Job hunting can be a stressful process, and there’s a lot to consider when navigating your next career move. As a psychiatrist, finding a job that prioritizes your well-being is essential. After all, being a mental health professional is tough, and provider burnout is a serious issue affecting 78% of psychiatrists. While the psychiatry field is full of opportunities, it’s crucial to pick the right one to ensure you avoid burnout and love your work.
So, how can you find a fulfilling, flexible job that gives you ample time with family and friends? Read on to learn how you can find that perfect fit.
Know what you want
Psychiatrists spend an average of 48 hours at work per week, and 60% of that time is spent with patients. Additionally, psychiatrists report above-average stress related to their work environment and the complexities of their jobs. That means ensuring your work environment encompasses what you want is essential whether you’re onsite seeing patients or conducting telepsychiatry appointments from home.
As you search for the right fit, consider the following:
- Time zone difference (telepsychiatry)
- Patient population
- Patient volume
- Work/life balance
- Amount of paperwork
- Flexibility
Most importantly, be honest with yourself and realistic about what you want. Whether that’s your desired schedule, patient volume, or team culture — you shouldn’t have to settle. Creating a list can help identify what you need from a position and help you stay true to what’s negotiable and non-negotiable for you. These boundaries can help create longevity and happiness over time.
Questions for a potential employer
The job market for psychiatrists is rife with opportunity, and it’s projected to grow by 13% in the next decade, significantly outpacing other healthcare professions like pediatricians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Simultaneously, the U.S. is also experiencing a provider shortage, and the need for psychiatrists is great. That surplus of opportunity makes it all the more important to find the perfect fit that will help you thrive.
The following questions can help you narrow in on the right position.
Compensation
- What’s their pay structure?
- What’s their no-show rate?
- Will you be paid fee-for-service?
- Who is responsible for taxes?
Administrative
- What type of electronic medical record do they use?
- Who is responsible for their licensing? Credentialing? Malpractice insurance?
Growth
- How many partners do they work with?
- How long has the company been in business? How have they grown?
Culture
- What does their company value?
- Is the organization mission-driven?
At Iris Telehealth, we make our values clear from the beginning. From creating a culture that promotes a positive work-life balance to ensuring less administrative paperwork and excellent benefits — we prioritize people over all else.
Telepsychiatry companies and the importance of job matching
If you’ve ever worked for a medical group, telepsychiatry company, or staffing agency, you’ve probably witnessed good and bad job matching. How an organization approaches job matching can make a big difference in quality.
For telepsychiatry companies, a provider might be matched at random — or they might be matched thoughtfully based on experience and need. If you’ve only worked for healthcare organizations directly, you’ve most likely not dealt with job matching, but if you’re considering working with a telepsychiatry company to expand your options, it’s something you should be aware of.
Acknowledging red flags
As a mental health professional, chances are there have been times when you’ve felt undervalued. Or, maybe you’ve worked in a healthcare system that didn’t prioritize quality care. Whether you’ve dealt with long commutes, troublesome work politics, or disorganization, you know a job can quickly turn stressful.
Being able to identify and acknowledge red flags is an integral part of the job search. Below are three common red flags you should take note of during your job hunt.
- They’re not getting to know you: The company you’re talking to should try to get to know you as a person, understand what you like about a job, and understand your personality. When companies take this extra step, it shows they care about making sure their providers are placed somewhere that aligns with the work they want to do and the values they hold.
- They’re not giving you information about your placement: If the company isn’t giving you information about your placement, chances are they might take a “plug and play” approach. This approach makes matches based on age and licenses, without regard to a provider’s preference towards things like desired schedule or population. That said, it’s also important to make sure you have the specialization to serve the population they’re asking you to see. All of this can make a big difference in whether or not the company can provide longevity.
- They have a high turnover rate: Does the company have a swinging door or providers coming and going? If so, this can be indicative that the telehealth company or staffing agency isn’t making suitable matches. If you suspect their retention is low, it could be helpful to ask how often their clinicians switch jobs or change sites. Additionally, it’s always best practice to check out a company’s Glassdoor page. Company review websites like Glassdoor can provide insights into turnover rates, culture, and whether they live up to their mission and values.
Transparency is key. That’s why at Iris, we get to know our providers first to ensure we can find the right job or clinic placement for them. We pride ourselves on being upfront with all of the necessary details that will affect your day-to-day and job satisfaction. From the clinical setting to the scheduling details to our prescribing philosophy, we are committed to ensuring the role is the right match for you.
Finding the perfect fit
The perfect fit means that you’ll be able to do great, meaningful work and have time for the important stuff. The right job should also include excellent benefits, have a great culture, and allow you to enjoy the work-life balance you’ve always dreamed of. At Iris, we surveyed our providers to determine why they saw Iris as the perfect fit, and four reasons stood out among the rest.
- Communication and organization
- Staff connection
- Iris’ match commitment
- Unparalleled clinical support
The benefits of working somewhere that aligns with your goals and values is indispensable. Where you spend your time matters, and for providers at the frontlines of the country’s behavioral health challenges, making sure you have the work/life balance you need to make time for yourself and your family and friends is of the utmost importance. As a mental health professional, you should be respected, valued, and applauded for your work, and finding an employer who aligns with that mission is essential.
Love your work and save the world
At Iris Telehealth, we prioritize the wellbeing of our providers over everything else. Work-life balance is a top priority, and we create a flexible, fulfilling culture that helps you spend more time caring for patients and less time on paperwork — we take care of that for you.
Through our telepsychiatry services, Iris providers deliver care to the patient populations who need it most and help healthcare organizations achieve their goals through clinically sound and financially sustainable psychiatry programs. If you want to learn more about working for us, contact us today.
