Have you received a job offer but you just aren’t sure if you are ready to accept?
You may have left the interview feeling a little rushed, and that your questions were not fully answered. This is not unusual.
Receiving an NP or PA job offer is a bit like receiving a marriage proposal. It’s very flattering to know that you are wanted. But sometimes you can find yourself so overwhelmed by the notion that someone truly desires you that you don’t consider whether or not the feeling is mutual.
Starting a new job is not unlike a marriage, it is big commitment and shouldn’t be left to one’s emotions, because once done, it’s not easy to undo. It’s one of life’s little ironies (or jokes) that getting out of a bad relationship can be much more complicated than entering into one. (We will leave the topic of how to gracefully “divorce” a job for another blog!)
So for those of you entertaining an offer but still feeling unsure I recommend you consider a longer engagement. Before you think I have completely gone off the rails let me explain.
Ask for a “shadow” day. This has become more and more common in recent years. Requesting to spend a shift or two with one of their current providers, “shadowing” is a good way for both parties to get to know each other better.
As a clinician, you will get a clearer idea of not only the job duties and patient flow but also the personality of the practice. Remember, an interview lasts usually no more than an hour and everyone is on their best behavior. It’s a little harder to hide dysfunction for an entire day. If there is an undercurrent of tension or disorganization you are going to pick up on it.
So what’s in it for the employer? A good fit, that’s what employers get out of the shadow. Employers are just as eager to find an employee who fits in with their practice culture as you are to find a practice that fits you. A happy employee is a long term employee. As I have said many times before, clinicians rarely leave jobs where they are happy even if they can make better money elsewhere. Great pay and benefits aren’t enough for happiness.
Now that I think about it, that is the case for many marriages as well…
From a blog originally published on Advance for NPs and PAs
