Angela C Weyand: Something we aren’t taught in med school but absolutely should be
Angela C Weyand, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, shared a thread on X/Twitter:
“For this tweetorial, I’m going to tackle something we aren’t taught in med school but absolutely should be: Negotiating for a job. Anyone who is or will be negotiating a contract, pin this thread.
First, it’s important to remember, after so many years of training, that you have value! As a fellow, I attended a talk about job searches. The speaker talked about how up to that point we hadn’t had much (read: any) control or ability to advocate for ourselves.
Your 1st job is a HUGE opportunity to negotiate for what you WANT and NEED and is incredibly important as it will set the stage for your career.
- Future raises based on initial salary
- Resources to kickstart research/program building
- Often don’t renegotiate
The number 1 piece of advice I would give is to seek help from experts. A small investment can lead to BIG returns. I worked with Kate F. and her help was invaluable, which brings me to an important point: You will NOT get what you don’t ASK for.
Everyone has a budget and it is NOT unlimited. It can be extremely awkward to ask for things. It’s best to look at it as a process to align expectations. If you’re expected to do research, you’ll need time and resources. Same for program development, teaching, etc.
Let’s talk money. The compensation strategy may be more important than the actual salary. Aligning this philosophy with how you want to focus your practice is key. One good strategy is to ask for equity with *male* peers (sadly this is not a given).
In terms of numbers, survey data can be helpful (AAMC, MGMA, etc) It’s important to know the limitations of this data but it’s probably best that we all just start talking about this more (physician pay is quirky and the fact that no one talks about it hurts us all).
Identify situations that can wreak havoc on work life balance (call, travel for outreach, lack of support staff) If you want to stay in the area, non-competes. Even if you can’t change the contract, this will open your eyes to what the position really is.
Finding out who has left the practice and speaking to them can shed light on issues that may not be divulged in the hiring process. Ask questions up front and be sure to get details in answers/your contract.
Ask about maternity, paternity and FMLA. When you hear how bad it is, remind yourself to vote for representation and legislation to change this. Ask for a signing bonus and relocation. Additional perks are out there which brings me back to my number 1 piece of advice: get help!
In any situation, it’s important to know your BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement). Having other options is always good and can help highlight positives & negatives to each position.
There are so many intricacies which is why I so highly recommend having someone with experience review your contract. I used Kate F and couldn’t recommend more highly. And don’t hesitate to talk to other physicians! More knowledge helps us all.”
Source: Angela C Weyand/X
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