We all want our first job to be perfect, but a dream job is hard to come by. Many new PAs will move on from their first job after one year (or even less), and there is nothing wrong with that. However, there are things you can look for in a potential job that will lead to longevity with your first position. So, what should you look for?
First of all, they should want you. Whether this is a potential job from a previous rotation, or through some connection with the practice, you should feel wanted. Though you are a new graduate, you still have the potential to generate a lot of revenue for the company. Make sure that throughout the whole interview process you feel welcomed and wanted, otherwise this may not be the correct fit.
Though this is your first job, I am a firm believer that you should always try to negotiate. During contract negotiations your potential employer should be honest and transparent. You should have a firm understanding of what you are signing up for. Evaluate the contract and explain why you are worth a small percentage more as you negotiate (don't go crazy, this is still your first job). You likely won't get all you ask for, but the company will hopefully meet you in the middle. A practice that is willing to negotiate with you is a good sign.
This is your first job, which can be terrifying. You are finally on your own with patients’ lives potentially in your hands. I have heard too many stories of new Physician Assistants being thrown to the wolves with no support. Do not allow yourself to be one of them. During the interview process you should gain a firm understanding of how you will be oriented. Will you be following a Physician or APP? Will you have some type of onboarding training? How many patients will you be expected to see and when? Make sure you know what you are getting into and that you are comfortable with it.
To use myself as an example, when I started in emergency medicine, I had a four-week onboarding process where I followed seasoned PAs and NPs, with gradual increases in patient loads. This could extend to six weeks if I did not feel ready. This was exactly the assistance I needed, which left me feeling ready(-ish) to be on my own. An adequate onboarding process can make or break your first job.
Ok, so you made it through onboarding, but is that it? What kind of ongoing support will you have? Any new PA will have a slew of daily questions because, well, medicine is hard! Will you have someone you can go to with these? A supervising or collaborating Physician? Another experienced APP or mentor? Make sure you have someone available onsite to help you with the inevitable difficult questions that will arise. At the Urgent Care I currently work at, I am much more comfortable on the days I have another provider here to discuss patients with, and that is still the case after four years of practice. Medicine is a team sport!
Besides your onboarding, what other training will you be receiving in your new position? See if your new practice has anything planned for you. Maybe there are a couple conferences they would like you to attend or an online bootcamp you can go through (I completed an online ED bootcamp). If there are other APPs in the practice, see what training they did. Do they have any PowerPoints you can go through? Training as a new PA is a continuous process and it is very helpful when your new employer has a plan in place for you to continue to improve your knowledge.
On that note, has your new employer ever hired a new graduate? If so, do they still work there? There is no better sign than a practice that has trained and retained a new Physician Assistant. Make sure you speak in depth with the PA during the interview process as this can be a wonderful insight into a potential job. Plus, the practice will likely have a protocol in place to train you as a new PA.
This is a lot to expect from a potential first job! No job will have everything, but just one or two of these traits, especially a job that has a previous new grad that is still there, are a good sign that you have found a suitable position. Do the best you can to make sure you will have the support you need, then go for it! And as I said before, if it isn't the right fit, there is no shame in moving on. Just try to stay for a year!
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Thanks Savanna for the chance to share with your readers!
