There are probably a thousand things running through your mind at this point. And rightly so: this is a major life moment, a turning point for your future. So, let’s make some sense of the changes ahead and share several things for you to consider as you prepare for the next phase of your career in medicine.
If you matched: Preparing for your residency
Once you are through your initial celebration, you should focus on some practical steps so that Day 1 doesn’t sneak up on you.
- Preparing for relocation: If your new role requires you to move, it’s time to start thinking through the logistics and looking for a new place to stay. Look for a place that is within your budget, and which ideally does not have too much of a commute.
- Planning your finances: Once you have an understanding of your income and expenses, it may be helpful to model your finances ahead of time to ensure a sustainable lifestyle. This is a pivotal time for young healthcare providers, and many will be working long hours for moderate pay while beginning to pay off student loans. Organizations like WealthMD and Panacea Financial offer financial solutions for medical professionals, including guidance on managing debt.
- Onboarding: Be sure to review your program’s paperwork, including credentialing and licensure requirements, ahead of time. Being ready to produce this documentation quickly will minimize friction as you get settled into your new assignment.
What if you didn’t match this year?
We recognize that not everyone gets their dream match, but there are still options for you. The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) is an option to connect unmatched or partially matched applicants by way of a series of offer rounds during Match Week. AAMC also offers a FindAResident search tool if SOAP is not conclusive or you are seeking to change jobs. Take time to explore all options that are available to you, connect with mentors, and keep focused on your career goals.
Looking beyond residency
It’s not too early to start thinking about what comes next for you after residency. One option that offers flexibility and control over your career path is locum tenens work, which has several benefits for clinicians who are not yet settled into a long-term, full-time role:
- Diverse practice settings and experience in different specialties early on, which can inform future preferences and specialization.
- Competitive pay that can accelerate paying off medical school debt earlier than traditional roles.
- Flexibility and work-life balance, which may be harder to come by in traditional full-time medical work.
- It enables mission-driven clinicians to take their skills where they are needed most, connecting them with the sense of purpose that inspired their career in medicine.
Locum tenens work stands as an antidote to the view that long hours, thankless hard work and bureaucratic red tape are all necessary evils for a life in medicine. Many providers wish they had known about locums work earlier in their medical careers.
Welcome to the start of your career
No matter the results, Match Day is a big milestone for you on a journey filled with purpose and meaning. Keep in mind your options as you step into your new role and your new life and be open to future opportunities. Whether you are considering a flexible career path or zeroing in on further training and specialization, LocumTenens.com’s resident hub is here to help you orient yourself.
Interested in learning about how locum tenens work can help you achieve your career goals faster and with unique flexibility? Contact me today to learn more.
About the author
Hunter Bennett
Program Outreach Manager
Hunter Bennett is the program outreach manager at LocumTenens.com. In his role, he connects with residency and fellowship programs nationwide to raise awareness about locum tenens work and the many benefits the locum lifestyle brings. Hunter is also the handler for LocumTenens.com’s first-ever staff therapy dog, a three-year-old pup named Hank.
