As many as 60-70% of jobs for physicians changing careers are the result of successful networking. Many of these physicians are now moving into non-clinical careers such as teaching, consulting, pharma, coaching, medical-legal, medical devices, compliance, and other careers. For example, this author recently identified 65 consulting niches alone for physicians to transition into.
What do the experts recommend for effective networking? “The Right way to Network” March 13, 2014 Wall Street Journal article gave these valuable tips:
- Networking is about cultivating and building relationships.
- A truly productive network is the byproduct of making friends.
- Ask your friends about their work.
- Arrive early at conferences.
- Send your colleagues interesting articles.
- Introduce your colleagues to others who might be able to assist them and their careers.
- Take advantages of existing networks.
- Don’t try too hard.
- Smile, be friendly, and ask questions.
- Share a drink or lunch with someone you met at a conference.
Successful networking for physicians in career transition will be discussed in the course for physicians, How to Find and Land High Paying Non-Clinical Jobs to be held on October 21, 2014 in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Michael McLaughlin and Steven Babitsky, Esq. will discuss networking.
Michael J. McLaughlin, MD is co-founder of Peloton Advantage, a medical communications company. He received degrees from Harvard College and Columbia University. After four years as a plastic surgeon and hand specialist, he networked through a career change into medical communications. Along the way, he also founded Physician Renaissance Network (PRNresource.com), a free resource for doctors with non-clinical careers and interests, and wrote the book Do You Feel Like You Wasted All That Training? Questions from Doctors Considering a Career Change. He wrote the medical thriller, Extinction, and launched the free online version of Dr. N. Michael Caputo’s innovative and controversial story, The Satin Strangler Blogs
Steven Babitsky, Esq. is a former trial lawyer who has trained thousands of physicians in the past 30 years. He has over 35 years of experience as a professional negotiator, has himself successfully made the switch from practicing law to a non-clinical career, and is an expert in networking, running a small business, medical-legal opportunities for physicians, responding to tough questions, persuasion skills, consulting, publishing, and turning ideas into money. He is the co-author of the book Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians. (www.nonclinicalcareers.com)