Strategies For Post–Peak Pandemic Job Searching

In my last few Forums, I invited various colleagues to collaborate regarding career barriers and opportunities. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have fielded many questions about the podiatric job search process. I searched for a position myself during the height of the pandemic, during an abundance of budget shutdowns, hiring freezes, and no in-person interviews or site visits. Luckily, this is no longer the market or circumstance in most sectors, which is why I have invited my friend and colleague, Mohammad Junayed Khan, DPM, to share his most recent experience and advice for podiatric job searching in post-peak pandemic conditions.

Dr. Khan: Let us begin with the timeline of my job search. I completed my fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in June 2022, and began my search 6 months prior. I sought jobs at teaching institutions or not-for-profit organizations, and as of the time of this publication, here are some important things I think DPMs should keep in mind when beginning a post–peak pandemic job search.

Job setting, stability, and salary. In my observation, the private sector (podiatry groups or multi-specialty groups), and non-private sectors (academic institutions, hospital-based/not-for-profits, and government and government-funded organizations) responded differently in their approach to hiring health care providers in the post–peak pandemic era. Widespread shortages of support staff seemed to limit physician hiring potential. Especially in the private sector, a few of my peers accepted offers with large podiatry groups, but the group either asked the candidate to start 6 months later than agreed upon, or revoked the offer altogether.

Whether this happened due to staffing shortages or financial hardships during different outbreaks of COVID-19 sub-variants, I feel this is happening more than it likely has in the past. While salaries vary depending on which sector one applies to, I personally was disheartened to see that current offers from many private groups are very similar to pre-pandemic numbers. Our world has changed so much, such as a significantly increased  cost of living. It seems, based on what I observed, that non-private sectors may have adapted better in this regard.        

Key advice: Be aware of the impact of the pandemic on various sectors, and set expectations for a realistic starting salary accordingly when applying for jobs.   

Location and interview style. Depending on where in the country you apply, you may experience different protocols and interviewing processes for a prospective position. For example, I applied to a few places in the Northeastern and the Mid-Atlantic regions, and I found they were very careful with how they interviewed applicants. There were multiple virtual/video call interviews with different people within each company, and one final, in-person interview and tour of the facility. One company in the Northeast strictly had virtual interviews and made offers without meeting the candidates in-person.

On the other hand, one prospective employer in the Midwest had an initial phone call, and multiple in-person interviews after that. All in all, different areas of the country/states handle protocols for the lingering COVID-19 pandemic differently. One interview may have a room full of people wearing masks, and in others, you may feel out of place if you are the only masked person present.

Key advice: Expect different interview structures, styles, and processes depending on where in the country you apply.

Length of interview process. Overall, it is difficult to predict how much time off you will need for interviews and travel time. Fortunately, I did not use much paid time off (PTO) during the first half of my fellowship, as I used about twice as much time interviewing than I originally planned for. Most prospective employers have some level of a virtual interview integrated into the process, so expect the interview process to be longer and more thorough than you might expect.

Key advice: Save more PTO days than you think you need just in case you find yourself applying to several positions that require multiple interviews.

Dr. Johnson: This is only one physician’s viewpoint on the evolving circumstances and conditions for job hunting and interviewing in a post-pandemic world. However, I hope it brings a little more insight for those curious about the current state of the hiring market in podiatric medicine and surgery. 

Dr. Johnson is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes-Podiatry (MEND) at University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Khan is a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, an Association of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and a Certified Wound Specialist Physician who currently practices at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Buffalo, NY. Feel free to contact him at mjk.dpm@gmail.com or @mjkpod.

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