Tips and Pearls on the Podiatric Job Search Process

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

Welcome back to Podiatry Today Podcasts, where we bring you the latest in foot and ankle medicine and surgery from leaders in the field. Today we're turning our attention to the podiatric job search process and here to share with us some of his experiences and lessons learned is Ron Raducanu, DPM. Dr. Raducanu is a diplomat of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and a fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. In this episode, he shares his observations on important questions to ask and answer, managing expectations, and the importance of clarity during this job search process, so welcome and thanks so much for being here. How might a DPM, especially a graduating resident or fellow, begin their job search process?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

I don't think it's ever really too early to start that process. I've heard of residents starting in their last year of residency, and that's way too late at that point. What I tell our residents and students that I meet is network as much as possible. Basically, no matter where you go and who you meet, always be pleasant, always be nice, and always keep that in the back of your mind as far as getting to know more people because all of those people could help you in the job search eventually, especially if some of your attendings or some of the doctors you know traveled and trained in other parts of the country and they know people in other parts of the country, it could be very helpful for you to have that kind of direction depending on where you want to go because ultimately, your job search should really... Where you want to live should more or less dictate where your job search takes you, so it's the kind of thing where you go to conferences, you'll meet with doctors.

One of the things that I like to see, too, is when attendings from residency actually go to conferences with their residents and they meet people that they haven't seen, or people that they keep in touch with and, "Hey, this is our second, third-year resident if you ever start looking for an associate," things like that, and residents tend to really appreciate that. That's one thing I can tell anyone to really avoid is ads. There's some websites out there that have basically the same running ad over and over and over again and the ad never disappears. Tell them to potentially avoid those because that's the kind of thing that they're always looking for a reason.

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

For residents that may not have perhaps as many opportunities for in-person networking, do you feel that platforms like LinkedIn might be a way for residents and students to learn a little bit more about the folks that are out there that they can get to know?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

Yes and no. LinkedIn, it started back in my day and it's really exploded in the last few years, particularly since COVID, so my experience with that is not huge. It's not great either because I have a LinkedIn account and what I find is you get a lot of solicitations. There're headhunters that are looking out there. For some reason or another, every month or two, I get some orthopedic group from Missouri that's looking for a foot and ankle surgeon, not realizing that I'm a podiatrist. If they don't mind filtering through all that, sure. I mean, any kind of interaction with colleagues in that regard can only help you, really, either to find something that you're looking for, or to avoid what you're not. That's actually one of the things I'm going to be blogging about eventually is navigating the internet jungle with that, because there's a lot going on the internet, some good, some bad, and if you know how to filter it, it can be a real big advantage.

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

In your experience, once someone makes contact with a practice that might be looking for an associate, what should that candidate look for or want to learn more about?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

What I tell people to do is, first of all, do your research on the practice itself. There's a lot of resources for that, particularly online now where you can look up the practitioner, you can look up the practice, you can look up the board certifications or qualifications. You can even look up public records, which I always recommend residents do that if they don't really know the practice or the practitioner. You can always look up legal records that are public. You can always call the state boards and find out if there have been any issues with somebody they're looking at. Because it's public record, you're not doing anything that's illegal. You're not infringing on anybody's rights or anything, this is public knowledge that anybody can look up. That's one of the first things.

The other thing, too, is you should know something about the practice going in when you're applying. Certainly, if you're someone that really wants to do a lot of very dense reconstruction and things like that, and then you're looking at a practice and it's mostly older guys that are mostly doing the palliative care, or the bread-and-butter podiatry, even bread-and-butter surgery for podiatry, the chances that you're going to really fit in, unless they're actually looking for that, and that's something else that you should be knowledgeable about, and really look into.

But yeah, I mean, look up their reputation online, although that's not great either because you look up something online and it could be from somebody, who knows whether they've even seen the doctor or not? But it can give you a little bit of an idea of what to expect within the practice. If you are from the area and have known the practice in advance, you can always look into that also. One thing, it's kind of hard to find, but find out their employment history if you can, if they've had a revolving door of associates, or a revolving door of staff, that could be something that you want to be cognizant of when you're going in.

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

Is it fair to ask a potential employer as part of the getting-to-know-you process, is it fair to say, "What were the reasons for your last two associates or your last associate leaving the practice?"

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

I personally think it's absolutely fair. One of the things that I always recommend, too, is when you're actually face-to-face, if you have the skill to read somebody, asking those kind of, I wouldn't say awkward questions, but more probing questions, asking something like that and looking at the actual reaction can tell you a lot.

