring that would be unique • Know your 5 year plan • Ask about they will help you grow your practice • Now it’s ok to ask about call responsiblities • It’s ok to ask about “areas for improvement” or “challenges” • You can ask about how to achieve partnership • Still don’t ask: “How much money???”

26. Job offers • (Hopefully) you’ll get a call and an offer letter • Will state your salary • Various other aspects of your responsibilities and benefits • Not an exhaustive document

27. Contracts • Everything is negotiable • If you don’t ask, you don’t get • Less flexibility with university jobs • Academia doesn’t necessarily mean lower pay • Don’t get hung up on what the salary is, but rather what it could be • Don’t try to “nickle and dime” your future employer! • This is a massive topic!

28. Contracts • “A contract is only as good as the person who offered it.”

29. Summary • The job hunt is nothing like the Match • Start early • Be organized • Be assertive • Have faculty mentors to coach you along the way • Talk with your fellow job hunters • Hit up your contacts and prior staff! • YOUR relationships are the key

30. GOOD LUCK!