Conclusion

The specialty of emergency medicine is in recovery mode, and the future appears a lot less bleak than it did at this point one year ago. But there remains a great deal of unrest and uncertainty. What does it mean for job searchers in the 2021–2022 market? The key to a successful job search will be flexibility. Open your minds, your requirements, and your maps. The market is still depressed, and the best jobs will fill quickly. Savvy employers will look for candidates selecting jobs for the long term and for the right reasons. There will be concern among many employers that graduating residents are using those jobs as stepping stones until becoming ABEM-certified, so they then risk losing that talent to another employer. New graduates may need to dial back a bit on their location and lifestyle demands and focus more on choosing real opportunities that will be the building blocks of a successful career in emergency medicine. Plus-circle

Reference

1. Hartnett KP, Kite-Powell A, DeVies J, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits—United States, January 1, 2019–May 30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(23):699-704.

Ms. Katz is president of The Katz Company EMC, a member of ACEP’s Workforce and Career sections, and a frequent speaker and faculty at conferences and residency programs. She can be reached at katzco@cox.net.