Your first physician assistant job search

What specialty should your physician assistant job search include

It is important to remember lifestyle as you make this decision. Consider shifts versus long term patient care.
- Surgery
  - Orthopedics
    The most important step in the physician assistant job search is the phone call!
  - Cardiac
  - Plastics
  - Neuro
  - etc.
- Medicine
  - Family care
  - Hospitalist
  - Peds
  - ER
  - Cardiology
  - etc

Choose private office or hospital

Choose the location where you want to work

Web searches for available jobs are not a good method of doing a job search. You can use them, but don’t make them 100% of your search. 25% would be more reasonable.

Dan Millers’s job search plan at www.48days.com

Pick several offices and or hospitals you would like to work in. 10 – 15 will give you a good chance of finding something.
Find the name of the an actual person you are trying to reach. Do not send correspondence to human resources, to whom it may concern or anything else. Find a real person. Most frequently there is an office manager. The easiest way to get the name of the office manager is to call the office and ask the person who picks up the phone. “I’d like to send in a resume and I’m trying to find out who to send it to. Can you please give me the name of the office manager for your practice?”
Send a letter of introduction including: your current situation and goals, why you’re an interesting candidate, and that you will be sending in your resume in a few days.
One week later send in your cover letter and resume.
Four to five days later – follow up with a PHONE CALL. This is extremely important and will make a huge difference in your search. “I’m following up on a recent letter and resume I sent to you. I understand that your practice provides great care for patients and I really think I can add a lot to the team as well as free up some time for you doctors. When can we get together and and talk?
http://www.48days.com/wp-content/worksheets/job-search-process.pdf

Your first physician assistant job search should be all about finding what you want to do. Searching for a job should not be about sitting and waiting for an opportunity. It should be about going out and making opportunities. Find the place you want to be and let them know your an excellent candidate and your interested.