The search for a staff position is a rite of passage with an initiation that begins at the end of a residency or fellowship. Curiously, although our training prepares us well to work as medical professionals, we receive next to no formal training on how to approach the task of finding a position.
Much information comes from discussions with our mentors and peers.
Some background in the topics of negotiations and physician employment agreements is important to ensure that we are familiar with the process and terminology we will face during the search for a position. An employment agreement or contract is a legally enforceable agreement that establishes rights and obligations. The contract is a valuable document because it states clearly the conditions of employment and the actions to be taken if either party should breach the contract. The preliminary discussions between you and the employer will be concerned primarily with information exchange. Because this agreement is written in unfamiliar legal language and because it holds great influence over our working lives, have the document reviewed by an attorney or a trusted colleague with expertise in contracts for deciphering and elaboration.