Tips for Finding and Landing an Oncology Job

The end of your fellowship is in sight, and it's time to start looking for your first oncology job. Below are tips, along with links to ASCO Connection articles and blogs, that will help you prepare for your interview and—hopefully—land a job.

First, check out our comprehensive guides, written by experienced ASCO members:

Then, review specific advice for different situations and stages of the job search:

  1. Manage your expectations. You've been looking forward to this moment since you started your residency: finally taking charge and having the responsibility of caring for your own patients. However, there are a few things you should know before diving headfirst into the process of applying for your first job.
  2. Decide what kind of job you want. You've probably thought about it over the course of your residency, but now is the time to decide what you want to specialize in.
  3. Start from square one and think through each step of the coming process. It can be helpful to write down your ideal job description as a thought exercise before you start searching.
  4. Prepare for the interview. No matter how confident you think you are about your upcoming job interview, it is crucial to do some research and prepare for it like you would an exam.
  5. Be polite, know the organization, and practice. The interview starts the moment you walk in the door, so presentation and preparation are key.
  6. Give an outstanding job talk. This part of the interview is hugely important to showcase your strengths.
  7. Be prepared with questions of your own to ask during the interview. Show your sincere interest in your prospective employer by coming up with two or three questions about the organization.
  8. Don't get blindsided by difficult interview questions. Open-ended interview questions can often stump the most prepared job seeker. Here are the do's and don'ts of answering five difficult questions you may encounter in your job interview.
  9. Stand out during your interview. It's likely that you're one of many applicants for this position, so make sure your interview stands out from the crowd.
  10. Know how to negotiate the contract for your first oncology job and find a win-win scenario. Congratulations, you've received a job offer! Now comes the tough part: negotiating your contract. Read these articles to find out what factors you should take into account before accepting the offer.
  11. Once you've accepted your first job, set yourself up for success in the first few years of your career