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Should I Move First or Secure a Job First?


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Hey all.

 

So I recently separated from the military and have had some difficulty finding the right job for myself. In terms of skills, I am not a new grad, but in terms of job searching, I am very green. I've discovered that my job picker has been off and have recently chosen two jobs that weren't right for me from the outset.

 

I don't like the area I'm currently living in (few opportunities and terrible work environment). So I'm seeking green pastures elsewhere.

 

Today, I flew out to my desired state and managed to set up 10 interviews for next week. However, it has taken me a few weeks and considerable money to do this. Today, I found out that 3 of those jobs have filled already. I'm concerned that the other 7 may as well. I'm starting to think that it may be a good idea to just move out here first so that I could interview right away.

 

On the flip side, I have no income, but also, luckily, no debt of any kind (my car is old though and on its last legs so I'm not sure how long it will hold out). I have some friends the new area, but no family. I don't feel comfortable asking those friends to stay with them for any extended period.

 

Further, I'm going on the blind as far as employers. I have no idea who is respected in this area and who is shady. Anyone have any tips as far as red flags to look for? From what I've experienced so far, a practice that doesn't have a website (or has a poor one) is cause for concern. But is this just a generalization based on a bad experience?

 

So I'm thoroughly confused and unsure of what to do. I welcome any advice that anyone may have.

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It might be helpful to be a little more transparent as to the state you are wanting to move to. If you are single then staying could probably quite reasonable in various long term temp housing . Contacting and joing the state chapter would be good and put a resume on all the on line paces like alert.com. There are many of them.

Finally, thanks for your service!

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Generally I would say don't move before you have a job.  However yours may be the exception to the rule.  If you KNOW you want to move to this specific area and that is absolutely your end game - move.  You already know it will make you more readily available for interviewing as well as hiring.  

 

That you were able to schedule 10 interviews in a week, well, it sounds like your odds are pretty good.

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Guest Paula

Have you evaluated what type of job you want, the area of medicine, lined it up with your skills, education and experience, and why the two previous jobs were not right for you?

 

Perhaps you are picking the wrong specialty?

 

You certainly want to prevent getting another job and moving for it, only to  realize your job picker is still awry. 

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Hey Maverick! So I have just done what you are trying to do. I would suggest utilizing your friends - short term - which is what I did. Most employers aren't interested unless you have your state license, so it's important to have that prior to making any moves.

Once you have your license you won't be able to keep them off of you. I would stay with friends for that time period of interviews (about 1 week) while hunting for a place at the same time. Once you have your job narrowed down you can jump on the place you want - at least temporalily until you settle and decide if you want to move again.

The job hunt will be wacky because you don't have a sense of reputation. Don't be afraid to talk to the current pa employees as well as Yelp/Google employers for complaints. Also another flag is to ALWAYS ask why they are filling your position, how long people stay on and how many positions they are looking to fill and why. I've been on the receiving end of a bad job as well and learned to ask these questions after dealing with crappy jobs.

GOOD LUCK!

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You could consider taking a job....any job....so long as it gets you to where you want to be.  You could also reach out to locums recruiters and let them know where you want to work.  This could get you a good short term job while you hunt for your long term job.  I

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It might be helpful to be a little more transparent as to the state you are wanting to move to. If you are single then staying could probably quite reasonable in various long term temp housing . Contacting and joing the state chapter would be good and put a resume on all the on line paces like alert.com. There are many of them.

Finally, thanks for your service!

 

Thank you! I've consulted with the state chapter. They weren't much help. I've found all of the jobs through random recruiter emails and Indeed.

 

Generally I would say don't move before you have a job.  However yours may be the exception to the rule.  If you KNOW you want to move to this specific area and that is absolutely your end game - move.  You already know it will make you more readily available for interviewing as well as hiring.  

 

That you were able to schedule 10 interviews in a week, well, it sounds like your odds are pretty good.

 

Yeah, I absolutely know that I will end up in this area. I'm here now and love it. I'm seriously considering just moving here right when I get home from these interviews.

 

Have you evaluated what type of job you want, the area of medicine, lined it up with your skills, education and experience, and why the two previous jobs were not right for you?

 

Perhaps you are picking the wrong specialty?

 

You certainly want to prevent getting another job and moving for it, only to  realize your job picker is still awry. 

 

The thing with the last two jobs is that they were in the specialty that I already have experience with. So I don't think it's the specialty itself. I think that I just wasn't listening to my gut and just taking whatever came my way.

 

Also, yes, I actually am switching specialties (most likely). It turns out that I will have interviews with 8 companies this week and only 1 is in my most recent specialty.

 

Hey Maverick! So I have just done what you are trying to do. I would suggest utilizing your friends - short term - which is what I did. Most employers aren't interested unless you have your state license, so it's important to have that prior to making any moves.

Once you have your license you won't be able to keep them off of you. I would stay with friends for that time period of interviews (about 1 week) while hunting for a place at the same time. Once you have your job narrowed down you can jump on the place you want - at least temporalily until you settle and decide if you want to move again.

The job hunt will be wacky because you don't have a sense of reputation. Don't be afraid to talk to the current pa employees as well as Yelp/Google employers for complaints. Also another flag is to ALWAYS ask why they are filling your position, how long people stay on and how many positions they are looking to fill and why. I've been on the receiving end of a bad job as well and learned to ask these questions after dealing with crappy jobs.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Thanks!

 

I took your advice on my first two interviews and asked those questions. They were very revealing (one in a good way, the other in a bad way). I also spoke with current employees and that gave me good insight.

 

I would say find the job first. I might even go so far as to say shadow the job for before you move to make sure it's one you want and you definitely like the area, especially if you've had some difficulty finding the right fit in the past.

 

One of the job interviews had me shadow them today. It was a great experience and unique (to me, anyway) so far.

 

You could consider taking a job....any job....so long as it gets you to where you want to be.  You could also reach out to locums recruiters and let them know where you want to work.  This could get you a good short term job while you hunt for your long term job.  I

 

Just taking a job has definitely not worked for me in the past. I'm being VERY selective this time and I'd rather have a big gap on my resume than experience what I've just experienced again. I'd work fast food if I had to before doing that again.

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