Author: Julia Kinder

If you’ve been in clinical medicine your entire career, you may not have needed to compete in a traditional job search. While credentials and experience do go a long way, there will be others with similar qualifications pursuing the same roles. A personal brand can differentiate you from those competitors.

The term “personal branding” sometimes gets a bad rap. However, everyone has a brand whether they realize it or not! Yet when you’re more intentional about your “unique value proposition” (a phrase many prefer), you can increase your chances of being sought out for positions, receiving an offer, and negotiating a higher salary. ... See more

So how can I help you with a career change? I can give you the map outlining all the steps you need to take. Unlike your prior quest for a career as a doctor, there is not a pre-defined course involving classes, teachers, tests, board exams, and residency. The road to transitioning is different for everyone, depending on your final destination. You may not even know your destination. I can help you select a new career that meets your goals, and then customize a plan to achieve that new career. ... See more

You may be worried about how long transitioning to a new career will take. Starting a consulting business can happen fairly quickly with low start-up cost. And you can keep your current job while nurturing the growth of your new business.

A career in consulting allows physicians to achieve career independence, financial success, and happiness. ... See more

A colleague (Lori K. Rogers, M.D., New Orleans), recently mentioned this to me:

“I’ve been thinking about my father’s career. The man was in a solo general surgery practice, and worked all the time. There were many years when he took only a single week off for vacation. But, interestingly, he was never burned out. I am thinking hard on that, trying to figure out how he wasn’t burned out, wondering if he had some secret-sauce!“

As I considered possible differences in the practice of medicine then, compared to now, to explain why physician burn-out is becoming more prevalent, it occurred to me that our society has changed with regards to attitudes about health and personal responsibility. Could changes in our society contribute to burnout in doctors?

At the risk of offending non-physicians who may stumble upon and read this post, I’d like to pose the question to you: Do you think patients contribute to physician burnout? ... See more

Dissatisfied in some way with your career as a doctor? It can be overwhelming to think about making some sort of career change. First, you have to come to terms with the fact that you aren’t completely happy each day with your work ( “I am crazy to be unhappy as a doctor; think of all the time and money I have invested!”). Then you must understand what exactly you dislike about your current situation (that step is pretty easy; you probably rehash multiple times each day why you dread going into clinic).

Determining your career goals is the next step, followed by learning about alternative non-clinical career options. Then, if you get that far and don’t let routine cement you in place, you must learn how to actually obtain a new career. It is a lot to think about, a lot to learn, and takes time. It is very do-able. But nonetheless, the first step forward is often the hardest. ... See more

All the other physicians arriving to this party are wearing the same party clothes as you. They are dressed in their best C.V., touting their medical school, residency training, awards, research papers, publications, and public service. You are all wearing designer garments – very impressive – but you are all wearing pretty much THE SAME dress/suit. Embarrassing. Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Employers can quickly and easily read through your C.V. to see if you are qualified. Past that, what will make you stand out to them and want you on their team?

The answer is Your Likable and Personable Image. What makes you different from everyone else? Why are you unique? Who are you outside of being a doctor? People will only want to work with you if they LIKE you. So you have to learn to show your personality. ... See more

One of the biggest hurdles to successfully transitioning to a new physician career is the physician’s negative attitude. It is common, of course, to be burned out and grumpy. Enormous responsibility, long hours, demanding patients, decreasing reimbursement, increasing paperwork – there are more and more reasons why doctors are unhappy, and deservedly so. However, the difference between physicians who quickly find a new, more rewarding career and the ones who stay in their current situation is the ability to find happiness RIGHT NOW – not waiting for it to happen when a new career arrives. ... See more

Transitioning can be challenging. It is hard work. There are many uncertainties. There were times when I gave up for awhile. I shed tears. I stayed up late after putting the kids to bed to work on ideas. I was already exhausted and stressed from full-time clinical practice – adding on a career transition is basically adding another job to your plate. I vowed after my own successful transition to make the process easier, cheaper, and more enjoyable for my colleagues. ... See more

How did I make my transition? I started out on my own and made steady but slow progress. Once I started attending SEAK conferences my progress gained momentum. The first conference I went to was “Non Clinical Careers for Physicians.” Finally, I hired a coach to propel me forward. Working one-on-one with someone who gave me specific advice, tailored to my needs, was invaluable. ... See more