Why Good Doctors Don't Always Get the Job
Why Good Doctors Don't Always Get the Job
One of the more difficult conversations I have with doctors is when they don't get a position they were hoping for. Especially when they're a strong doctor. It can be easy to take rejection personally.
I've seen doctors think:
“Maybe I'm not experienced enough.”
Or:
“Maybe there's something wrong with my CV.”
Sometimes there is something that needs addressing. But often, that's not the reason.
Recruitment isn't a ranking system
One of the biggest misconceptions about recruitment is that the “best” candidate always gets the job. It doesn't work that way. A hospital isn't simply looking for the best doctor.
They're looking for the right doctor for that particular role, at that particular time, in that particular environment.
That's a very different thing.
Experience isn't always the deciding factor
A doctor may have an excellent CV but have experience that doesn't quite match what a particular department needs.
Another candidate may have slightly less experience but have worked in a very similar environment.
That can matter.
Timing matters too
Sometimes the circumstances around a vacancy change. A position may be restructured.
The hospital may change its requirements. Another candidate may accept an offer quickly. The timing simply may not work.
None of those things necessarily reflect negatively on the doctor.
Location can make a difference
I've also seen situations where a doctor looks excellent on paper but the position isn't the right geographical fit.
Maybe they need to be close to family.
Maybe the role requires a move that doesn't work for their circumstances.
Maybe the doctor wants metropolitan experience while the hospital is regional.
Again, that's not about whether they're a good doctor.
It's about fit.
Communication matters
This is one area doctors sometimes underestimate.
Clinical competence is obviously essential.
But hospitals also need doctors who can communicate effectively, work within a multidisciplinary team and adapt to different environments.
That doesn't mean you need to give perfect interview answers.
It means being genuine and being able to explain your experience clearly.
Sometimes another candidate is simply closer to what the hospital needs
This is probably the hardest one to accept.
You can be a very strong candidate and still have someone else who is a slightly better match for the particular role.
That doesn't make you a bad candidate.
It means the recruitment decision was about comparative suitability, not your worth as a doctor.
What should you do after a rejection?
I always encourage doctors to ask for feedback where possible.
- What could have been stronger?
- Was there a specific experience the hospital was looking for?
- Was it simply a matter of another candidate having more relevant experience?
The answer can be useful. And then move forward.
Don't let one role define your career
I've seen doctors miss out on one position and go on to find an opportunity that was actually a much better fit.
Sometimes the job you don't get ends up making room for the job you really wanted.
That's why I don't think recruitment should be about getting a doctor into any position.
It should be about finding the right opportunity. And sometimes that takes a little longer.