Friday, July 24, 2009

Why do you wish to switch careers?


If you make the transition from the clinical world of medicine into the non-clinical business side of healthcare, be prepared for the popular question: why? You'll obviously get other questions, but it's critical that you really think about this important question.
  • Are you burned out?
  • Do you hate your job?
  • Are you having trouble with performance?
  • Is there friction in the workplace?
  • Did you choose the wrong medical specialty?
  • Are you dissatisfied with your income?
  • Do you want more flexibility in your life?
  • Are you looking for career advancement?
It can be very difficult to go back to clinical medicine after you leave, so think of this as a one-way street. You can always do some exploring to see if the non-clinical side is right for you, but you'll never know until you actually experience it first-hand. This is why it's critical to expand your social network and meet people who are working in different industries.

Here are a few other questions to consider:
  • Do you have a realistic perception of what life is like on the non-clinical side?
  • Will you have regrets about leaving clinical medicine?
  • Are you willing to have less job security, given our current economic state?
  • Do you want to climb the corporate ladder of success?
  • Will you get burned out with a non-clinical career?
  • What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Of course, the list of questions can be endless. However, it's critical to work through many of these issues as you contemplate a career transition into the non-clinical world of medicine.

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