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CAREER PLANNING |

Defining Your Ideal Position 

Define Your Goals

You likely already have a good idea of your professional interests and goals, but taking the time to write them down and prioritizing them can be helpful.  

This is one of the most critical aspects of your career planning process. 

Having well-defined goals will serve you well throughout the remainder of your job search. 

Define your long term professional goals as a practice neonatologist prior to starting your job search

You likely already have a good idea of your professional interests and goals, but taking the time to write them down and prioritizing them can be helpful.  

This is one of the most critical aspects of your career planning process.  Having well-defined goals will serve you well throughout the remainder of your job search. 

Define your long term professional goals as a practice neonatologist prior to starting your job search

In fact, some even suggest a five-year plan should be in place and personal milestones should also be considered when you plan your long-term career goals.  

As you begin the process of finding your post-fellowship job opportunity, use the questions below to help you identify what you want to achieve in your career.

Envision Your Future

You’ve committed to becoming a Neonatologist.  But within the field there are a wide array of options for different aspects of practice.  

define your long term professional and practice goals by envision your future in terms of what you want to achieve with your practice.
      • How do you want to be spending your professional time in 10 years?
      • What sort of impact would you like to make with your career?
      • Is it important to be recognized or viewed as a leader in your field?
      • Is prestige an important attribute of your career?
      • Would you like to be recognized for certain accomplishments or achievements?
      • How do you want to be recognized professionally by your peers?

Reflect on Your Current Work

Thinking about your current likes and dislikes will help you identify where you enjoy spending your time professionally and help you seek similar work activities and professional duties during your job search. 

When starting your physician job search, reflect on your current work to help determine your long-term career goals for your practice and professional aspirations.
      • What have you enjoyed the most in your work and professional activities?
      • What was your greatest accomplishment in the past year?
      • Are there specific areas you would like to continue to grow or evolve?
      • What would you like to accomplish this year?
      • What do you enjoy most about your current work?  
      • What work or professional activities do you find most unpleasant?

Examine Your Mentors and Role Models

Others have come before you.  Use the experiences of your mentors and role models to help you decide what you might want to achieve in your own career.

When starting your physician job search, examine your mentors and role models to help determine your long-term career goals for your practice and professional aspirations.
      • What about their career path do you most admire?
      • What aspects of their career do you find most interesting?
      • Are there certain elements of their careers that match your interests?
      • Are there aspects of their work that you would find fulfilling?
      • Are there aspects of their career that you dislike? 
      • Which of their professional activities or duties would you not want for your own career?

Additional Resources

John V. Hartline, MD, FAAP, and Marilyn Escobedo, MD, FAAP of the AAP provide a workbook to help define personal career goals.   

Physician career and leadership development coach, Dr. Jacqueline Huntly, provides guidance on how to develop a career plan.   

Step 2 - Topics

Step 2 - Topics

Why Bother?

Define Your Goals

Consider Your Non-Clinical Interests

Determine Your Practice Preferences

Assess Your Personal Needs

Develop Your Professional Niche

Coming Soon!

Understand Current Practice Trends

Plan for Work Life Balance

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Disclaimer:  All content above is solely the work product of the authors.  Neonatology Solutions, LLC, makes no endorsement or statement of safety, efficacy, or appropriateness of any of the protocols, pathways, guidelines, or algorithms contained within.  They should be thoroughly reviewed against any available evidence prior to adoption.  This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed or relied upon as a standard of care.  Any questions or concerns should be directed to the authors and/or the listed contact person.  Good clinical judgement should always prevail when applying any standardized approach.  We recommend that institutions review these protocols, pathways, guidelines, and algorithms and accept, modify, or reject them based on their own institutional resources and patient populations.  Neonatology Solutions, LLC, assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from use of these tools.