Beginning a job search as a clinician can be both exciting and unsettling. Looking for the right opportunity to begin or advance your career is work and requires a lot of patience. Regardless of your situation or experience, you have tools at your disposal to make the process easier.

Online job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, and Ziprecruiter are the most popular job searching tools, and for good reason. You can look for positions by job title, location, experience level, and industry. When new opportunities come up, you can get alerts to make sure you don’t miss out.

However, since most employers place their job openings on one or more of these platforms as well as their own website, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Just remember that being a good job candidate is a lot like being a good student. In both cases, these three things increase your chances of success.

1. Read the Job Specifications Carefully

People spend a lot of time skimming and scanning these days. We read quickly, looking for headlines and bullet points. You probably scanned this article’s headers before diving in. This kind of reading is fine in some contexts, like scrolling through social media or an entertaining article. But if you scan a job description instead of reading slowly and carefully, you might miss the details that rule you in or out as a candidate.

It might feel like a chore to read every word when you’re already sold on the job or fatigued from the application process. But these components are worth paying special attention to:

Company description. Take into account how the company describes itself. What priorities and values do they emphasize? Does it sound like a place you could serve patients happily and well?
Position overview. This is a high-level description of the position and should give you a good idea if it’s something you want to apply for whether or not you’re qualified.
Position responsibilities. Typically, responsibilities are listed in bullet points. You’ll get an idea of what’s expected on a daily basis. Again, do these specific duties line up with what you’re looking for or expect?
Position qualifications. This is an important segment for clinicians to read. Don’t skip over this and assume you qualify. There may be additional certifications required. For example, an OT or PT role may ask for a CHT (certified hand therapist). Or the role may require a certain amount of experience.
Salary/benefits. Benefits may be spelled out, but sometimes the salary is not. The job posting may provide a salary range, or it may not provide a salary number at all. To make things more confusing, salary can differ from region to region, and state by state. So don’t set your expectations on a number you see listed in the position description.

You don’t want to use your time and energy applying for a job you’re not qualified for, nor do you want to send your resume into a void. Taking a moment to concentrate on a post’s details can help you apply for jobs selectively and efficiently.

2. Do Your Homework on the Organization

Job descriptions give you a glimpse of an organization, but there’s much more you can (and should) learn. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you have a wealth of information about a potential employer at your fingertips. Try:

Spending time on the company page. Company posts can provide valuable insight into their values, people, and culture.
Investigating whether one of your connections works there — or has a connection who does. Referrals can help you get a foot in the door. Previous or current employees can also give you good insights into what it’s like to work for a specific company or network.
Follow company pages that interest you so you see new job postings and get a better feel for the “brand.”

LinkedIn is a great job search tool, but it’s no substitute for going directly to the organization’s website. Spend some time getting a feel of its mission, values, leadership, patients, and culture. Check out their blog space and other social media. And then follow up by reading employee reviews on Glassdoor. Are clinicians reporting a good work environment?

3. Land an Interview by Going the Extra Mile

If you slow down and read job description details and do your research on LinkedIn and the organization’s website, you’ve already done more than most. But going above and beyond close reading can better your chances for an interview (and a job offer). Here are some tips.

Make a new LinkedIn connection. Perhaps you don’t have an existing connection at the organization you’re interested in, but you can request one. Just don’t send a request without a personalized note. Read that person’s profile in order to help you craft a thoughtful message that expresses your interest. Tell them you’re interested in learning more about the organization and ask for advice.
Join a LinkedIn group. LinkedIn has professional networking groups for your clinical specialty. Joining a group of other clinicians is a great way to build connections, find out about job openings, and share knowledge.
Take notes on the organization’s language. As you read job descriptions, Linkedin posts, and company web pages, what language do you notice being repeated? The words they use to describe themselves and their patients conveys a lot about who they are — and who they aren’t. Take notes, and then find a way to work them into your cover letter and future interview.
Personalize your cover letter. When it’s time to apply, use some of what you learned about the organization, its mission, and its patients in your cover letter.
Watch videos, listen to a podcast and read blog posts. When you find a role that seems special (and that you’re qualified for), take the time to watch, listen, and read all that’s available about the organization.

Doing a thorough search for a new clinical role takes time. But here’s the good news: applying to fewer jobs may be a better strategy. More isn’t usually better. When you follow these three pieces of advice, you’ll find it easier to know where to put your efforts. And with patience and discernment, you’ll find a clinical role that fits.