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The transition begins…
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After many years of training, the beginning of the end is around the corner. I have started thinking about the next step, perhaps the most important one of the past 10 years – finding a “real” job. Please do not misunderstand what I mean by “real”; what we do is real all right, but the undeniable fact that we are highly educated, overworked, and shamelessly underpaid gives our past and present career positions a touch of fiction.
I am concentrating in buffing up my CV, trying to get out as many manuscripts as I can before I start interviewing. The other way of achieving that goal is by winning a clinical/researcher young investigator award. I am sure that a lot of you are familiar with these awards or have won one in the past. I did not know much about them, and as I familiarize myself with them, I have come to one conclusion: The word award has to be changed to competition. Have you seen the amount of paperwork that you have to fill and the hours that you have to invest to just put your name forward for consideration? Not to mention how weird it feels to nominate yourself for an award ... it would make more sense if your mentor was the one nominating you, but of course this would pose a disadvantage for those fellows who have more disengaged or distracted mentors.
During these first steps of job searching (more like soul searching), I have more questions than answers. Where do I want to practice? How much time do I want to spend doing research versus clinical duties? What should I be looking for in a Cardiology division or chairman? How much money do I want to make, or perhaps, how much am I willing not to make?
This last question intrigues me because of the way academicians feel about disclosing their salaries. Have you ever asked an academic doctor, flat out, how much money he or she makes? Some people just won’t tell you and others give you what they call a ballpark estimate. A few will answer the question right away but they will whisper the response ... hundred and seventy five shshshsh! It’s almost like they fear that if you tell, the chairman will cut down their salary. I know colleagues that have accepted a faculty position without having an idea of what other faculty members, at their level, are making. Maybe we should all get agents.
Despite much uncertainty, there is one thing that is clear to me. There is no match no more; no ranking lists or personal statements. It is time for me to decide what best fits my personal professional goals as well as the expectations of my family, who have always offered their unconditional support. I have practical needs and professional ambitions. I have debt to pay, three children to support, and a golf addiction to maintain. On the other hand, my heart is on academic medicine and community service (which traditionally has been a path of less monetary compensation). Where my balancing act will end up, I do not know now. But one thing is for sure ... this phase of my career will be more interesting and satisfying than sitting in front of a computer waiting for it to tell me where we are moving next. It will be a learning experience, one that I will hopefully share with those of you who will soon be looking for a real job.