One of the things that also can happen in the leading up to this is when you're doing all your research and whatnot, these things tend to come out. A lot of people around the area, especially your older colleagues, but not the next generation, maybe somebody out two, three years can be helpful telling you, "Well, this practice has had six associates in five years. You may want to be careful." But to me, I mean, it's not an offensive question, and if it's taken that way, that's a red flag. If they expect you to be an open book when they talk to you about what you expect in the practice, or you expect in practice once you get out of residency, then they should be as honest and open towards you as well.

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

Well, since we're talking about questions for a potential employer during the interview process, what other important questions might there be that a potential associate should be asking?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

Yeah, so I'm all about managing expectations. If you are that kind that wants to do the complex rearfoot stuff, ask. Say, "Hey, this is something I'm trained to do. Is that in your rule book? Is that something you're looking for? Is that not part of your practice at all?" It should be a dialogue of expectation as far as, "Okay, what do you expect from me? This is what I'm hoping to get out of practice in the next," the famous question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" But realistically, especially when you get out into practice, sorry, it's really, okay, most residents know what they want to do when they leave, whether they want to do that big stuff, or they want to do more of the bread and butter, and that's important to know. If you're busting in there expecting to do Charcot reconstructions, but he or she in practice hasn't seen a Charcot foot in 10 years, the expectation that you're going to be suddenly getting all that through them is kind of low.

A lot of these questions are more also towards the private practice realm. Certainly, if you're looking at working in a hospital setting, or working with an orthopedic group, those kind of questions don't really apply, and when you actually apply for those positions, it should be very clear what they expect, especially if they've had other, or they have other employees that do what you do, they'll tell you, it's basically, "Here's what you're going to get. If you don't want it, then don't apply for the position." Something like a private practice, especially somebody maybe the generation or two ahead of me, that's where it's, "Okay, what do you expect from a new associate? What kind of work are you expecting from me and how are we going to play that out?"

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

What about on the other end of it when you're actually going through the interview process? Are there any types of questions that you feel like a potential associate should be prepared to answer?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

Along the same lines where, "Okay, what do you expect in practice? What are you thinking you want to do? What do you think you want to be? How involved you want to get as far as what procedures? What do you not want to do at all?" That's again, managing expectations. I mean, if you're going into a practice saying, "I don't like clipping toenails and I don't want to do nursing homes," but that's half of what that practice does, you're certainly not going to be thrilled with it unless you are willing to compromise to get the other stuff. But that other stuff is going to take a few years. It's not something that's just going to be handed to you. It's something you have to cultivate in a situation like that. I think that as an employer looking for somebody, that's a very important way to go about it.

The other thing, too, is what do you expect financially? What kind of benefits are you looking for? Dues, things like that. The employer can't really ask you too many personal questions like family and this, that, and the other thing, but a way that they get around that is, "Hey, do you need insurance for just you or are there others that will need to be on it? If that's something we even offer, do you expect us to pay for your exams, like your ABFAS exams? Certainly, we'll pay." That's usually what happens, "Certainly, we'll pay for the dues. But if you're not even board-qualified or board-certified, do you expect us to pay?" A lot of practices will say, "Okay, once you pass, we'll reimburse you the amount." But that should be a clear dialogue. Again, what's your expectation? What do you want from the partnership? The other thing is, and this comes up a lot, is partnership. Do you expect to be of an owner in the next so many years, and how do you see that going?

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

Is there anything else you'd like to add about our discussion today about the job search process for podiatrists?

Ron Raducanu, DPM:

This is going to sound a little morbid, but I think that the statistics are that doctors in general, not just podiatrists, I think half of them leave their first job. Now, that doesn't mean that that's going to be you, that you're going to be one of those two people, but just like everything else, it's a learning experience, it's a journey. Mistakes will be made on both ends, especially if the practice that you're about to join, if you're their first associate, I mean, nobody's perfect. It's a marriage, basically, and if you're married, if the people out there are married, they understand that it's a give and take, there's compromises to be made, but it has to be fair, so you have to decide as an associate going into a practice what you're willing to tolerate, and what fair means to you.

Jennifer Spector, DPM:

There's so much to think about when approaching the next steps in one's career, so thank you so much for sharing what you've learned with us today. I'm Dr. Jennifer Spector, the assistant editorial director for Podiatry Today, and I hope you'll join us on future episodes of Podiatry Today Podcasts. Don't forget to check out the entire library of episodes on SoundCloud and your favorite podcast platforms.