When it comes to finding a new job, what do physicians want to know? Our Client Success team at Doximity works closely with physician recruiters and share some of the most common types of questions they hear from physicians considering a new opportunity.

1. Compensation. Not surprisingly, the most frequently asked questions are around compensation. Many physicians are advised not to ask about it during their first interview – and that should go for recruiters, too. Why? It can leave a candidate thinking compensation is essential for your role. Will a candidate help you fulfill your facility’s overarching goals or mission? In general, the pay rate won’t help you with that. Discussions of compensation should also cover much more than base salary, benefits, and bonuses.
   
   A physician candidate’s schedule should be part of the compensation package conversation, too. If your plan doesn’t fit their lifestyle, chances are there’s another position that does. Before you discuss compensation, learn what your candidate is looking for: a 4-day work-week? No call? Offering a flexible schedule can go a long way in enticing a great candidate.
   
   
2. Location. Location also plays a significant role in compensation. If you’re recruiting for a rural facility, you have to offer a more competitive compensation package. If you’re in an urban area, especially one with a medical school, you probably have a strong pipeline of candidates. It’s essential to remain flexible when it comes to location. What about the city or town attracts people? Is a signing bonus or student loan forgiveness something you should offer? Location is a big part of the compensation discussion. 
   
   
3. Telemedicine. It’s no secret that telemedicine expansion was supercharged by the pandemic. Doximity’s Dialer tool saw an average of 1 million calls per day last spring! That means questions around job flexibility and remote work opportunities are on the rise from all types of providers. Did you know female physicians are more interested in telemedicine job opportunities? That’s right, women doctors are 24% more interested than their male colleagues, per the 2020 State of Telemedicine Report from Doximity Talent Finder. How about the top specialties using telemedicine? Endocrinology and Rheumatology lead the pack. Treating long-term chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis requires frequent patient visits, but they don’t always need to be face-to-face.
   
   We recommend some questions recruiters should ask if you’re trying to fill telemedicine positions in a previous article, Is Your Candidate a Fit for Telemedicine? Five Questions to Consider that we think you’ll find helpful to review. Telemedicine positions require physicians who can work autonomously. A full-time telemedicine doctor also needs to be able to have excellent communication to make the patient feel confident and content about the care they are receiving. You might determine if a physician is a good fit for your telemedicine opportunity by asking the following questions: (1) What do you believe the shortcomings (if any) are of telemedicine? (2) If a patient is concerned about telemedicine services’ effectiveness, what would you do?
   
   Many new doctors are likely to be involved in telemedicine, too. What’s important is how these doctors are paid. “Everybody likes telemedicine. But is it going to continue to pay the same as a face-to-face visit?” Do you know the answer if a candidate asks that question? (per McKinsey & Company).
   
   
4. Organizational Culture. One last note about physicians looking for new opportunities is this: they’re feeling burned out and disconnected. Asking the right questions can help you address some of their issues. What drove a candidate to become a doctor, and do those reasons align with your facility’s goals? Or the mission of the organization where you’re hiring? Candidates want to work, but they’re balancing other priorities in their life. What do they wish they’d asked before they took their last position? The most important thing about offering a job and accepting a job is getting all of the answers you each need.

Curious about how to source new candidates for your telemedicine opportunities on Doximity Talent Finder? Join us for a quick demo today.