I imagine some of the other NPs out there have more experience on this one than I do. I've been with the same employer for going on 4 years, ever since I graduated. So now I'm weighing my options and considering moving to a different company. How on earth do you discretely have conversations with your potential "next" employer when you're at work 8:30-5? I have a 30 minute lunch break, a student, and about zero privacy. Don't get me started on my utter lack of paid time off, in the event I actually make it to the interview stage. Does one call in sick? Schedule a day off without explanation? Lie? I have a knee-jerk, honesty response which could get me in trouble soon. Not to mention there are all sorts of inadvisable things about writing this type of blog in the first place.
I see the risks of putting this information out on the interwebs. I'm banking on the benefits outweighing those risks. But in fact, I'm happy to report it's getting a bit more treacherous! The Move It Blog is up to 75 visitors and counting. It's even getting some attention from APTA staff, and no, not just my ex-roommate ;o)
My philosophy is that we are in an age where there is no sense in not having a commonality of resources and shared experiences. I love being a PT, especially a neuro-PT! I take the opportunities before me for advancing my clinical expertise and trying to foster leadership cred, but that isn't always enough. As New Professionals, we have unique stressors. I would like to think that this blog will eventually give voice (and not just my own) to remedies for, or at least ways to handle, that kind of stress.
Something that would help me would be a periodically updated list of PT negotiation skills and advice for job hunting in a depressed economy. Any know any? ... Bueller?
Back to the resumé ~ ben
Ben, I am in remotely the same situation as you stated in the first paragraph, but my situation is as follows: working in a clinic and trying to decide to start my own clinic in the process. I'm in the very beginning stages of this, which is simply (that might be an understatement) making yes or no decisions, but I'm feeling guilty regarding my current employer. I love where I am right now, but a huge business opportunity seems to have creeped in. It's one that I was not expecting, but it's one that I cannot ignore. So, I understand, kind of, what you're going through. Good Luck!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting Kim! I know how long-winded I get with these blogs... well, often. My perception though is that, however we characterize it, a lot of us have these experiences in our first several years of practice. It's never easy trying to decide "should I stay or should I go". {Bear in mind this is coming from someone who, literally, has never left a company.} I just wish our decisions were not so overburdened by a lack of peer discussion and that we weren't shackled so tightly to our student loan payments. Good luck with you decisions! I'd love to hear more about them. I'm considering adding a "ghost writer" feature to the blog. Maybe that could be of use to anyone posting less 'public' thoughts...
ReplyDeleteI spent many lunch breaks just up the road on car-based phone calls. That's how I roll.
ReplyDeleteI was headed off to be a traveler, so I gave a four week notice before I evan had a job locked down. That gave me the ability to be a little more open with my searchings.
Repeat after me, "It's an opporunity I can't pass up [and I'm sticking with that story]."
We're young. How may people keep the same job for a lifetime? It's somewhat expected in my mind. :-/
Good luck!
I need to embrace that mantra! :o) Now, if I can only figure out the bicycle equivalent to that phone call system...
ReplyDeleteTake a walk at lunchtime...and I totally use that "opportunity I can't pass up" reasoning. It works so well when you're going to Hawaii or Aspen! ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, some people are willing to chat after work, at least the traveling companies who are very respectful (usually) of your availability.